[tense music playing]
[narrator 1] Tonight, for the first time ever,
two men will step inside
a barbed wire steel cage.
[narrator 2] A demonic creation.
[narrator 1] Fighting not only for their survival…
[narrator 2] Built for torment.
[narrator 1] …but for the WWE Championship.
How can a society so advanced
create a structure so barbaric?
The answer lies within.
At the root of our nature…
[narrator 2] Animals.
[narrator 1] …we possess primal instincts.
To survive.
To destroy.
Tonight, there is no retreat.
[narrator 2] Ripped to shreds.
-[narrator 1] No escape. -[narrator 2] Locked in.
-[narrator 1] Nowhere to run. -[narrator 2] Trapped.
[music grows dramatic]
[man screaming]
Once they're in,
there's no way out.
[music concludes]
[narrator] And now, SmackDown presents
WWE No Way Out.
-[explosions] -[crowd cheering]
["Enemy" playing]
♪ The devil's on my back ♪
♪ And these are the days That I dreamed about ♪
♪ And you're always there to remind me ♪
[Michael] The road to WrestleMania makes its final pay-per-view stop tonight
at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
And No Way Out will directly impact
who is in the main event at WrestleMania 21.
Thanks for joining us, Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.
And hanging high above the ring, the evil steel cage.
Tonight, for the first time ever, a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match,
JBL and Big Show, for the WWE Championship.
Thank you for joining us, everybody, from the Mellon Arena
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.
And Tazz, as you stare above at the steel cage,
we've gotta talk about the possible wild card for this matchup.
The fact that Raw's Batista,
the Royal Rumble winner, will be here tonight.
Sure will. Will be in the Steel City, which should be called-- tonight,
I think it should be called Barbed Wire City.
-Or the Steel Cage City. -Yeah, no kidding.
Also standing by, Carlos Cabrera, Hugo Savinovich, our Spanish colleagues.
-Hey, guys. -[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[Michael] Batista on the break.
["619" playing]
♪ Who's that jumpin' Out the sky ♪
♪ R-E-Y Mysterio Here we go ♪
♪ When the mask out The girls, they pass out ♪
♪ The boys just black out, Better tap out ♪
♪ Go, off the top ropes… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Introducing one of the challengers from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 175 pounds,
Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] You think Rey Mysterio is ready to go
with the tag team titles on the line?
[Tazz] I think so.
Rey Mysterio has been one half of the tag team champs before with RVD.
And I'll tell you what, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero
should make a pretty dandy tag team.
♪ The boys just black out Better tap out ♪
♪ Viva la raza! ♪
["Viva La Raza" playing]
♪ I lie, I cheat, I steal ♪
[Michael] Oh, yeah.
[Chimel] And his partner from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 228 pounds,
Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] Tazz, I would call Mysterio and Guerrero a dream team.
Arguably two of the greatest Latino wrestlers in the history
of World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Tazz] Oh, I think there's no doubt about that.
There's no doubt about that with that lowrider.
Pretty phat, man, going up and down.
Bounce it up there, Eddie.
No doubt, two of the greatest Spanish superstars--
Latino superstars in the history of WWE,
quite possibly of our wrestling industry.
[Michael] We have our Hall of Famers, Tito Santana, Pedro Morales,
perhaps you're looking at two future Hall of Famers
in Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio here tonight.
Now, remember, this past Thursday night on SmackDown,
Rey Mysterio invoked his return match clause.
Since his partner Rob Van Dam is out with a knee injury
caused by the Bashams, who did Rey choose as his partner?
His homeboy, Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] And I pointed it out on Sunday night at Heat, I pointed it out
that Eddie and Rey Mysterio go way back, man, way, way back.
And I'll tell you, these guys are damn near like brothers.
They're super tight, super close.
[Michael] What do they call that, compadre, right?
[Tazz] You know how to speak Spanish, right?
-[Michael] Compadres. -[Tazz] I'm gonna ask--
Hey, Hugo, what is that?
He's on the phone. He's on his headset.
He can't listen to me, Hugo and Carlos.
["Secretaries of Defense" playing]
[Chimel] Making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 495 pounds,
they are JBL's Secretaries of Defense
and the Tag Team Champions,
Doug and Danny, the Basham Brothers.
[Michael] Well, this past Thursday on SmackDown,
Rey Mysterio, building a little momentum.
One on one with the man who took out his partner in RVD, Doug Basham.
But it was Eddie Guerrero doing some lying and cheating and stealing
to help Rey pick up the victory.
[Tazz] I mean, I'd love to say I don't know why Eddie Guerrero did that,
but I do know why, 'cause the guy cheats and he lies and that's a family tradition,
and he steals, I get that, but he wasn't even in the match.
But you know what, Rey and Eddie, to my point,
they're super close, they're tight.
[Michael] First of three title matches here tonight at No Way Out.
We'd like to thank everyone for joining us here tonight
on pay-per-view from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
Everyone all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, among others, Germany and your favorite country, Austria.
[Tazz] Oh, I love Austria, everybody knows that.
I love Austrian pancakes.
But right now, we got the tag team championships on the line.
-Let's see what goes down. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] And of course, in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports,
as the Bashams get set to defend the WWE Tag Team titles
-against Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. -[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie!
Let's talk a little strategy. First, for the challengers--
[Tazz] Right. Who's gonna start? -[Michael] Oh, yeah.
-First for the challengers. -[Tazz] Okay.
[Michael] If you're Eddie and Rey, what do you have to do
against an established team like the Bashams?
[Tazz] Try and throw 'em off their game
and this Eddie Guerrero-- this Eddie chant might help them.
I mean, you know, to quicken the pace up.
You got two guys with that Luchador style
in Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero.
You wanna quicken the pace up,
try and get the co-secretar--
-Easy for you to say. -[Michael laughs]
[Tazz] Co-secretaries of defense. Thanks for your help.
They're kinda-- Man, they're brawlers.
They'll get in there and bang with you, full hands,
Guerrero and Rey, they'll fly around.
[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
S-O-D.
[Michael] You see Danny Basham pointing to his trunks, S.O.D.,
Secretaries of Defense.
So it's Danny Basham and Eddie Guerrero kicking things off here at No Way Out.
[Tazz] Eddie Guerrero going low, going for a single leg,
now hooks a front headlock.
And, you know, I guess Eddie's got his game,
putting-- possibly gonna exchange holds with Danny Basham
and Eddie could do that very well first on the mat, no secret.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero, slide through the leg and hooks the leg.
[Tazz] Nice inside trip to open that ankle right there,
twisting that knee and the ankle.
That puts pressure on your knee, actually, more than your ankle.
[Michael] WWE Tag Team title's on the line.
You know, Tazz, Eddie Guerrero will never forget
last year's No Way Out in San Francisco, California.
That's when Eddie Guerrero won the WWE Championship
for the very first time.
Perhaps lightning can strike twice here tonight for Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out.
[Tazz] Well, absolutely, no doubt. And here comes--
[Michael] Tagging Rey, and Mysterio taking out the arm of Danny Basham.
[Tazz] Did you see how quick Rey just springboards to the top rope
and came down and on that arm of Danny Basham?
That's what I was saying earlier.
You gotta, you know, slow down the pace if you can.
It's tough to do.
Rey Mysterio gives up size but he's so quick and tough.
Nice leg drop.
[Michael] Leg drop, quickly into the cover,
Mysterio hooks the outside leg, shoulders down, kick-out.
Who will ever forget the performance in lieu of the opportunity
to call for Jim Ross, Tazz,
the performance of Rey Mysterio in the Royal Rumble match
a couple of weeks ago, lasting nearly 40 minutes in that match.
-One, two, three! -[Tazz] It just shows the toughness
that Rey Mysterio has.
And you see Doug just poking, just slapping Rey in the head.
[Michael] And now you see Doug draws the referee
and it allows Danny Basham to go to work on Mysterio.
[Tazz] He's isolating Rey Mysterio in the corner.
That's the right thing to do.
Rey is probably the quickest man in this match,
including his partner, Eddie Guerrero, slow down, ground the jaguar.
That's-- you know, ground the guy with the speed,
and the guy with the speed-- or, you know, is Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] I tell you, the Bashams improving rapidly
over the past couple of years here, and look at Rey Mysterio.
There's some of that unorthodox offense.
Great arm drag by Mysterio.
Tag made to Eddie Guerrero. Frequent tags by the challengers.
[Tazz] Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio having their way with--
I mean, this Doug and Danny Basham, these guys are the Tag Team Champions.
They're not a couple of slouches in there, you know what I mean?
They're not ham-and-eggers.
We got Rey and Eddie looking pretty good here.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero hammering away to the rib cage in the corner
with the right hands, and the champion's reeling.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what. I envy Rey Mysterio.
He gets to be in there and work with a great partner like Eddie Guerrero.
I wish I had that opportunity.
[Michael] He had a great partner as well in Rob Van Dam before Doug Basham
took out RVD with those steel steps to the knee.
[Tazz] Look, Danny didn't wanna see-- unless that's Doug.
They've both worn red tights. I think that's Doug, right?
[Michael] It is Doug.
[Tazz] Doug didn't want any of Eddie Guerrero's hotdogging,
but that's part of Eddie Guerrero's deal,
you know, he gets in your head a little bit.
[Michael] Tag made to Danny Basham.
And here are the champions now, double-teaming Eddie Guerrero,
using the full five-count from referee Brian Hebner.
[Tazz] And that's the mark of a great team, the way I see it.
And you know, you wanna utilize that five-count to double up on your man
and weaken your man and soften up,
and pick him out as a sacrificial lamb. Watch this now.
This is a criss-cross choke right here, very excruciating hold,
-and now breaks the knee… -[grunts]
…breaks down the knee, I should say, of Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] So it's easier to apply this hold
when a man's on his knees like Guerrero is now as opposed to--
[Tazz] Because you have all--
Danny Basham has all the leverage right now
'cause he's behind the man and he's off the back
and his body is above him,
-his hips are above the opponent. -[crowd chanting] Eddie!
[Michael] And Eddie's speed negated as well.
[Tazz] Correct. He's grounded.
And the Eddie chants are building-- well, now, they're dying,
they were building nicely in Pittsburgh here but--
[Michael] Uh-oh, look at Eddie countering Danny Basham.
The Bashams, two-time WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Tazz] That's a veteran, Eddie Guerrero,
best way out of that thing is the back suplex,
the way I see it, or try to drop toehold out but--
[Michael] Tag made to Doug Basham.
Eddie trying to make it to the corner. Did he make the tag? No, he didn't.
And again, the Bashams isolating Eddie Guerrero from his partner.
[Tazz] Okay. So partner, you see there, Doug dragging Eddie
back to the middle towards his corner.
S.O.D.
-[crowd booing] -[Tazz] S.O.D., Secretaries of Defense.
You wanna cut the ring off. There's a cover.
[Michael] Here's the cover, hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
Hey, Secretaries of Defense aren't gonna be able to be much help
for JBL tonight in that steel cage match.
[Tazz] No, probably won't.
Neither will the Chief of Staff Orlando Jordan. I mean, you know.
[Michael] The Cabinet has been nullified, so to speak,
as Doug Basham delivers that right hand.
-[crowd chanting] Eddie! -[Michael] Eddie whipped into the corner.
Oh, crowd has been behind Eddie since the get-go.
And look at the scoop slam by Doug.
Hooks the leg, shoulders down,
and Rey Mysterio breaks up the three-count.
[Tazz] Well, that's what Rey's gotta do.
If you wanna leave Pittsburgh one half of the tag team champions,
you gotta stay ready if the powerslam make that-- watch out.
[Michael] Nobody home, Eddie rolled out of the way.
Doug missed from the top rope.
Eddie rolling to the corner, makes the tag, and here comes Mysterio.
Mysterio, seated senton off the top rope.
-[Tazz] Look at the speed now. -[Michael] Knocking Danny off the apron.
[Tazz] Don't let him build momentum, Doug. Don't let him build momentum.
[Michael] Mysterio whipped across the ring,
-ducks underneath the right hand. -[Tazz] Oh, boy.
[Michael] There's the crossbody, lateral press, may have him,
title's on the line, kick-out by Doug Basham.
[Tazz] Gotta watch that Rey, man, I'm telling you, he's quick.
He'll just hit you with a move out of nowhere.
Watch out, watch out.
[Michael] And look at Rey Mysterio, DDT, planting the Bashams.
Here's the cover, hook to the leg again,
and this time, it's Danny breaking up the three-count.
You know, for Rey Mysterio, it doesn't matter how big his opponent is.
-Size does not matter. -[Tazz] No.
As you can see there with that bulldog face-first right there to Doug.
There was a switch, I think.
[Michael] Hey. Yeah, I think a switch was made.
Referee's back was turned. No tag was ever made.
Danny Basham not the legal man, but he's in the ring.
[Tazz] Oh, no, wait a minute.
So when Eddie Guerrero cheated, he did help, you know, in SmackDown
to help Rey win, you were okay with it.
-Suddenly you're not. -[Michael] Yeah,
because that's a family tradition.
[Tazz] That's a crock of crap.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
[Michael] The Bashams cheated to win the tag team titles when they took out RVD
and then they switched to beat Mysterio back on SmackDown a few weeks back.
So listen, he deserved what's coming from them, they need to get caught.
[Tazz] What are you talking about?
So Eddie Guerrero's the only man who's allowed to cheat
-in the SmackDown locker? -[Michael] Eddie's got caught
a number of times over the past few weeks, you know that.
[Tazz] You're actually-- Yeah, I do know that.
[Michael] And look at Danny Basham. Oh, and a big boot to the midsection.
And Rey Mysterio being picked apart now by the much more physical Basham Brothers.
[Tazz] Well, it's gut check time right now for Rey Mysterio.
And we've seen Rey-- into a full nelson there, very painful.
Oh, boy, there's the power, size difference.
We've seen Rey Mysterio in, you know, uncompromising positions.
I wouldn't say a full nelson might be one of them.
Lt's see if Rey can persevere. I mean, he's tough, no doubt.
[Michael] How do you get out of a full nelson?
[Tazz] Gotta try and break the grip.
Break the grip, try and pop an arm down,
and then switch behind,
you know, go behind, switch, a standing switch.
[Michael] And this is one instance where the size may actually
-hurt Mysterio. -[Eddie] Come on, Rey.
[Tazz] Yeah, because you're given up height, you're given up leverage there.
And now, right now, Danny Basham's switching to a reverse bear hug.
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] Eddie Guerrero-- I don't know. They're booing because, uh…
[Michael] Doug Basham pretty confident on the apron of the ring as Danny…
[Tazz] I've been looking at your suit.
[Michael] …wears down Rey Mysterio.
I have a nice suit on tonight.
[Tazz] And Eddie-- yeah, reverse gut wrench--
reverse bear hug applied by Danny Basham on Rey Mysterio.
Oh, nice.
[Michael] Rey trying to battle out with the elbows to the side of the jaw.
WWE Tag Team title's on the line
in the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
first of three titles here tonight at No Way Out.
[Tazz] Danny just getting hit in his mouth with those back elbows,
now stomping on the back of the head of Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] You can never count Mysterio out.
We've seen the resilience within the past--
just a couple of weeks ago in Japan, in that quarterfinal matchup
in the Number One Contender's Tournament against Kurt Angle.
-Mysterio gave it all he had that night.
-So you could never count Mysterio out. -[Tazz] I know that.
No doubt. I agree with that.
-[Brian] What do you say, Rey? -[Tazz] The Tag Team Champions,
the Bashams, are putting something on Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] Look at the cheap shot by Danny Basham.
[Tazz] How is it a cheap shot?
-It's just tag team wrestling 101. -[Michael] Now, Eddie into the ring.
Referee trying to keep Guerrero out of the action
and this is gonna allow a double team.
[Tazz] Well, Eddie Guerrero's got that temper, that Latino temper.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] A little two on one.
Hey, you know what, like I said earlier…
[crowd jeering]
…hey, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, they cheated the other day on SmackDown,
what's good for the goose is good for--
What, the pot's not black now when the kettle-- how does that go?
-[Michael] A pot calling the kettle black. -[Tazz] Yeah.
[Michael] Anyhow, the Bashams doing a great job isolating Mysterio,
keeping him in the Bashams' half of the ring.
-Rey needs to make a tag… -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Oh!
[Michael] …but he's hung up on the top rope.
A hotshot double team to Mysterio that time.
Here's the cover, hook of the leg, and a kick-out again.
The resilience of Mysterio, but how much does he have left?
[Tazz] Well, I don't know how much Rey Mysterio has left,
but what smart tag team strategy by the champions.
They're grounding-- they--
[Michael] That's a blatant chokehold, by the way, in front of the referee.
-Just wanna point it out. -[Tazz] Excuse me for--
interrupting while I'm talking.
Yeah, but it was a blatant choke. You know what? That's okay.
You wanna retain your titles.
You've got two big-time heavy--
[Michael] Look at Rey trying to make it to Eddie.
And Danny Basham grabbing the leg.
[Tazz] And just key moment in the match, can Rey get a tag to his partner?
-Uh-uh-uh. -[Michael] And again,
the Bashams isolating Mysterio.
-Doug comes in off the tag. -One, two!
[Tazz] Yeah, and he's seizing up the leg to restrain Eddie--
Rey Mysterio in the corner, to prevent him to get to Guerrero.
[Michael] Great tag team strategy by Doug and Danny Basham,
the tag team champions here tonight.
I'm sure they'd make their boss, the champion, JBL, proud.
[Tazz] I think JBL's getting ready for the first ever
Barbed Wire Steel Cage match against the Big Show.
But now, Rey Mysterio's-- Oh!
[Michael] Knocking Doug Basham off the second rope.
Rey Mysterio to the top rope. What he's gonna do here?
[Tazz] Oh, watch out, watch out.
[Michael] Mysterio, moonsault from the top rope.
Here's the cover, may have it here,
and Doug Basham just kicked out,
that close to winning the tag team titles.
[Tazz] Well, now Mysterio's got to make a tag to Eddie Guerrero, but he couldn't.
And that was smart right there to get Rey up.
What a moonsault that was.
-Oh, my God. -[Michael] Tremendous moonsault.
But again, Rey Mysterio still isolated by the Bashams,
not able to get to his corner and his partner Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Right now, nice head vise right here by Danny Basham.
-What do you say? -[Tazz] Wow, really, look--
Choking the neck. Check out this moonsault. Look at this technique.
Beautiful moonsault, knees in the face.
-Basham is still, you know… -[crowd chanting] Let's go, Rey.
[Tazz] -…needing help, unable to get out of that.
[Michael] Look at Mysterio reaching out
toward his partner, Eddie Guerrero.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Rey. Let's go, Rey.
The "Let's go, Rey" chants filling the Mellon Arena.
[Tazz] Rey's close, but he's caught in a rear naked choke
by Danny Basham right now.
Referee's in the right spot.
-Brian Hebner, once you see-- -Let's go. Come on.
[Tazz] No, wait, he's holding the rope.
-He's holding the rope. -[Brian] Come on.
-[Michael] Guerrero has the tag rope. -[Tazz] How long is that rope?
-There was two of 'em. -[Michael] I don't know.
I think referee Brian Hebner just said there were two tag ropes on there.
[Brian] No, no, no, no. Hey!
[Michael] Yeah, he said there were two tag ropes there.
-So did Eddie tie the two together? -Out, let's go. Come on, let's go.
-[Tazz laughs] He might've. -Come on!
[Michael laughs] You can't put anything past Eddie Guerrero.
So, now we're back to the normal length.
[Tazz laughs] He's not doing his partner any favors.
He can't get in the ring, you know, he's got a very long rope.
-[Michael] He's trying to-- -[Tazz] Wait a minute. That was your line.
You should say he's got a very long rope.
[Michael] He's trying to do everything he can to get into the ring.
And Mysterio with the elbows and again, a clubbing blow to the back of the neck
by Danny Basham.
Tag made to Doug and the Bashams continue to wear down the smaller man, Mysterio.
-Look at Rey Mysterio. -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
-[Michael] What's this? -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Face-first goes Mysterio.
This one is over for all intents and purposes.
[Tazz] Great teamwork. Here's the cover.
-Rey's out. -[Michael] Mysterio's out.
Eddie Guerrero breaks up the three-count.
But I think that Rey Mysterio may be out cold.
[Tazz] Rey landed-- man, I tell you what, face-first.
[Michael] Did you see that double team? And Rey still battling back.
-[Tazz] I heard the double team. -[Michael] Another kick to the midsection.
And a shot to Doug, knocking him off the apron.
[Tazz] Well, Rey is a fighter. You know what?
You said it earlier, you can't count him out.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio up over the top, lands on his feet,
ducks underneath the legs, off the ropes--
-Leapfrog. -[Tazz] Look at this. [laughs]
[Michael] Rey Mysterio's got the Bashams running around in circles.
[Tazz] Whoa! He's got equal range.
-[Michael] And here comes Eddie. -[Tazz] How did he do that?
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero exploding over the top rope.
Standing dropkick.
[Tazz] Latino Heat now.
-How did Mysterio do that? -[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie!
[Michael] Tag titles are on the line as the Eddie chants begin.
Guerrero is rolling.
Dropkick to Doug Basham.
Come on.
[Tazz] Oh, right now, Eddie Guerrero knows
this is the point in the match-- oh, check this out. Look at this.
[Michael] Eddie, top rope, headscissors, arm drag.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Vintage Eddie Guerrero here at No Way Out.
-[Tazz] One, two. -[Michael] The cover,
and it's Doug breaking up the three-count.
So close for Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Rey Mysterio tried to get in, but, ah, I don't think he's all there.
I mean, he got whupped pretty good out here by the Bashams.
[Michael] And the double team by the Bashams.
Eddie slammed to the mat below.
[Tazz] Here we go. Cover, cover.
[Michael] Here's the cover, hook of the leg.
Will the Bashams do it here? Eddie just rolled the shoulder out.
-[crowd booing] -[Tazz] That was close.
[Michael] Danny Basham thought he had a three-count.
Again, the double team begins for the Basham Brothers.
[Tazz] Look at this, going for a double vertical.
Are they're gonna--
[Michael] Look at Mysterio-- sprung up on Eddie.
Hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
Wow, that was innovative by Mysterio, and Eddie Guerrero taking advantage.
[Tazz] I don't think-- it was one count away,
but I don't think that was a planned move on the challengers' part.
[Michael] Desperation, instinct, call it what you like,
as Rey is driven back-first into that barricade outside the ring and--
-[crowd chatter] -[Michael] What's Eddie doing?
[Tazz] Looks like he's-- wherever the--
-[Michael] Tag team titles-- -[Tazz] Whoa, hold on.
-Hey. -I'm gonna take this to--
-[Rey] No, no, no. -[Eddie] What do you mean no?
-[overlapping chatter] -[Rey] No.
Get rid of the belt.
No.
[Rey] No, no.
[crowd clamoring]
[Tazz] The cooler heads prevail, and Rey Mysterio telling Eddie Guerrero
to chill out, don't do that, but Eddie Guerrero's going up top, Cole.
[Michael] Going for the frog splash, and Eddie rolled through.
Eddie rolled through.
[Tazz] But I'm thinking that Doug Basham thought-- wait a minute.
-Yeah. -[Michael laughs]
[Tazz] Man, this guy. I don't think Eddie Guerrero-- how's he doing this?
[Michael] He's unbelievable.
Well, Doug Basham believes Eddie missed the frog splash is what he thinks.
[Tazz] There's a small package.
[Michael] Small package, rolls him up, and a kick-out, almost had him.
-Eddie almost had Doug Basham. -[crowd booing]
[Tazz] That was so close.
So, so close.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero almost had Doug Basham.
[Tazz] Now what?
[Michael] Danny Basham just tossed the belt to Eddie who tossed it to Doug.
Hey, give me the belt.
-[overlapping chatter] -[crowd chatter]
[Tazz] Looks like Doug tossed it to…
[overlapping chatter]
[Tazz] There's the other--
[Michael] Wait a minute. There's the other--
Basham to have it. Championship off the skull.
[Tazz] Hey, wait a minute.
[Michael] 619 for Mysterio.
[Tazz] What the hell is going-- what happened--
[Michael] Eddie into the cover.
-[Tazz] No. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Shoulders down, Eddie and Rey
-lying and cheating… -[bell ringing]
-…and stealing the titles. -["Viva La Raza" playing]
[Chimel] Here are your winners and the new
WWE Tag Team Champions,
Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] I know two things right now, Cole.
We got new tag team champions, Rey Mysterio and Guerrero,
and the other thing is I don't even know how to call what happened.
-[Michael laughs] -[Tazz] But that was huge.
I'm serious.
[Michael] But what a celebration for the good friends
Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero,
two of the greatest Latino superstars in history
climb the mountain here tonight at No Way Out
and win the tag team gold.
[Tazz] I mean, how many misdirections-- I mean, the--
a sleight of hand
and then a title flying, and another one flying.
Basham, I-- what the hell-- I don't even know what happened.
♪ I can't be weak… ♪
[Michael] Well, early in the match, this happened.
Rey Mysterio showing us how he can get out of trouble.
He fought, did he ever.
[Tazz] He fought baseless, did a forward roll and tagged.
I mean, he's so quick.
And then Latino Heat came in, with both guns rolling, man.
Extension in the body like that--
[Michael] Now watch this, as the referee got rid of the one tag title,
Rey Mysterio tossed the other tag title to his partner.
Eddie Guerrero used it.
So at first, Rey Mysterio didn't wanna cheat to win,
but once the Bashams tried to do it, Rey said, "What the heck?"
"We're gonna win the titles here tonight."
-[crowd] One, two, three. -[Tazz] I'll tell you what.
I don't blame Rey.
We got new Tag Team Champions at No Way Out here in Pittsburgh
and what a matchup. [laughs]
[Michael] What a way to kick off No Way Out.
-[Tazz] I'm dizzy. -[Michael laughs]
I'll tell you, how do they do it?
[Tazz] I don't-- I don't know.
I'm thinking Eddie Guerrero is the master of the-- what do you call it?
The mastermind of the whole thing.
[Michael] You think he sits up at night,
thinks up these weird concoctions?
[Tazz] Yeah, he's like a strategist, like an offensive coordinator type of guy,
you know, and he thinks of these ways that he'll cheat to win.
It's amazing.
[Michael] But what a wonderful sight tonight in Pittsburgh,
Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio
leaving with the tag team gold.
♪ Latino Heat ♪
[crowd cheering]
Yeah!
[music fades out]
You know what?
No Way Out is already off to a great start.
Everything just like I planned it.
I'm gonna have a good night tonight, player.
In fact, when Batista gets here,
I want you to make him completely comfortable.
Now, this room is great, but I want him to have food,
water, drinks, whatever he wants,
make sure you bring it to this room.
-I'm on it. -Can you handle that, player?
-Absolutely. -Holler.
All right. Back to some more No Way Out here.
[Carlito] Teddy Long.
Oh, lordy.
You know, you know how to rain on a parade, dawg.
What do you mean?
I just wanted to introduce you to someone very important.
This is Mrs. Becca Rodriguez, the wife of David Rodriguez,
you know, a member of the board of directors?
Well, Mrs. Rodriguez, Theodore Long, general manager of SmackDown.
-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
-You enjoying the show, so far? -Very much so.
All right.
I thought Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero was--
winning the tag titles was very exciting.
-Very exciting, yes. -Yeah, that was off the chain.
But I have to tell you, my husband and I are really looking forward
to seeing if you're going to sign Batista to SmackDown.
I would love to see Batista on SmackDown.
I'm going to do my best.
I'm sure you will.
Well, I just wanted to say hello.
And I'd like to get back to my seat before the next match starts, so…
Once again, nice to have met you. Enjoy the rest of the show.
It's shizzle fizzle.
Shizzle and all that fizzle stuff. Right. [chuckles]
You know, that Mrs. Rodriguez really seems to enjoy my company.
Is that right?
-And her husband, he's a big fan too. -[scoffs]
[chuckles] So, naturally, we were talking about the board of directors and she--
Let me guess.
You were talking about getting me fired as general manager.
Actually, I didn't even have to bring it up.
She told me that the board is waiting to make their decision
until they see how this whole Batista situation turns out.
So it looks like if you don't sign Batista,
you might be out of a job.
And that?
That's cool.
[crowd cheering]
["Need a Little Time" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the first round
of the SmackDown Rookie Diva of the Year contest.
First, let me introduce the host
of this evening's gown competition,
Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie.
[Michael] Let me get back to the general manager for a moment.
It is going to be a challenging week for Theodore Long, to say the least.
♪ I know only your love Can get me there ♪
♪ What do you do When everybody wants you? ♪
♪ How do you breathe When they take you in? ♪
♪ Who do you turn to When you need to get away? ♪
[Tazz] I think we're gonna have a little company here, Michael.
-Hello, ladies. -[Michael] Well, we're joined by the hosts
-of the SmackDown Rookie Diva contest. -[Tazz] Hi, how are you?
-Dawn, how you been? -[Michael] Hi, Torrie, how are you?
Torrie Wilson.
-Hello. -[Tazz] Hi, Torrie.
-[Dawn] Love that booth. -[Tazz] Yeah, I know, I know.
Wait. Yeah, I'll help you out here. Let me-- hold on.
There you go. You put this thing right here.
[Michael] So Torrie and Dawn Marie
-are going to be hosting… -Good? Perfect?
-[Tazz] Let's sit down. Yeah. -Thank you.
-[Michael] …SmackDown Rookie Diva contest. -I couldn't think of a better word.
[Michael] Hey, Dawn, Torrie, I gotta ask you guys,
what are you gonna look for in the Rookie Diva?
-Dawn, start with you. -Well, you know, all these women,
they just wanna be like me 'cause I am the top Diva.
Well, Torrie is good too. She's a top girl.
And, you know, I'm gonna see who's gonna be our next Diva.
[Michael] What are you gonna look for, Torrie?
I'm very excited for the talent part of this competition.
-You are? -Very excited.
I can't wait to see what these girls are gonna show us.
-["What Love Is" playing] -[Michael] Well, let's get going.
♪ Let me show you How to move your body ♪
♪ Let me show you how to make me crazy ♪
[Chimel] Now, introducing the contestants.
First, making her way, Joy Giovanni.
[Michael] The evening gown competition.
And what do you guys think of Joy's evening gown?
[Torrie] Pink is my favorite color. She looks very hot.
[Tazz] What do you think, Dawn?
[Dawn] Well, I guess if you like the good girl syndrome then--
-[Michael] Whoa. -[Tazz] Whoo.
[Dawn] To me, that's pretty blunt.
-[Tazz] I didn't hear you. It's very what? -[Torrie] Dawn wouldn't know anything
about being a good girl, would she?
[Dawn] Honey, I'd like to say I live a very adventurous life.
[Torrie] Right.
[Chimel] Up next, it's Rochelle Loewen.
[Michael] Well, Rochelle Loewen, a Playboy model,
Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada.
What do you think of her gown, Dawn?
[Dawn] I think she was just jumping around.
What is this, Betty Boop?
[Michael] Betty Boop?
[Dawn] She's jumping up and down. I thought this was a Diva contest.
[Tazz] What about you, Torrie, what do you think?
[Torrie] Yeah, I think she's extremely hot.
-She was in Playboy. -[Chimel] Contestant number three,
Lauren Jones.
[Michael] Now, what about Lauren Jones, Torrie?
[Torrie] Lauren Jones, I got-- I love blonde hair.
[Tazz] Yes, me too.
[Torrie] She's a little Barbie doll, isn't she?
[Dawn] Yeah, exactly, a blow-up Barbie doll.
What does that have to do with being the new Rookie Diva?
-[Torrie] Don't be jealous, Dawn. -[Dawn] I'm not jealous.
Not that-- you wouldn't know anything about being a blow-up Barbie doll.
[Tazz] I feel like I'm on American Idol over here.
[Chimel] And our final contestant, Michelle McCool.
[Michael] American Idol?
[Tazz] Yeah, but, Dawn, what are you, like, Simon?
And Torrie, you're like Paula Abdul?
[Michael and Torrie laugh]
-[Tazz] What's going on here? -[Dawn] What is this?
-Like, schoolteachers are entering now? -[Tazz] A personal tr--
-What do you think of Michelle? -[Torrie] Schoolteachers?
I'm sure she could teach you a thing or two about class there, Dawn.
-[Dawn] Oh, honey. -[Tazz] Oh.
-[Michael laughs] -[Dawn] No one could teach me anything.
[Michael] I'll tell you what, you should let them write your material, Tazz.
Well, I'll tell you what,
I think that these lovely young ladies here,
Torrie and Dawn, they should be out here every week with me, not you.
-Let's do it. Yeah. -That'd be great.
-I mean, you guys are great… -[Dawn] Hey.
-[Tazz] …play-by-play guys. What? -[Dawn] How much you paying?
-[Tazz] I'll talk to you later. -[Chimel] All right, ladies and gentlemen,
voting is now open on wwe.com.
Who will you vote for?
Will it be Joy Giovanni?
[crowd cheering]
[Dawn] Oh, that's cheap.
[Chimel] Will it be Rochelle Loewen?
[crowd cheering]
[Dawn] Hey, I think she's trying to
-steal your material… -[Chimel] Lauren Jones.
-[Dawn] …the kissing hand. Yeah. -[Torrie] Oh, no.
[Dawn] She's after your job, Torrie. Gotta be careful.
-[Torrie] She is, yeah. -[Chimel] Or Michelle McCool?
[crowd cheering]
-[Tazz] Seemed kinda even. -[Torrie] I think Dawn's safe.
-Nobody was slutty enough for her. -[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen,
-round two is coming up. -[Dawn] Nope, that's right.
It's the Dawn experience.
♪ Nobody ♪
["Enemy" playing]
♪ You're living off my sweat ♪
[Michael] Tonight, No Way Out will shake the main event at WrestleMania.
For the first time in more than three years,
a WWE pay-per-view has come to Pittsburgh.
[Tazz] Yeah, and it's freezing, too.
Believe me, it's freezing out there.
[Michael] That's why they call this place the Igloo.
[Tazz] Yeah, they just call it the freezing Pittsburgh igloo,
-something like that. -["Dangerous Politics" playing]
♪ Heidenreich ♪
♪ Heiden, Heidenreich ♪
♪ Heidenreich ♪
♪ Heiden, Heidenreich ♪
♪ Heidenreich ♪
♪ Heiden, Heidenreich ♪
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from New Orleans, Louisiana,
weighing in at 285 pounds,
Heidenreich.
[Michael] Well, this matchup was made after SmackDown…
-Power! -…went off the air Thursday night.
This unique individual, Heidenreich,
was laughing backstage.
Booker T thought that Heidenreich was laughing at him for losing to John Cena.
I just think Heidenreich was laughing at the fact that--
I don't know what he was laughing at.
[Tazz] Well, maybe this guy loves life, Cole.
I mean, Heidenreich, you know, he's a little-- he's out there.
-He's special. -[Michael] Heidenreich loves nothing.
[Tazz] I mean, you can't say that. You don't know that.
Spent some quality time living in Paris, but that's another story.
I digress.
[Michael] So it's Heidenreich going one-on-one with Booker T tonight.
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait.
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd booing]
[sighs]
Disaster, peace, time.
No way out,
no way in.
-Does it really matter? -[crowd] What?
-Maybe in the end. -[crowd] What?
-The world calls Heidenreich crazy… -[crowd] What?
-…but little do they know… -[crowd] What?
-…I have so much good inside… -[crowd] What?
…just waiting to be shown. -[crowd] What?
-Booker T… -[crowd] What?
-…dares to make fun of Heidenreich. -[crowd] What?
-Well, I'll show you all… -[crowd] What?
-…just what it's like… -[crowd] What?
-…to feel all my pain and strife… -[crowd] What?
-…that I have dealt with… -[crowd] What?
-…my entire life! -[crowd] What?
And that was a poem by Heidenreich.
[crowd jeering]
-[Booker T] ♪ Can you dig it, sucka? ♪ -[crowd cheering]
["Can You Dig It?" playing]
[Chimel] And from Houston, Texas,
weighing in at 256 pounds,
Booker T.
[Booker T] ♪ Can you dig it, sucka? ♪
[explosions]
[Michael] You have to believe that Booker T is in--
well, not in a good mood tonight.
He gave it his all.
It was a hell of a matchup three nights ago
in the semifinals of the Number One Contender's Tournament
before Booker T came out of the short end against John Cena.
And Booker T upset backstage after that matchup,
ran into this man who claims he's not crazy, Heidenreich.
[Tazz] Also, I mean, with that poem, that masterpiece poem.
[Michael] Masterpiece?
He's a regular old Robert Frost.
[Tazz] Go easy now. Talking about Christmastime.
Oh, Heidenreich feels that Booker T made fun of him.
And that's what I got out of the poem, that Heidenreich claims he has
-so much good inside… -[bell ringing]
[Tazz] …"he" being Heidenreich. And it's just waiting to be shown.
Give the guy a chance, Michael, that's--
[Michael] I don't believe Heidenreich has any feelings, Tazz.
[Tazz] I don't know about that, Cole. What are you, a psychiatrist?
[Michael] Look here. Lock up, center of the ring. So if you're Booker T,
how do you go into this matchup against Heidenreich,
a man who's so unpredictable,
-a man who's so unstable? -[Tazz] Well, you gotta try
and break him down. I mean, Heidenreich is a little bit bigger,
physically bigger than Booker T, which is not often.
Booker is a big dude, big man, big superstar,
-but I'll tell you what, Heidenreich… -[Jon shouts indistinctly]
[Tazz] …try and get in his head a little bit if you could.
frustrate him, and hopefully he makes a mistake.
[Michael] And you have to wonder how much that match,
that marathon match on SmackDown
this past Thursday night, took out of Booker T.
Straight right hand by Heidenreich and another,
dropping Booker T to the canvas.
[Tazz] We've seen Heidenreich,
we've seen him before throw hands and he can throw those fists.
There's no doubt about that.
[Michael] Heidenreich with those illegal punches, ignoring the referee.
A bit unstable.
One thing about Heidenreich, he has a conversation with himself
in the ring during the match.
Here's the cover, hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
[Tazz] I don't think there's anything wrong
with having a conversation with yourself
as long as you don't start answering yourself.
Sometimes Heidenreich might do that, I don't know,
but just there, that nice kick,
that duck-under neck kick by Booker, very well placed.
-Oh. -[screams]
[Tazz] Now, that was quite a pop right there.
Chop across the chest.
See, if you're Heidenreich, you don't wanna let Booker T
build up some mome-- Whoa, what's Heidenreich there?
-[Michael] I have no idea. -[Tazz] He's hitting himself there.
[Michael] Very unorthodox, to say the least.
Here's the reversal. Booker T whipped across the ring.
Oh, high elbow caught Booker T in the jaw.
Now, Booker T rolling out of the ring to catch his breath.
[Jon] That's crazy.
[Tazz] Where you wanna hit somebody is in the jaw, for one.
Hit him in his chest and if you can, you know, catch him in his jaw,
try and hit him in the back and knock him out if you can.
[Michael] Heidenreich saying to the crowd as he was getting out of the ring,
"I'm not crazy."
Booker T with a kick to the midsection, bouncing the head off the steel steps.
I don't know how much damage you do doing that though.
[Tazz] Well, if you're banging a man's head into steel steps, that could--
[Michael] It might square what's up there though,
if you know what I mean. Booker T is back into the ring.
[Tazz] I don't like that you-- I really think that's wrong of you
to just pass judgment on Heidenreich. That's my opinion. I don't think that--
[Michael] Did you just forget what this man did to me? Now, look at that.
-Big right hand. Oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
-[Michael] And a kick to the jaw. -[Tazz] He got close. What am I--
[Michael] Booker T hooks the leg, shoulders down,
and Heidenreich kicked out.
[Tazz] Well, Booker T-- now, this is the veteran Booker T,
a five-time WCW Champion.
Well, I'm gonna say it, good point and the master trying to stay focused,
try and zoom in on a win, but Heidenreich--
[Michael] Oh. What a slam. Now, there's the power of Heidenreich.
The near 300-pounder, goes about 6'8".
You about to see crazy!
Look. [screams]
[Michael] Oh, what a clothesline, turned Booker T inside out.
[Tazz] Well, talk about main event WrestleMania,
I mean, Booker T knows something about that, you know what I mean?
The match-- uh-oh, watch this. Let's check this out.
[Michael] Nice, little right hand and there's the kick to the jaw.
But since then, Heidenreich has taken over.
[Tazz] But that's what it's about.
The Road to WrestleMania starts now, and Booker T was there.
[Michael] Yeah, Booker T was in the main event at WrestleMania once
and tonight, Kurt Angle or John Cena will be there.
JBL or the Big Show will be there.
And of course, the wildcard is Batista.
-This is y'all's champ. -[Michael] He's expected here tonight,
the general manager's waiting for him,
and Batista tomorrow night on Raw expected to make his decision.
Will he sign with SmackDown? Will he sign with Raw?
Here's the cover, shoulders down, kick-out.
-What do you think he's gonna do? -[Tazz] I don't know.
-What, Batista? -[Michael] Batista.
[Tazz] I don't know. I hope, he-- I personally--
[Michael] I hope he's here.
I'd love to have him here.
[Tazz] Now, a keylock-- a little top wrist lock, keylock
applied by Jon Heidenreich on Booker T here.
[Michael] Well, I think Heidenreich is biting the forearm of Booker T as well.
[Tazz] Maybe. I don't know. I mean--
[Michael] Booker T chants, trying to get Booker back into this matchup.
Heidenreich is really working on that left arm of Booker T.
Oh. Booker, shot to the ribs, now an elbow,
Booker trying to battle out of the predicament and he does.
-Slapped right across the chest. -[Tazz] He got some chops underneath--
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh, and a boot by Heidenreich.
[Tazz] Very well-placed boot right there. Here we go. Here's the cover.
[Michael] Hook of the leg, shoulders down, kick-out by Booker T.
[Tazz] And Booker T kicking out,
it takes a lot to take out a man like Booker T and that's smart.
You say this guy is crazy, Heidenreich, I don't know looks like he got a strategy.
He went back to the keylock, back to that top wrist lock.
[Michael] That's easy peasy.
[Tazz] Staying focused on pinpointing a body part.
-Shut up. -[Michael] He's doing that.
-I mean, you make a great point. -[Tazz] Thank you. Thank you.
Sometimes, I guess I do do that.
[Michael] That's why you're the best color analyst in the business.
-[Tazz] You damn skippy hippie. -[Michael] At least on SmackDown.
And look at Heidenreich really working on that left arm of Booker T.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] He's a strange individual.
I love to know what's going through his mind.
-[Tazz] Who, Heidenreich? -[Michael] Yeah.
[Tazz] Yeah. Well, I don't know.
I mean, you're claiming that there's not much going through his mind except air.
But I think Heidenreich's a bright guy.
-And I'll tell you what, I think-- -You're about to pay now.
[Tazz] You just heard, "You're about to pay now,"
he's telling Booker T, Heidenreich is.
[Michael] What does that do if you're an opponent in the ring--
listen to this, spinebuster by Booker T, could be the turning point of the matchup.
[Tazz] Well, if someone's talking smack to you during the match, you could--
you gotta be careful, the guy is trying to throw you off your game.
-You don't want that to happen. -Two.
[Tazz] Referee Nick Patrick up to a three-count now.
Both men getting to a vertical base,
blocked the punch, right hand by Booker.
Uh-oh, blocked again. Oh, nice.
[Michael] And Booker with another right.
And here comes Booker T, the former five-time WCW Champion.
Knocking Heidenreich down, Heidenreich quickly back to his feet,
clothesline by Booker T again.
Heidenreich back up again.
[Tazz] Booker T waits and stays on his opponent.
-Oh, wow. -[Michael] Oh, what a kick.
A thrust kick to the jaw.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] And now what? It looks like--
you don't think he's gonna bust into one right now, right?
[Michael] He may well here at No Way Out.
[Tazz] He's going for a little Spinaroonie up here.
-Here we go. -[Michael] A Spinaroonie
in the Mellon Arena.
[Tazz] Well, I'll tell you what,
if I was in the middle of the match with Booker T and did a Spinaroonie,
I'd try to top it. I think that's cool.
Spinaroonie-- maybe not during the match but--
[Michael] Off the ropes, here comes Booker T with the scissor kick.
Heidenreich ducked underneath it.
[Tazz] Uh-oh. Going for that Book End, Cole.
[Michael] Going for the Book End. Heidenreich battles out of that.
Heidenreich had it scouted perfectly.
But now an elbow to the face and a right hand.
Booker T was back in control and now he hangs up.
There goes Heidenreich, hung up over the top rope and outside the ring.
[Tazz] Well, a veteran move right there by Booker T.
Hung onto the rope, made the less experienced athlete
get a little overzealous and chucked him over the top.
-[Michael] And here comes Booker T. -[Tazz] Watch out here.
[Michael] Heidenreich bouncing off the steel steps.
-[Tazz] Better watch out, Cole. -[Michael] You think so?
[Tazz] Yeah. You better move your rear end.
-Yeah, that's what I'm telling you. -[Michael] Well, Heidenreich--
Booker T with a clubbing blow to the back of the neck.
[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] Well, Heidenreich's got a steel chair.
Did you see that? To the Adam's apple.
-Right to the throat, the steel chair… -[bell ringing]
…to the throat of Booker T.
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] That was blatant.
[Michael] Heidenreich frustrated, grabbed the steel chair,
drove it into the Adam's apple of Booker T.
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Booker] Oh, God!
[Chimel] The winner of this match as a result of a disqualification, Booker T.
[Michael] And now what the hell is Heidenreich doing?
Enough already.
[Tazz] Oh, I think Heidenreich is trying to send a message to the Bookman.
-Well, maybe. Let's see. -[Booker] I won.
-[Tazz] Okay. -[Michael] He's insane.
The match is over. He's been disqualified.
Now, he wants to go for a damn cover.
[Tazz] Well, he's a little unstable now.
Okay.
[Michael] Unstable? He's crazy.
[Tazz] He's got a good heart though. He's got feelings.
-Come on. -[Michael] How's he got feelings?
He just drove a steel chair into a man's throat.
[Tazz] Well, Heidenreich said in his poem he felt like Booker T made fun of him.
-[crowd booing] -[Tazz] It's a little miscommunication.
A lot of communications aren't there and look at this Heidenreich.
[Michael] Miscommunication?
[Tazz] Well, I don't know but--
You cheat.
[Nick] You gotta go. You gotta go. Get out of here.
[Tazz] Heidenreich-- I mean, it was a hell of a match.
I mean, both men holding their own
and then Heidenreich got frustrated, the guy just lost it.
[Michael] But again, there is concern over Booker T
as we watch again Heidenreich using the chair.
Watch it. Right into the throat of Booker T.
[Tazz] And a blatant-- the referee is in the ring looking down,
-referee Nick Patrick. -Ring that bell. Disqualification.
-[bell ringing] -[Tazz] Well, we mentioned
-that he can't do that. -[Michael] Heidenreich looking back
at Booker T who was just rolling around in the ring
-grasping his throat, gasping for air. -I beat you.
I beat them all.
[Michael] All the result to that-- that lunatic Heidenreich.
[crowd booing]
[Michael] And you're looking at-- what is the holding room
for Raw's Batista who is expected here tonight at No Way Out.
Batista has not arrived yet,
but general manager Theodore Long pulled the right stops.
[overlapping chatter]
-Yo, yo, yo! -[crowd cheering]
Congratulations. Big night tonight.
I can see you all two stepping up in the club.
Hey, John. These two won tonight.
Let's see if you can do it, buddy.
-I know you can. -[indistinct chatter]
I was thinking about just saying congrats, man.
The champs is here, man.
Guys, guys, guys, please, man, could you give me a moment with John?
-Sure. -Anything you want, Eddie.
-I appreciate it. -My names all you, John.
-Sure. -Yeah.
-This ain't a stickup or nothing, right? -Oh, no, man.
-I'm good? -Come on, vato. Listen.
-I know you. -No, no. [chuckles]
-I promise. -All right. What's up?
-What's on your mind? -If anything, this is heartfelt, man.
Look, I just wanna congratulate you because I know what it takes to get here.
And I know you've worked your ass off to get here.
So, let me congratulate you.
Well, thanks, man.
But, you know, it doesn't mean nothing if you don't beat Angle tonight.
Oh, man. I know. I know what's up.
John. John, it's--
I don't think your grasping how big this is, man.
This is history.
You beating Angle tonight,
that means that you're going to main event, WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
Brother, that's what everybody works for.
That's what we live, eat, and think 24/7
when we're in this business.
And even when we're not in this business,
growing up, you know, our dreams, you have that opportunity.
Just let me give you some advice, man, especially, you know, I know Kurt Angle.
I've wrestled him. I mean, I have wrestled him over and over.
I mean, on countless times, and he's a phenomenal wrestler.
And he said something tonight.
He said not only was he gonna put you in the ankle lock,
he said he was gonna make you hurt.
He said he was gonna hurt you.
He said he was gonna make you tap out and hurt.
You know what, John?
I don't believe him.
I believe he can put the ankle lock, but I don't believe that you'll tap.
You remember that.
When he's got that ankle lock and you're hurting,
and all the world is flashing before you in pain,
don't tap.
Because all that's gonna happen, man, is he's gonna get mad.
He gets mad, he gets frustrated.
He gets frustrated, he makes mistakes.
He makes mistakes,
that's your chance.
That's your opportunity to win.
I believe in you.
I know they believe in you.
God bless you.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is the six-man elimination match
for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship of the world.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, earlier today, there was a drawing
to determine the order of entry for this match.
The superstar that drew number one
will square off against the superstar who drew number two.
The winner of that match will face the superstar
who drew number three.
This process will continue until there is one winner left
and that winner will be the Cruiserweight Champion of the world.
["Rocker" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Introducing first, making his way to the ring, from Austin, Texas,
weighing 200 pounds, Paul London.
[Michael] Well, unique ringwear for Paul London.
[Tazz] I think Paul London went in your locker room
-and took your jacket again. -[Michael] Damn it, London.
A big night for Paul London here tonight,
one of six men who have a chance to win the cruiserweight title.
["Chavito Ardiente" playing]
[Chimel] Making his way to the ring, from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 213 pounds, Chavo Guerrero.
[Michael] Chavo Guerrero may indeed be the odds-on favorite to win this thing,
the former Cruiserweight Champion.
[Tazz] Oh, I'll tell you what, Cole. I do agree with that.
Chavo Guerrero can go--
to take nothing off Paul London who's in the ring.
-I'm gonna tell you what. -[rock music playing]
This Paul London as shown signs to have gotten something special.
[Chimel] From Raleigh, North Carolina,
weighing in at 207 pounds, Shannon Moore.
[Tazz] Well, there's the Prince of Punk, Cole. Your favorite cruiserweight
-in the world, right? -[Michael] I love the Prince of Punk.
[Tazz] I always see you with Punk in the back. You're like,
"Hey, let me try on your vest. I love spikes." I was gonna say that.
Speaking of Spike, here's a segue.
[Chimel] Weighing in at 150 pounds, Spike Dudley.
[Tazz] Oh, man.
[Michael] Yeah, that's what you wanna wear in Pittsburgh,
a Tom Brady jersey of the Patriots.
[Michael] Well, Spike Dudley, a former Cruiserweight Champion in his own right.
Not trying to make any friends here at the Mellon Arena.
[Tazz] Oh, well, Spike's hated everywhere he goes.
Lately, people just don't like Spike.
["Delhip-Hop" playing]
[Chimel] From Japan, weighing 200 pounds, Akio.
[Michael] Here's indeed someone who's a real dark horse in this matchup.
[Tazz] I agree with that, Cole. I mean, not for nothing,
all kidding aside, it's Akio, well-versed in the martial arts.
He's so quick in that ring.
Another man who showed sign-- who show signs of greatness.
I'll tell you what, he can get it done in there.
-["Dojo" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Tazz] The champ. -[Chimel] And from Japan,
weighing in at 208 pounds,
he is the Cruiserweight Champion of the world, Funaki.
[Michael] So in this matchup, it's basically the luck of the draw.
Two men will start. Once one man wins,
the next cruiserweight will come into the ring.
You heard there was a drawing earlier today.
[Tazz] But who'll start? Who's one and two?
-Oh, that's not good. Who's one and two? -[Michael] We're gonna find out right now.
And again, if you're one of the first two men,
it does not mean your odds are too good
to win the Cruiserweight Championship here tonight.
[Tazz] Oh, I know. No doubt. No doubt.
-[Michael] Oh, look at this. -[Tazz] What?
[Michael] It's the Cruiserweight Champion, Funaki,
against Paul London to kick things off.
-So the champion not getting the… -[bell ringing]
[Michael] …good odds here in the early going.
[Tazz] Well, let's see if Funaki can run the table here.
[Michael] He's gonna have to run the table.
Gotta get through London and four other superstars to retain the title.
Funaki backing Paul London up.
What type of strategy would you use in this type of match?
[Tazz] Well, I would use-- if I am Funaki,
who's the man, who has to defend his title against more or less five guys,
you can call it anyway you want, that's the way I see this.
If you are Funaki, you gotta deal with each competitor one at a time.
Right now, you're in a match with Paul London,
that's all Funaki should be thinking about.
-[Michael] So you need to be conservative? -[Tazz] Yes.
[Michael] You can't take a lot of high risks?
[Tazz] No. I don't think so.
Nice couple of standing scoops into a side headlock by Paul London.
But you-- or not high risky moves, but, yeah,
no, I don't think you need to be risky.
[Michael] Oh, Paul London with the shoulder knockdown,
could be a-- oh, nice leg sweep by Funaki, into the cover,
kick-out by London before a count of one.
[Tazz] Oh. Nice.
Nice deep underhook arm drag there by London
and you see it's almost like Funaki for a minute thought he could tag out.
-There's no tagging here. -[Michael] I actually think
Spike Dudley was mouthing off to him. Remember, it was Funaki
who took the cruiserweight title from Spike.
Into the corner, Paul London, high elbow to the jaw.
[Tazz] You see London here-- whoa, whoa.
[Michael] There's that mule kick to the back.
-Now, what's London doing? -[Tazz] Stomping on the ring.
[Michael] Nobody home. Paul London bounces of the turnbuckle,
there's a bulldog by Funaki. Cruiserweight Champion
quick into the cover. Shoulders down, hooks the leg,
and Paul London kicks out.
Hey, Chavo, I told you, you gotta stay out of the ring.
-Stay in your corner. -[Tazz] Chavo wanting to get in the ring.
Wait your turn, Chavo.
[Michael] And referee-- and look at Spike Dudley with a knee to the spine.
Spike Dudley with a knee to the spine, Paul London, schoolboy,
shoulder's down, London advances.
The champion's been eliminated. Spike's the next man in the ring.
[Tazz] Well, thanks to the ECW alumnus there,
my former tag team champion partner, Spike Dudley.
[Michael] Spike Dudley, obviously number three,
but with Funaki being eliminated,
we will crown a new Cruiserweight Champion here tonight.
[Tazz] I'm shocked that Funaki's out of the wood.
[Michael] Look at Funaki, payback to Spike Dudley.
Referee never saw it. Here's the hook of the leg.
-[Tazz] Wait a minute. -[Michael] Cover,
Paul London advances again.
-So, who's next? -[Tazz] A couple legends go down.
I'm still shocked and getting over the fact that the champion--
[Michael] Well, now, Prince of Punk must be the fourth entry,
Shannon Moore, cover, hook of the leg, kick-out by London.
-[screams] -[Tazz] Try this for the fifth time.
The champion is out of the wood.
I'm shocked.
-[Michael] He's out of the wood? -[Tazz] Well, he can't--
[Michael] There's Shannon Moore, shoulder down, kick-out by London.
[Tazz] He's out of the wood to retain-- he lost the title. That's my point.
-That's what I'm talking about. -[Michael] Here's the backslide,
Shannon Moore trying to get Paul London, can't get him there.
[Tazz] You even know what "out of the wood" means?
That's what I'm talking about. He's out of the wood.
Side headlock now applied by Shannon Moore.
[Michael] One of these four men will be
the new Cruiserweight Champion here tonight.
Paul London, Shannon Moore, Chavo Guerrero, or Akio.
Shannon into the corner, there's a big shot by Paul London.
[Michael] London started this thing off, eliminated Funaki
and eliminated Spike Dudley, with a little bit of help.
-[Tazz] Well, from-- Spike is a former-- -[Michael] Roll through, shoulders down,
London-- kick-out by Shannon Moore.
[Tazz] So, we got Spike Dudley, former Cruiserweight Champ, he's out.
-[Michael] Right. -[Tazz] And it's-- Funaki was the champ.
-He's done, he's out. -[Michael] Right.
[Tazz] And now you got Paul London going in there against Shannon Moore.
[Michael] The Prince of Punk, Shannon Moore.
Off the turnbuckle goes Paul London.
Shannon Moore.
Again London, high off the turnbuckle.
[Tazz] Well, sternum first into that top turnbuckle, here we go again.
[Michael] A third time, gonna break jaw.
[Tazz] It really helps-- it doesn't help your breathing situation.
-Look at Shannon Moore. -[Michael] Shannon Moore missed,
went for a corkscrew moonsault.
London whipped out of the ring, hung on to the ropes.
That was so athletic by London to hang on to those ropes.
Watch Paul London here.
-London connects. -[Tazz] Oh, man.
[Michael] Here's the cover, hook of the leg, he got Shannon Moore.
[Tazz] What a 450 Splash by Paul London.
[Michael] Vintage Paul London into the 450 Splash,
but Akio now exploding into the ring.
Akio, cover, hook of the leg, kick-out.
Chavo Guerrero, the only man left to enter.
[Tazz] I think now is an opportune time to point out cruiserweight's worth.
Exclusive to SmackDown, you won't see this on Monday nights, ladies and gents.
[Michael] And we talked about staying away from that high-risk maneuver.
Perhaps that 450 Splash by Paul London took something out of him.
It allowed the fresh man, Akio, to really get on the offensive here.
[Tazz] Well, yeah, now, you gotta turn the pace down.
Now, there's three men left.
You know, if you're Chavo Guerrero,
you sit in the-- or you see him right now on the apron.
Right now, Akio-- what's this?
-Hey, Akio. -[Michael] What is this?
[Tazz] Beautiful submission here.
[Michael] Referee Jimmy Korderas is only gonna give him a count of five
and he does, Akio.
[Tazz] Leg scissor choke, using the ropes,
and it can do damage quick.
[Michael] Quickly into the cover, hooks the leg,
and a kick-out by Paul London after two.
I tell you, hell of an effort thus far by Paul London.
[Tazz] Well, there's a-- now, look at that rear choke,
that version of a sleeper hold applied
and that's a-- I'll tell you what,
Akio's got that bad boy in, you see right there,
Paul London trying to-- was trying to get his fingers in between
the crook of Akio's arm on his own throat to prevent getting choked out.
[Michael] And again, pinfall, submission, count-out, anything in this matchup.
Looks like Akio maybe trying to choke out Paul London here.
[Tazz] I was basically just saying that, but Paul London's trying.
[Michael] Well, London's trying to get back to his vertical base which he did.
And look at the enzuigiri to the back of the head by Akio.
Here's the cover, shoulder's down, does he have him?
No. London kicked out.
Akio went back to work now on that left arm.
[Tazz] Yeah. Paul London can't have much left right now.
Well, now, he's caught in that-- in this reverse armbar here.
I'll tell you what, I-- if I'm Chavo,
I'm happy as a pig, in you know what, here.
[Michael] Of course. Let these guys beat each other up
-and come into the ring and, you know… -[Tazz] Oh!
[Michael] …as the fresh man.
As Akio, who gives a kick now to Paul London.
Cruiserweight Championship on the line in this six-man elimination matchup.
[Tazz] Well, I think the big picture here is no matter who wins,
we're gonna have a new Cruiserweight Champion here at Pittsburgh
because we already lost Funaki. He lost in the beginning.
[Michael] And look at Akio really trying to take out Paul London here.
Three men are left.
Funaki, Spike Dudley, Shannon Moore have been eliminated.
[Tazz] London's hands are hanging down, he can't defend himself anymore here.
[Michael] He's been in the ring a long time here
as Akio continues the right hands,
and now with a chop to Paul London.
[Tazz] Akio coming hard after Paul London here.
-Going for a-- -Akio, no!
[Michael] Akio up the top rope, Paul London…
-[Tazz] He's a bit tired. -[Michael] …in trouble here.
[Tazz] Maybe going for a superplex off the tippy top. Maybe he'd reconsider.
[Michael] London trying to battle out of it.
[Tazz] He's trying to get his balance.
That's a hard thing to do if you're Akio right now,
plus you have London beating on your back.
[Michael] What is this?
-[Tazz] I don't know. -[Michael] Wait a minute.
-[Tazz] Oh, my God! -[Michael] Oh, man! Wow,
a neckbreaker from the top rope!
[crowd chatter]
-[Michael] Wow. -[Korderas] One…
[Tazz] I'm speechless.
-Major league. -…two…
[Tazz] Both men had the same thing in mind.
-…three… -[Tazz] Both are down.
[Michael] A swinging neckbreaker off the top rope, Tazz.
And look at Chavo, Chavo's counting with the referee.
Chavo would love to see both men counted to the count of ten,
which means Chavo would become the new Cruiserweight Champion
and never even have to wrestle in the match.
[Tazz] It'd make a great No Way Out for Chavo if this would happen.
Three seconds away.
[Michael] Chavo telling the referee, "Come on."
-…eight… -[Michael] "Count quicker,
you're at the count of eight. Come on," Chavo's saying.
[Tazz] Yeah, but London's near the rope there.
[Michael] So is Akio.
-At the count of nine, Paul London's up. -No, no. He's eliminated.
-He did not make it all the way up. -[Michael] Akio did not--
-[Tazz] Wait, wait. -No. Akio's eliminated.
-He did not make it to his feet. -[Tazz] You heard it.
He said Akio's eliminated. What a rough way to go down.
[Michael] The referee, Jimmy Korderas said Akio did not make it
to his feet by a count of ten.
And now look at Chavo Guerrero.
He looks at Paul London as easy pickings here.
[Tazz] Oh, he's like a piece of meat right now that's been worn down.
[Michael] A kick right to the knee, driving London to the mat.
[Tazz] Chavo, fresh as a daisy, London…
[Michael] Can Paul London do the impossible here, Tazz?
-[Tazz] I don't think so. -[Michael] And run the table?
-[Tazz] He's done. -[Michael] Nonchalant cover
by Chavo Guerrero, and London rolls the shoulder out.
There's the hook of the leg,
shoulders down again, and a kick-out.
[Tazz] I was gonna say that cocky cover was un-Guerrero like, but this not.
[Michael] Again, a cover, and again a kick-out!
Can you believe Paul London?
[Tazz] Well, I'll tell you what. You exert a lot of energy
when you're kicking out three times.
But that Paul London, he's got something in him.
It's a hell of a showing by London, win, lose, or draw here.
[Michael] Look, it's-- What do we have here?
London's gonna do it here. Chavo kicked out at two-and-a-half.
Chavo almost got caught.
-[Tazz] He didn't have the strength-- -[Michael] Oh, what an uppercut.
You wanna make me work? You wanna make me work?
You wanna make me work? Come on.
[Tazz] He said, "You wanna make me work?" And now Chavo more or less claiming,
insinuating he's gonna punish, punish Paul London.
[Michael] Well, Chavo's the veteran, a former Cruiserweight Champion.
And as you said, punishing Paul London here.
Oh, and a right hand at-- the heart of this kid.
London, just battling back in this matchup since the get-go.
[Tazz] Paul London crashed and burned off the top rope with Akio on that neckbreaker
off the top and I think London's still trying to shake that off.
And smart here.
-Oh! -[Michael] Chavo with a neckbreaker,
but look at Paul London with a counter, hanging on.
Hooks the leg, shoulders down,
Chavo kicked out.
[Tazz] Smart by Chavo, go after that neck.
Better smart, more smart by London to hook the rope. Oh!
[Michael] Trading things by London, look at this, shoulders down,
off the bridge, kick-out.
[Tazz] That's a dragon suplex, a full nelson suplex,
beautifully executed with the back bridge, but Chavo able to kick-out.
[Michael] Paul London running perhaps on fumes,
but somehow able to dig deep down inside.
[Tazz] It's called adrenaline, Cole, and that's exactly-- Paul London now.
Where the hell did this kid come from? Look at him.
[Michael] Paul London was one of the first two men in the matchup
and he's one of the final two men remaining.
Chavo whipped across the ring.
-[Tazz] Yo! -[Michael] Big back body drop,
London's in control suddenly.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what, the tide has turned.
-Look at that dropsault. -[Michael] Dropkick, here's the cover,
hook of the leg, kick-out.
[Tazz] Beautiful dropsault by Paul London.
He nailed that.
[Michael] And look at this, knee to the midsection.
Chavo Guerrero bouncing London off the top turnbuckle.
[Tazz] Now, what?
Hooking over-- well, maybe going for a-- Chavo going for-- go behind.
[Michael] Look at this. Rolling him up, shoulders down.
Look at down here, Chavo rolled out. And look at Chavo.
-Chavo's got the damn ropes! -[bell rings]
[Michael] Chavo stole the match using the ropes!
["Chavito Ardiente" playing]
[Chimel] Here's your winner, and the new
Cruiserweight Champion of the world,
Chavo Guerrero!
[Tazz] I'll tell you what. By hook or crook,
Chavo Guerrero leaving No Way Out
with new cruiserweight gold, man.
What a matchup.
[Michael] Yeah, but what an effort by Paul London.
Paul London, what an effort by that kid.
He started the matchup, almost pulled off the upset over Chavo Guerrero.
He used the ropes to pick up the victory.
[Tazz] Oh, I don't disagree at all, but let's take a look at Funaki,
the champion that went into this match.
And you see here, just getting warmed up, small package by Paul London.
Stacked him up and then Spike comes in.
[Michael] And Spike Dudley would be eliminated
after Funaki got a little bit of payback here.
Bang!
[Tazz] Well, big time payback,
but he kinda deserved that.
Paul London picking up the scraps as I like to say,
getting the victory over Spike.
[Michael] And Paul London was still rolling using the 450 Splash
-to knock out Shannon Moore. -[Tazz] Look at this.
How impressive was that move?
Ladies and gentlemen, that is so hard to pull off.
I could tell you, I never could do it.
But check this out. Check this out.
That neckbreaker, I said it earlier, Cole, I said the same thing on line,
I thought Akio was going for the beautiful neckbreaker,
but London ate some of that.
[Michael] Yeah, but Akio did not make the ten-count, was eliminated.
It was down to Chavo and Paul London.
I thought London had Chavo here, but Chavo rolled through,
and watch him grab the rope.
[Tazz] You know, you're calling it cheap trick or whatever you wanna call it, Cole.
The fact of the matter is that championship there,
I'm telling you, you gotta win a match by any means necessary
and Chavo Guerrero just proved how important to become a champion is.
Not that it wasn't important to Paul London
or the rest of the athletes in there, but Chavo Guerrero deserves credit.
-He's the new champion. -We've got two title matches tonight
at No Way Out and one more to come.
Two titles have already changed hands.
Could it be an omen for the big Barbed Wire Steel Cage match
for the WWE Championship later on?
And one man who had a keen interest in that matchup,
who is expected here tonight at No Way Out
is the Royal Rumble winner, Raw's Batista.
And remember what happened this past Thursday night on SmackDown.
Upset that he almost got run over by JBL's limo on Raw,
Batista would show up at SmackDown this past Thursday night
and take out his anger
-on JBL's limousine. -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Oh, look at this. A picture is worth a thousand words,
and JBL's face, he's livid. I think he was in shock.
I think the cabinet-- they're all in shock.
You know, I didn't expect Batista could-- Batista could do this kinda damage.
I mean, what could quite possibly be in store for JBL.
[Michael] Yeah, if he did that damage to a limousine,
what could be in store for JBL here tonight?
[Tazz] That part hurt me.
[Michael] And we saw the arrival of JBL on Sunday Night Heat earlier tonight
in a limousine without the long horns which were destroyed by Batista.
Now, JBL would send the cabinet out to try to get Batista.
Batista would drive away, leaving JBL out cold with some problems
in the form of the seven-foot, 470, Big Show.
[Tazz] And I said-- as I was saying, tonight it went from bad to worse.
Then the largest athlete in the world comes out to face JBL
and just JBL was getting decimated, here comes the cabinet.
[Michael] But you will not see this tonight.
The cabinet will not be able to help out JBL tonight in that steel cage match.
A low blow would be legal in the steel cage match though.
But just as the cabinet and JBL had Big Show down,
who would come to the rescue?
-None other than Raw's Batista. -[Tazz] I'm not too sure, Cole.
I don't know. I beg to differ.
I don't know if he came-- Batista came to rescue Big Show.
I think Batista came for some of JBL, that's the way I see that.
I'll tell you what, this guy is a freak.
Well, they call him The Animal over on Raw.
I think he'd look good on SmackDown.
I don't think JBL would agree with me though.
[Michael] Well, Evolution's "Animal" Batista came face to face
with the Big Show, but their target,
JBL, who's in a world of trouble here tonight.
You understand me? I don't care who you are…
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] You are looking live at the Big Show here at the Mellon Arena,
deep in thought, serious night tonight,
-putting his body on the line… -[Tazz] Well…
[Michael] …in the Barbed Wire Steel Cage match.
[Tazz] …it affects your-- and there it is.
I mean, that structure affects what happens in the career of the Big Show
and he's thinking about that, and it's also gonna effect JBL's career.
That barbed wire will slice and dice your skin, I'm telling you.
[Michael] And the WWE Championship's on the line.
The winner of the matchup will go into the main even at WrestleMania
as Tazz-- why don't you run through the rules now of this unique matchup?
[Tazz] It's pretty straightforward.
You win by pinfall or submission or escaping.
Now, as far as escape goes, I mean, as I pointed out at Sunday Night Heat,
you can't escape like a traditional cage match through the door
because the door will be locked shut throughout the whole thing.
And how the hell do you go over the top of the steel cage
with all that barbed wire there?
And then-- I mean, how do you deal with that?
I mean, that-- how do you deal with it?
-You can't. -[Michael] The steel cage has no friends.
The steel cage has only enemies here tonight.
[narrator] The WrestleMania recall.
[rock music playing]
[Gene] This match is coming off, this Gimmick Battle Royal
and certainly is gonna be truly one of the highlights of this spectacular time.
[Heenan] And this is something, "Mean" Gene.
I love it.
By the time The Iron Sheik gets to the ring, it will be WrestleMania 38.
Here we go.
-[bell rings] -[Gene] Hey, sound of the bell.
And we're off and running with the Gimmick Battle Royal.
Eighteen men in all in the ring,
men are flying out of this ring
right, left, right now, Bobby.
I don't I've ever seen a Battle Royal
where people have been eliminated quite so quickly.
[Heenan] The clown is gone! Watch this, watch this!
-The Iron Sheik wins it! -[bell ringing]
The Iron Sheik wins it! I told you, old gun.
[crowd cheering]
And 42 days from WrestleMania and the night before WrestleMania
at the Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood,
the induction of the 2005 class of the WWE Hall of Fame and among the inductees,
-none other than The Iron Sheik. -Can't wait.
That's gonna be off the chain, as is what we've got going on in the ring.
-Go to that, we got Divas everywhere. -It is time for the Divas.
Divas.
-[laughs] -[Torrie] Okay.
[Chimel] All right, ladies and gentlemen,
it is now the second round
of the SmackDown Rookie Diva of the Year contest.
Let me first reintroduce our contestants.
First, Joy Giovanni.
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Rochelle Loewen.
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Lauren Jones.
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And Michelle McCool.
[Tazz] Well, I know who I'm voting for already. I know.
[Michael] I do to.
All right. Welcome to round two of the SmackDown
Diva Rookie of the Year contest.
[crowd cheering]
In this round, each diva is going to show us
her very special talent.
[crowd cheering]
Well, this is gonna be interesting.
-Okay. -Yeah. Interesting.
Joy, Joy Giovanni, what is your very special talent this evening?
Well, Torrie, my talent is massage.
And if it's okay I'd like to massage…
[crowd chatter]
[laughs]
I'd like to massage you, Torrie.
-[crowd cheering] -Could you lay down for me?
[Tazz] Well, that's a great idea. Phenomenal.
Okay. Let's get a-- you don't even need a table. Just--
Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Okay. My masseuses don't dress like that.
Well, they're guys too, but--
[Tazz chuckles] Wow.
What-- yo! Okay.
Do they do that? They don't do that, right?
But I'll tell you, I need to find a masseuse like this.
-[Michael] Oh, my. -[Tazz] I didn't know that, uh,
Torrie had this specialty.
-This is… -[upbeat music playing]
[Michael] Oh, my.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Well.
[man] Free massage over here, baby.
[Michael] Dawn does not look pleased.
That was nice. Thank you.
Oh. Wait up. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
-Are you kidding me? -What?
You call yourself a massage therapist?
Yes.
I could give a better rub than that.
That was absolutely pathetic.
Right. And if you don't believe Dawn, just ask anyone of the guys in the back.
-Go back. -[crowd chatter]
Rochelle Loewen, what is your very special talent tonight?
Well, first I wanna say, "What up, Pittsburgh?"
-[crowd cheering] -Woo!
Love you!
Love you, guys.
Okay. So I'm gonna tell a couple of jokes.
Ha, ha, ha. How do you make a Kleenex dance?
[crowd chatter]
You put a little boogie in it!
Yeah!
-Woo! -[crowd booing]
Whoa, whoa. Oh, you don't like that?
I have another one.
Are you kidding me?
Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, give me this.
You're gonna hurt yourself.
-Here you go, Torrie. -[Michael laughs]
The only joke around here is you, sweetheart.
Get back into your little spot.
Go, go.
Go. Stay, stay.
-[Torrie] Okay. -Good girl. Good girl.
-Next, please? This is-- -Lauren Jones, what do you got?
All right, Torrie, well, tonight, I'm gonna do a little dance for the crowd.
-[crowd cheering] -All right. DJ, hit the music.
[Michael] DJ Skribble?
[upbeat music playing]
[Tazz] All right.
All right. This is cool.
[crowd cheering]
[music stops]
-Honey. -[crowd cheering]
I can't-- I can't take it anymore, Torrie.
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
Go back. Come on. You know what?
Don't quit your day job because if you strip for a living,
you might make 50 cents.
-Go. -I'll never be--
[crowd chatter]
Nobody asked her to dance on a pole tonight.
All right. Last but certainly not least,
Michelle McCool, what do you got for us?
Oh, jeez.
Well, Torrie.
My special talent is gonna be a bit more physical
because frankly, me, and probably all these Pittsburgh fans
are tired of somebody running their mouth.
[crowd cheering]
Are you kidding me?
What are you gonna do to impress me?
-What do you have-- Torrie! -[Tazz] Hey!
[Michael] Whoa, whoa-- hey! Wait a minute!
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Wow.
A hell of a slam there by Michelle.
-[Michael] That was talented. -[upbeat music playing]
-[Tazz] Sure. -[Michael] I couldn't do that.
[Tazz] Well, I know that.
Well, Dawn. I don't--
I don't think Dawn's happy right now. It's not a--
[Michael] I think she's embarrassed, a bit angry.
-[Tazz] Dawn's not happy either. -[Chimel] All right. Ladies and gentlemen,
remember, voting is now open on wwe.com.
And who will you vote for?
Will it be Joy Giovanni?
-[Michael] Yup. -[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Will it be Rochelle Loewen?
[Tazz] That's the one.
[Chimel] Will it be Lauren Jones?
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Or will it be Michelle McCool?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
JBL, in just a short while,
you will face your biggest challenge to date as you defend
your WWE Championship against the Big Show in the first ever
Barbed Wire Steel Cage match.
What are your thoughts heading into this brutal contest?
You think I'm worried, son?
Teddy Long sticks me in a cage match surrounded by barbed wire
and chains the door shut.
And then he has the audacity to say if I escape the inescapable, I win.
Or if I can pin or make a giant submit, I win.
Son, I understand what I'm walking into.
I understand full well…
[angrily] …full damn well that I will not look like this
when I walk out or I am carried out of that ring tonight.
I understand blood is gonna flow like a river and a lot of it is gonna be mine.
I understand I'm gonna be cut to shreds.
I understand the likelihood of me being hurt is very, very high.
I am willing to go through that, son.
I am willing to go through that and give up everything I have
including my future, including my very life
because I understand this, this body is temporary.
This championship is eternal.
The question you need to ask is you need to ask Big Show,
"Are you willing to take this championship from him?"
Are you willing to reach down to your soul realizing you will not walk out the same
as you walked in if you try to take this championship from me?
You call him the Big Show.
I say he's a sideshow freak and he's got no heart!
I say he's got no soul and I say he's got no guts.
But we're about to find out, aren't we?
We're about to find out.
He wants the world handed to him on a platter.
I took my world!
I am the WWE Champion for a reason.
The people will remember this day not because David slew Goliath.
The people will remember this day because it's the day that they realize
I am who I say I am.
I am the one and the only, I am the almighty.
I am the wrestling god.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd chatter]
["Reigning" playing]
[Michael] Well, the wrestling god part remains to be seen.
But a very confident JBL heading into the matchup here tonight.
["Reigning" continues]
[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from Phoenix, Arizona,
weighing in at 295 pounds,
Luther Reigns!
[Michael] Well, Luther Reigns has his hands full tonight
as he takes on The Undertaker.
Reigns in the ring, what he says is now his yard,
no longer The Undertaker's yard.
[Tazz] Those are strong words by a strong man
and that's that strong man right there,
the ever-barbaric Luther Reigns.
Look at those eyes, man.
[Michael] Remember when Luther Reigns said
he will not be taken off his game
before The Undertaker gets in the ring here tonight.
[Tazz] Well, we'll see. I mean, Cole, as I can remember is this past-- hey.
One-on-one situation.
You get over there.
-This is a one-on-one situation. -Get out of my face. Get out of my face.
Come one, Taker! I'm waiting for you!
Let's go!
-Come on! -Let's go. Come on.
-What are you doing? -Come on.
This is a one-on-one pinfall match.
-Get over there. -Calm down.
Let's go. It's one-on-one with Taker.
Back into Luther's corner.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
Listen to me. I'm telling you, it's one-on-one.
-That's all I needed from you. -[speaking indistinctly]
Guess what? You don't wanna listen?
-Get out of here. -Get out?
-Get out of here. -You can't do that.
[Michael] Well, the referee told Jindrak, "If you don't wanna listen,
then you're not gonna be in ringside for this matchup."
Great call by referee Brian Hebner.
[Tazz] Luther's not happy and I don't blame him.
What the hell was that about there?
[Michael] Well, Mark Jindrak was saying he wanted The Undertaker
for what The Undertaker did to him this past Thursday night on SmackDown.
And we're gonna show to you what The Undertaker did to Jindrak
in that one-on-one matchup.
The Undertaker in total control,
when Luther Reigns would take the television camera.
Now, watch The Undertaker delivering the Tombstone Piledriver to Jindrak.
But a cheap shot by Luther Reigns.
[Tazz] Luther Reigns is gonna get his-- oh, my God, that Tombstone!
That's why Jindrak was-- watch this though.
-This is the big picture here. -[bell ringing]
-[Tazz] My God Almighty. Look at that. -[bell ringing]
Right across the back of the head.
And you gotta wonder the condition of the condition of the Deadman, Cole?
[Michael] You know, The Undertaker is not going to any medical facility.
[Tazz] No, that was two days ago.
[Michael] We have to believe a concussion could be in the offering after that attack
-by Luther Reigns Thursday night. -["Rest In Peace" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And from Death Valley,
weighing in at 305 pounds,
The Undertaker!
[crowd cheering]
["Rest In Peace" continues]
[Michael] Tazz, one of the reasons The Undertaker has been so successful
over the years is because of this.
This bone-chilling eerie presence by The Undertaker
which takes opponents out of their game before the match even begins.
[Tazz] Well, the eyes tell the story of Luther Reigns.
But, Undertaker, the eyes of The Undertaker, the eyes of Luther Reigns.
Look at that.
[Michael] Luther Reigns is not intimidated.
He says he will not be taken off his game before The Undertaker gets into the ring,
saying he's not scared of darkness, that he's already gone.
"What more can you do to me, Undertaker?"
"I spent five years of my life in darkness behind bars."
[Tazz] Luther Reigns has been through hell and back in the joint, in prison.
I mean, everything.
Everything the man's been through five calendar years.
And now, if I'm Luther Reigns and I've been through that?
I'll tell you what Cole, I would fear no man either.
And look, you can see it. That man, Luther Reigns is not sweating
the Deadman.
[Michael] A victory over The Undertaker could indeed make the squared circle
Luther Reigns' yard here tonight.
-Reigns has been shot, he's been stabbed. -[inaudible]
[Michael] He had his throat cut from ear to ear and left for dead.
Twenty-three hours a day in solitary confinement in prison.
And tonight, hopes to channel that anger against The Undertaker.
[Tazz] Well, Undertaker feels like he's gotta put something on Luther too.
Luther costing the Undertaker,
in that Number One Contender's Tournament weeks back,
a chance to go on to main event in WrestleMania
where Undertaker is the king of WrestleMania, undefeated.
-[Michael] 12-0. -[Tazz] There you go.
[Michael] Undertaker 12-0 at WrestleMania.
You had to believe if he had…
[crowd cheering]
…had the opportunity to win the Number One Contender's Tournament,
that he would've won at WrestleMania again.
[Tazz] You think? [chuckles]
[Michael] Undertaker costing Luther Reigns…
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] …and Mark Jindrak a chance
for the tag team championships as well a couple of weeks ago.
And here's The Undertaker with the right hands
starting things of against Luther Reigns.
And if you're the veteran,
I guess you've gotta get the youngster Luther Reigns out of his element early.
[Tazz] Yeah. I think you definitely gotta do that.
I don't know if Luther Reigns is a youngster.
I mean, maybe as far as in-ring experience.
But Luther Reigns is a full-fledged man.
You can see it. This man has been through--
-[Michael] Oh! -[Tazz] Oh! Uh-oh.
[Michael] What a clubbing blow. Now, a kick to the midsection.
-And Luther Reigns begins the assault. -[Tazz] Well-- and right to that--
again, to that head. You know--
[Michael] Oh, and a boot by the Undertaker, so quick!
[Tazz] Undertaker took some hit-- oh. Let's see here.
Here's a quick cover by The Undertaker.
Shoulders down. Luther Reigns kicks out.
[Tazz] A mark of a veteran. Not just a cover.
He locked the arm as he covered, so he comes up with it if the man kicks out,
wrings the arm, and runs his shoulder into the shoulder actually.
[Michael] Undertaker working on that left arm.
The shoulders asset of Luther Reigns.
The veteran, The Undertaker looking to dominate yet again here
at another pay-per-view.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Gonna go a little old-school action it looks like here, Cole.
Look at that balance of the Deadman. Yes.
[Michael] And this huge crowd is with The Undertaker
at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
[Tazz] Uh-oh. Hook-- hooked him here, watch this. Oh!
[Michael] Face-first goes Luther Reigns off the DDT.
Rolling into the cover.
Here's The Undertaker again with a kick-out by Luther Reigns.
One thing you cannot forget about Luther Reigns, Tazz,
he has spent a lot of time learning from Kurt Angle,
the Olympic gold medalist.
[Tazz] And that's a great guy to align yourself--
I'm sorry, a great athlete, a great superstar in Kurt Angle
to align yourself with.
-[crowd laughing] -[Tazz] Referee Brian Hebner…
[Michael] And look at this.
Luther Reigns trying to untie that turnbuckle there,
the turnbuckle pad.
[Tazz] I don't think the Deadman realized it at all.
Neither does the referee because he was running away from The Undertaker.
[Michael] Knee to the midsection. And you're right,
referee Brian Hebner does not realize that steel turnbuckle has been exposed
as Luther Reigns begins the assault.
[Tazz] Looks like Luther Reigns going for the headbutt… [speaks indistinctly]
[Michael] And Undertaker blocked it, delivered an elbow of his own.
[Tazz] Well, yeah, Luther has been working on early in the match--
Undertaker went for a backdrop and Luther clubbed--
it looked like he clubbed onto-- Undertaker in the back of the head.
I don't know if that blocked Undertaker along-- at all
but Undertaker looks like he's pretty much on his game,
but, again, a few days ago,
Undertaker got smacked in the back of the head
with a television camera by Luther Reigns.
He's gotta still be feeling the effect of that, The Undertaker.
[Michael] A right drop, Luther Reigns, then a headbutt, then another right hand.
Luther whipped across the ring
and exploding out of the corner with a clothesline of his own.
Into the cover. Hook of the leg.
Undertaker rolls the shoulder out.
[Tazz] Luther staying to his-- sticking to his game plan.
And I'll tell you-- Oh, my God, to the head. Cole, I'm telling you.
And now you can see The Undertaker's rocking here.
[Michael] Well, we told you,
The Undertaker's not wanting to go to medical facilities,
so you have to believe some sort of damage was sustained
-at the hands of that television camera. -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Watch it.
-That buckle's uncovered. -[Michael] Luther Reigns
into the exposed turnbuckle.
[Tazz] Top of his spine,
he being Luther Reigns, driven to that unpadded steel ring.
What's The Undertaker doing?
[Michael] Undertaker outside the ring now.
Undertaker stalking his opponent, Luther Reigns.
-Come on. -[groans]
[Tazz] Undertaker's got Luther Reigns right where he wants him.
[Michael] Well, this is vintage Undertaker.
[Tazz] Sure is. And look at Luther Reigns' head
just suspended in the air there.
[Michael] Watch out! And an elbow driven to the jaw.
-Three. -[Tazz] The point of the elbow.
[Michael] Welcome to the yard, Luther Reigns.
[Tazz] Well, The Undertaker now
is showing Luther Reigns why people fear him
for so long in this industry.
Look at this, Cole.
[Michael] 305-pound leg drop across the throat.
Luther Reigns may be down and out.
[Tazz] Tremendous athleticism by The Undertaker,
the height that he got on that leg drop.
[Michael] Tremendous elevation by The Undertaker.
Luther Reigns back into the ring.
And now Undertaker, methodically, will begin to stalk his opponent
as Luther Reigns begs off.
[Tazz] Yeah, look at him. And that's rare. I'm shocked to see that Luther Reigns…
I'm-- [mumbles indistinctly]
Luther wants to-- wants to negotiate here but I think--
[Michael] Undertaker right on the attack in the corner.
-[Tazz] Referee-- oh! -[Michael] Oh, look at that.
A low blow by Luther Reigns. Referee didn't see it.
Undertaker dropped by that low blow.
[Tazz] Well, Kurt Angle taught Luther well and--
[Michael] And look at that.
The back of the head bounced of the exposed turnbuckle.
Remember, that's the area of the skull that Luther Reigns attacked Undertaker
with that television camera just three nights ago.
[Tazz] Humongous turning point in this match, Cole.
It just occurred. Taker's hurt. He's gotta be hurt.
[Michael] But what about the wherewithal of Reigns? First a low blow,
and then to use the exposed turnbuckle to take the big man down.
[Tazz] What do you expect from Luther Reigns?
Do you expect this guy to fight clean?
Where this guy's been?
Where this guy brags about where he's been, in prison.
[Michael] Kidney-first into the apron.
And nothing pretty about this beating by Luther Reigns to The Undertaker.
But I'm sure Luther Reigns has been in many physical fights like this
in the prison yard over the years,
just battling for survival,
-which he's doing here tonight. -[Tazz] Well, he's not a dummy either.
Luther Reigns breaking the count.
Referee Hebner telling him, "Get-- you stay in the ring."
That was good by Brian Hebner.
He knew that Luther Reigns was gonna just break the count and go back.
He-- Hebner told him to stay in the ring.
[Michael] I don't envy the referee in the matchup at all here
as Luther Reigns continues to stomp away on The Undertaker.
Crowd, been alive all night behind The Undertaker,
trying to get The Undertaker back into this matchup.
[Tazz] This Luther Reigns is a very vicious and dangerous man, Cole.
Ooh.
[Michael] With authority, tossing The Undertaker around the ring.
The near 300-pounder setting The Undertaker up.
Great suplex. Wow.
[Tazz] Nice pop on the hips on that vertical suplex.
[Michael] Reigns into the cover. He could do this here.
Hooking the leg and Undertaker just shoves his way out.
[Tazz] Well, you know, you gotta do a lot more
to, you know, to defeat The Undertaker, and Luther knows that.
Luther's just trying to wear down the Deadman,
but Deadman's condition is the question.
[Michael] But the bottom line is we were just a second away
from a huge upset there.
[Tazz] I know, but I'm trying to tell you is Undertaker's hurt.
His head was rocked.
He got hit-- he got hit in the head with a TV camera
from Luther a few days ago.
And Luther is attacking the head of The Undertaker.
[Michael] Now, you suffered concussions. And, matter of fact, you had a concussion
-in WrestleMania before. -[Tazz] Yup.
[Michael] And it takes more than three days
-to get over that, to recover from. -[Tazz] Sure does, Cole. Absolutely does.
Now, I didn't get hit with a TV camera but-- oh!
[Michael] Luther Reigns delivering the elbow to the sternum.
Shoulders down and Undertaker rolls the shoulder out.
[Tazz] You gotta figure in the past few days,
that's probably affected The Undertaker's training
or maybe lack thereof. Maybe he couldn't train.
Maybe his head was all shot. You never know.
And now a single leg Boston crab by Luther Reigns.
-And-- -[groans]
[Michael] And that weight into the skull.
[Brian] Come on, you wanna give it up?
-[groans] -[Brian] What do you say?
[Tazz] You don't hear that often, Undertaker in pain.
Come on, what do you say? You wanna give it up?
[Michael] Luther Reigns is suddenly in total control of the Deadman here.
Shoulders down
-and Undertaker rolls it out at two. -Come on, ref!
-[Tazz] Well-- -[Michael] Referee Brian Hebner,
great position as The Undertaker pops out again.
-Undertaker in a world of trouble here. -[Tazz] I mean,
Undertaker might be going in and out of consciousness, Cole,
you never know.
[Michael] Right hand and another right hand.
Undertaker trying to throw hands with Luther Reigns.
There's the third right. Can he break this-- a boot to the face.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Michael] Another boot.
Undertaker battling out.
And Reigns is staggering a bit.
[Tazz] Well, that will slow anybody down, a couple of kicks to the face.
Nice body shot. Another one.
[Michael] Right and lefts and another one to the gut of Luther Reigns.
Undertaker throwing hands now.
What an uppercut! Trying to take Reigns off his feet,
and a clothesline will.
[Tazz] Undertaker, the consummate pro, the consummate veteran's got a cover.
[Michael] A cover, shoulders down. Kick-out by Reigns at two.
[Tazz] Undertaker trying to shake this thing off here.
[Tazz] Well, Deadman looking like he's focused.
A headbutt, oof.
You gotta wonder if he's feeling the effects of that.
[Michael] Reigns bouncing off that top turnbuckle.
Undertaker whipped across the ring.
-Ooh, and a boot. -[Tazz] That's the problem.
Don't hesitate with The Undertaker, Reigns.
Watch out!
Nice tackle right there.
Version of a spear by Luther Reigns right in the gut.
[Michael] Can Reigns take advantage? Here's the cover. May have him here.
And Undertaker at two-and-a-half.
[Tazz] Might be wondering why Luther Reigns did that spear
which would affect your midsection. That wasn't the key.
I think the key was to make The Undertaker land
on the back of his head and it worked.
[Michael] And again, a cover. Again, a hook of the leg.
And again, The Undertaker has to exert a lot of energy
to pop out of the cover.
[Tazz] Luther Reigns' got that violent grin on his face.
He senses victory which would catapult his career
-in a huge way. -[Michael] Look at this.
Luther Reigns going perhaps for that neckbreaker here.
-[Tazz] Let's see. Oh, nice. -[Michael] Undertaker, knee to the skull.
And right hands, trying to get out of this predicament.
[Tazz] Deadman is fighting his way out of problems
with Luther Reigns.
[Michael] Tell you, if Luther Reigns had hit that neckbreaker,
he would've taken over the yard
as Undertaker battles back with the right hands.
[Tazz] Nice high knee to the sternum region of The Undertaker
by Luther Reigns.
[Michael] This has boiled down to almost a sort of a street fight.
[Tazz] Well, this a physical, physical battle here.
-Look at this. -[Michael] Vintage Undertaker flying
through the air and taking Reigns out.
[Michael] Great height right there and spring in the legs of The Undertaker.
Watch out. Watch out. Oh!
[Michael] What a clothesline.
[Tazz] Luther staggered out now.
I don't think Luther knows where he is now.
[Michael] Yeah, but Luther Reigns staying on his feet though.
Back into that exposed turnbuckle again.
-On the shoulder of The Undertaker. -[Tazz] Oh, my God. Just look at this.
-I thought he was going for Snake Eyes. -[Michael] Going for Snake Eyes.
That's what he was doing. And a big boot off the face.
[Tazz] Watch out, watch out, watch out. Look at this leg drop.
-Great height again. -[Michael] Here's the cover again.
-Shoulders down. -[Tazz] One, two.
[Michael] And Luther Reigns at two kicks out.
-Wow. -[Tazz] Undertaker--
-Undertaker has shifted this now. -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] I'm impressed with Luther's toughness,
but I'm more impressed with that goozle,
and you know what's next.
[Michael] Luther Reigns going for the chokeslam ride.
Planted high and tight.
And Undertaker back in control.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] This is the point in the match where usually people are doneski.
And let's see if the Deadman can finish off Luther.
[Michael] Going for the Tombstone Piledriver.
Reigns though slides off the shoulder.
And then he hit the swinging neckbreaker.
Reigns hit the swinging neckbreaker.
Luther Reigns rolling toward a cover.
This could be a huge upset here. Undertaker's down.
-[Tazz] Watch this. -[Michael] Hook of the leg.
And Undertaker kicked out of the swinging neckbreaker.
[Tazz] That swinging neckbreaker.
For sure Undertaker just got locked down with that swinging neckbreaker.
[Michael] There may not have been another man in the WWE
that could've kicked out of that swinging neckbreaker,
but The Undertaker did.
-And now, Luther Reigns on the assault. -[Brian] Three. Come on.
[Tazz] Luther Reigns doesn't do things pretty in that ring.
You hear time and time again about superstars
with a, you know, that smack-- that smashmouth style.
And I'll tell you what,
-Reigns has got that full throttle. -[Michael] And look at--
Reigns is going for it again.
Reigns going for another swinging neckbreaker here.
[Tazz] He's gonna try to lock down Taker again with this.
[Michael] And Taker with a reversal, DDT.
What a counter by the veteran.
-And Taker sat up. -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Hell of a counter by The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Uh-oh for Reigns.
[Michael] Luther Reigns up high. Undertaker with Reigns on his shoulder.
[Tazz] Oh, my God. Watch out here.
-Oh, God. -[Michael] Tombstone Piledriver.
-Here's the cover. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Michael] Undertaker victorious… -[bell ringing]
[Michael] …at No Way Out.
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[Chimel] Here is your winner, The Undertaker.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what,
extreme, extremely physical confrontation
by both these behemoths.
Luther Reigns was not victorious.
But I'll tell you what, Luther fought hard.
He went at it toe-to-toe.
One of the greatest legends,
one of the greatest superstars ever in WWE history,
and that man right there, The Undertaker.
[Michael] Well, Luther Reigns said he did not fear The Undertaker
and there was no fear for Luther Reigns here tonight.
But the bottom line is with a Tombstone Piledriver,
The Undertaker picks up the victory here at No Way Out.
[Tazz] And the Deadman getting it done in a strong way.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Look at that face.
[Michael] There has never been anyone quite like The Undertaker
in the history of sports entertainment.
Take another look.
[Tazz] Well, it looks like here Luther Reigns going for--
It's a second point of the match. That's the problem.
You go to be careful of The Undertaker because he'll catch you.
Get him once, fine. Get him a second time? Uh-uh.
Look at this. Tombstone City.
No one, and I repeat, no one
-is gonna be able to kick-out of that. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Tazz] No man, unless you've got an "S" on your chest.
-["Rest In Peace" continues] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Just an unbelievable presence when The Undertaker is in his yard.
[Tazz] Well, it was a very, very physical battle.
Very, very physical confrontation.
That's what it's about.
This is not ballet. Get it done the hard way.
[Michael] I think the true ownership of the yard
has been determined here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[music fades]
[Michael] Well, there's General Manager Theodore Long,
still awaiting the arrival of his special guest tonight,
Raw's Batista.
Batista due here tonight at No Way Out.
["Need A Little Time" playing]
[Chimel] All right. Ladies and gentlemen,
here to host the final round
of the SmackDown Rookie Diva of the Year contest,
Torrie Wilson.
[Michael] Well, Dawn Marie has refused to finish hosting this competition
after what happened earlier tonight
when Michelle McCool had her little talent situation.
My special talent is gonna be a bit more physical
because frankly, me, and probably all these Pittsburgh fans
are tired of somebody running their mouth.
-[Michael] Well, I sort of thought that-- -Are you kidding me?
What are you gonna do to impress me?
-What do you have-- Torrie! -[Michael] I sort of thought
Dawn Marie did deserve this though.
[Tazz] Well, I don't know, I mean, Dawn was a little bitter, I guess.
But still, it wasn't nice.
I mean, she was-- she was disrespected out here.
["What Love Is" playing]
I'm sure that's how Dawn feels.
♪ Let me show you how to move your body ♪
♪ Let me show you how to make me crazy ♪
♪ Too much lovin' never hurt nobody ♪
[Chimel] And ladies and gentlemen, let me reintroduce the contestants.
First, Joy Giovanni.
[Tazz] Look at that. It's the Roethlisberger.
Wait a minute. She's from--
[Michael] She's from Boston, Massachusetts.
-[Tazz] All right. -[Michael] But nonetheless,
-listen to this. -[Chimel] Our second contestant,
Rochelle Loewen.
[Michael] This is the best part of the competition.
-[Tazz] I know. -[Michael] The bathing suit competition.
[Tazz] Man, duh. I know that. They got robes on. I could see.
This is the best part.
-She's a Canuck, you know. -[Chimel] Our third contestant,
Lauren Jones.
[Michael] She's a Canadian.
[Tazz] No. She's from Mississippi, Lauren. I knew that.
Miss Mississippian of Mississippi, I bet.
[Chimel] And last but not least, Michelle McCool.
[Tazz] Well, I'll tell you, all these-- all these ladies are gorgeous.
I mean, you know, obviously, right?
[Michael] Beautiful, I mean-- They looked stunning in their evening gowns.
-They showed some talent. -[Tazz] Yes, yes, absolutely.
[Michael] And now they look stunning out here
as we get set for the bathing suit competition.
Who is gonna be the SmackDown Rookie Diva 2005?
Remember, voting underway right now at wwe.com,
as we wrap things up with this final competition.
♪ Yeah, you wanna take me… ♪
[music fades]
All right, guys, it's time for the final round.
One of my personal favorites, the swimsuit competition.
[crowd cheering]
Ladies, you'll each have 15 seconds
to show the audience your swimsuits.
And don't forget, you're trying to make the audience vote for you.
So, first up, Joy Giovanni.
-[crowd cheering] -["Only Love Can Do It" playing]
[Tazz] All right.
Oh, wow.
Well, what do you think there, par-- Oh, okay.
[Michael] Speechless.
[Tazz] Gorgeous. She looks great.
-[music fades] -[Tazz] How did she do that?
Wow.
Okay. Rochelle Loewen.
["Bump It" playing]
-[Tazz] Um… -[Michael] Wow.
[Tazz] My tongue's-- I don't know what to say.
Whoa, whoa.
[music stops]
All right. Lauren Jones, show us what you got.
["Titantron" playing]
[Tazz] Nice Southern belle here. Let's--
Wow.
What do you like, Cole, blonds or brunettes? Redheads?
[Michael] I'm a big brunette fan.
-[Tazz] Really? -[Michael] Yeah.
[Tazz] I like blonds, brunettes, redheads. [speaks indistinctly]
And of course, Michelle McCool.
["Move It Up" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Wow.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] That's pretty cool.
All right. I have a feeling this is gonna be a tough decision.
[indistinct chatter]
All right. While we tally the votes on wwe.com,
I think we need to poll the audience.
What do you think, Pittsburgh?
[crowd cheering]
[Torrie] Will it be Joy Giovanni?
[crowd cheering]
[Torrie] How about Rochelle Loewen?
[crowd booing]
[Torrie] How about Lauren Jones?
[crowd exclaiming]
[Torrie] Or Michelle McCool?
[crowd cheering]
[Torrie] Well, it sounds like the audience decided.
Let's see what the fans on wwe.com decided.
Shall we?
[man 1] I want Joy.
-[man 2] Joy! -[man 3] Lauren.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Wow.
[Torrie] Wow.
Congratulations, Joy. You're the winner.
-["Only Love Can Do It" playing] -[Michael] So our Rookie Diva for 2005,
-Joy Giovanni. -I think it was the massage that did it.
[Tazz] Torrie goes, while you were babbling,
that she thinks that it was the massage that did it.
And I'll tell you what, I think it was right
and I think it was a great, great competition.
They were all winners in my book.
-[Michael] They were all winners. -[Tazz] Beautiful.
[Michael] They look wonderful, gorgeous, beautiful.
♪ Everybody's in a hurry With too much to do ♪
-[Michael] But Joy's the Rookie Diva 2005. -[speaks indistinctly]
-["Enemy" playing] -Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next
at No Way Out, we will determine one man
who will be in the main event at WrestleMania.
It is Pittsburgh's Olympic hero Kurt Angle,
going one-on-one with the United States Champion John Cena
in the final of the Number One Contender's Tournament.
[Tazz] And Cole, I'm telling you, the question is
which one of these SmackDown superstars
is going to WrestleMania to be the main event?
That's the big question.
[Michael] Eight superstars started.
We're down to two to determine who goes to WrestleMania.
[Teddy] Right here on SmackDown,
there's going to be a eight-man
Number One Contender's Tournament.
And the winner will meet the champion at WrestleMania.
♪ Do you remember me? ♪
♪ You can't see the things ♪
♪ That make me who I am ♪
♪ You'll never understand ♪
♪ And I gotta keep moving ♪
♪ You're living off my sweat ♪
♪ Moving, the devil's on my back ♪
♪ And these are the days That I dreamed about ♪
♪ And you're always there to remind me ♪
♪ That you're my enemy ♪
♪ All that we had has gone away ♪
♪ There are times that fade away ♪
♪ But you'll still be my enemy ♪
[Michael] Kurt Angle's proteges, Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns,
getting involved in the quarter final matchup
between The Undertaker and Rene Dupree
leading to the double count-out.
This means the winner of the Kurt Angle-Rey Mysterio matchup
will go directly to the finals.
♪ The friend you had in me ♪
♪ You turned on so easily ♪
♪ I'm sad to see you go ♪
♪ At least now I know ♪
♪ And I gotta keep moving ♪
♪ You're living off my sweat ♪
♪ Moving, the devil's on my back ♪
♪ And these are the days That I dreamed about ♪
♪ And you're always there to remind me ♪
♪ That you're my enemy ♪
♪ All that we had has gone away ♪
♪ There are times that fade away ♪
♪ But you'll still be my enemy ♪
-[Michael] The FU, hook of the leg. -[Tazz] Two.
[Michael] John Cena's going to No Way Out to meet Kurt Angle.
[Kurt] You're looking at the greatest athlete
in the history of this company.
I'm going to my third straight main event at WrestleMania.
And there's not a damn thing you can do about it.
Wake up, man!
No Way Out,
you're not looking at a kid who doesn't belong.
You're looking at a hungry son of a bitch
who is going to WrestleMania.
♪ Enemy ♪
[Michael] And a big thank you to Fozzy
for the No Way Out theme song "Enemy," rocking.
[Tazz] Yeah. No doubt, off the chain. Fozzy did a great job as usual.
Go check it out.
Pick up "Enemy", cool.
["Basic Thugonomics" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ So, you think you're untouchable? ♪
-♪ Word life, this is basic thugonomics… ♪ -[bell ringing]
[Chimel] This is the Number One Contender's Tournament final match
scheduled for one fall.
In the ring from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 238 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
John Cena.
[Michael] John Cena with his game face on.
He defeated Orlando Jordan and Booker T
to advance to the finals of the Number One Contender's Tournament.
And one thing we learned about Cena three nights ago on SmackDown,
he can take punishment.
He can battle through adversity to pick up victory.
[Tazz] Oh, he better. But I'll tell you what,
because lately we've seen a very vicious Kurt Angle.
And his, uh, Kurt Angle Invitational,
but Cena does look extremely focused.
I think he might know he's in knee deep. You know what I'm saying?
["Medal" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And making his way to the ring,
he's the only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history
and a former WWE Champion,
-Kurt Angle. -[crowd chanting] You suck!
You suck!
[Tazz] I was wondering what kinda reaction Angle was gonna get here
in his hometown,
but I guess his hometown thinks he sucks.
But believe me, folks, he does not suck.
[Michael] Kurt Angle is thinking about one thing,
headlining WrestleMania for a third straight year.
John Cena thinking of one thing,
being in the main event at WrestleMania for the very first time.
Kurt Angle, a four-time WWE Champion,
a former Olympic gold medalist.
He has won all available titles in the WWE.
John Cena, the United States Champion,
won his first United States Championship at WrestleMania XX.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Tonight, the winner
of this match advances to Hollywood,
WrestleMania 21 for a shot at the WWE title.
[Tazz] And the questions is, is John Cena ready?
-Is he ready to defeat a machine… -Break the hold! One, two, three!
[Tazz] …like Kurt Angle?
[Michael] Let's talk strategy.
If you're the challenger, John Cena, he's focused, he's intense,
what does he need to do to get Kurt Angle out of his game?
[Tazz] Stay off the mat.
Don't play the mat game with Kurt Angle.
He will just rip you up.
I'm telling you from experience.
[Michael] And if you're Kurt Angle, you wanna wear John Cena down.
Side headlock, Kurt Angle begins to work on the mat early going in the match.
[Tazz] Well, if you're Kurt Angle,
you wanna bring what brought you-- you wanna dance with the girl
that brought you-- that you brought to the dance
and you wanna do what got you that gold medal, and that's wrestle.
[Michael] Kurt Angle bounced off the ropes. Big shoulder knockdown.
Kurt Angle measuring his man, once again to the side headlock.
Now, for Kurt Angle, it is a lot about mat wrestling.
But, as we saw at the Royal Rumble,
with that vicious assault on Shawn Michaels, there is a vicious,
violent side of the Olympic Gold Medalist.
[Tazz] Well, absolutely there is, and it's called a hunger to win.
It's called the-- you know, a violent streak.
You know, I mean-- I mean, you don't become a WWE Champion,
you don't become an Olympic gold medalist,
first time ever in WWE history by being a nice guy, Cole.
Nice guys don't do well a lot of times and win championships in this industry.
[Michael] Kurt Angle whipped off the ropes.
Big shoulder knockdown again.
And Angle taking it to Cena in the early going of the matchup.
Up over the top. John Cena went for the hip toss.
And a great belly-to-belly counter.
-Back again hooking on the arm. -[Tazz] Well, and he hooked--
he's hooking the head and the arm and keeping--
he's keeping-- Now he's got an arm trapped with the head.
-That can be a version of a choke. -One.
[Tazz] But you wanna do what Angle was trying to do,
but John was smart enough to get his arm out of there.
Angle's gonna put his ear behind Cena's tricep
and choke him out with his own arm.
I'm telling you, it's a dangerous jiu-jitsu hold
or a freestyle wrestling hold with Kurt Angle as a gold medalist.
[Michael] John Cena's first matchup ever in the WWE on SmackDown.
He took Kurt Angle to the limit.
Even got a pat on the back by The Undertaker for his effort.
But this is a whole different ball game here tonight.
-This is for a spot in WrestleMania. -[Tazz] Right.
That's right, that was a long time ago.
[crowd chanting] Angle sucks! Angle sucks!
[Michael] This is Kurt Angle's hometown,
but still the "Angle sucks" chants throughout the Mellon Arena.
[Tazz] Well, that's okay.
I mean, in my opinion, I don't think that's bothering Angle.
I don't think Angle wants anyone to like him.
It-- You know, it shows by his attitude.
He's very cocky. He's conceited and pompous. I'll tell you,
every time you see him, "I'm an Olympic gold medalist."
He'll show you the damn medal if you want. He should be proud.
And Kurt Angle's very territorial.
He brought the gold not just to the United States, but to Pittsburgh,
and he don't care if these people are proud of him or not.
[Michael] John Cena whipped off the ropes by Kurt Angle.
Whoa. A big drop toehold by Kurt Angle into the front facelock.
-Now, remember one thing-- -[Tazz] How fast was that?
-You see how quick he sprawled-- -[Michael] Shoulders were down.
[Tazz] How quick he sprawled over the headlock?
Hooked the half and then-- and put flat back Kurt-- Cena on his back.
[Michael] Let's mention one thing too.
Kurt Angle's much more rested than John Cena is.
Kurt Angle only had one match to get to the finals of the tournament,
plus Kurt Angle lives in Pittsburgh.
He's been staying at home the past three days,
home cooking, not living at a hotel like John Cena.
Cena had to go through a grueling match Thursday night against Booker T.
-Kurt Angle more rested than John Cena is. -[Tazz] I agree with that.
And I think that puts the odds against Cena even more than the hometown thing.
The hometown thing don't matter. The people like Cena better.
[Michael] And John Cena, that pound and ground attack
starting to come out a bit with the shoulders to the gut.
[Tazz] Well, wanted a clean break but-- uh-oh, uh-oh. Whoa.
[Michael] Kurt Angle missed with the right hand
and Cena almost knocking the head off of Angle's shoulders.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what, that's street style right there
by John Cena.
-And watch out, partner. -[Michael] Wait a minute.
Kurt Angle, John Cena,
going right over the announce table.
John Cena…
John Cena, get out! Get in the ring.
-Let's go. -[fan 1] Come on, Kurt.
-[Charles] In the ring now. -[indistinct chatter]
[fan 2] Kick his ass, Kurt.
[fan 3] Kick his ass!
[screams]
[Michael] John Cena viciously assaulting Kurt Angle
here at the announce table.
It was like a drive-by assault.
Cena tackling Angle, driving Angle over the announce table.
And suddenly Cena is in control, suplex to Angle.
Cover. Hook of the leg.
May have him, and a kick-out by Kurt Angle.
-[crowd chanting] Let's go, Cena. -[Michael] Wow.
[Tazz] Well, hello.
This thing just got physical, amen.
[Michael] Well, I'll tell you, you mentioned it earlier,
John Cena had to turn this into a physical pound and ground matchup
in order to have a chance in this thing, Tazz,
and that's what he's done here.
[Tazz] He did it. Oh, my God.
[Michael] Kurt Angle, nobody home, runs into the boot of John Cena. Oh!
[Tazz] Kurt Angle was outwrestling Cena.
Cena so smart taking Angle out of his element,
out of his game, forcing Kurt to fight him.
-[Michael] Well, certainly-- -[Tazz] F-U.
[Michael] Wait a minute. Went for the F-U.
Kurt Angle rolled out of the way.
Again, John Cena's gotta take it to the street here
against Kurt Angle.
And he's been doing so thus far.
[Tazz] Well, smart by Kurt Angle
busting the momentum of John Cena,
utilizing that ten-count.
Very smart by Angle.
Four.
[Tazz] Gotta use your brain, Cole. It's not just about using your body
and brawn and brute strength and technique.
The brain is a very important muscle.
[Michael] And for John Cena, you've gotta use your brain here.
-You can't get overconfident. -Come get some.
[Michael] You gotta remain in control.
[Tazz] He did that. He stayed in the ring. That was smart by Cena.
[Michael] So much on the line in the matchup.
The winner will face the WWE Champion
and perhaps Batista at WrestleMania 21,
April 3rd, in Los Angeles,
as John Cena battles back with the right hands.
[Tazz] Well, here we-- here we go.
I mean, this is big right now for John Cena and for both Kurt Angle.
I mean, like you just pointed out, an opportunity to go to WrestleMania
and to be the main event.
I mean that-- but my hope-- I dreamt of that.
I wish I could've accomplished it.
[Michael] Kurt Angle's so quick, kick to the midsection.
John Cena into the corner, a bit awkwardly there.
Kurt Angle grabbed the foot, missed with the right hand.
[Tazz] Watch out, watch out, watch out. Oh.
[Michael] Oh, my, suplex right on the top rope and turnbuckle.
[Tazz] My God. That's a German suplex,
back of his neck and spine right into that top turnbuckle.
Wow.
[Michael] Referee Charles Robinson quickly into position to check on John Cena.
But Cena's head snapping off the turnbuckle.
And here comes the vicious part of Kurt Angle smelling blood.
[Tazz] Well, Kurt Angle don't care how he wins this thing as long as he wins it.
And that's not good for Cena.
[Michael] Kurt Angle knocking John Cena down to his knees yet again.
And Kurt Angle now in position to dominate the match.
And that's where Kurt likes being, in a position to dominate.
When he could do that, there's no beating Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Aggression, Cole, over-aggression.
[Michael] Suplex. Cover. Hooked leg. Shoulder, kick-out at one.
[Tazz] And you could see the tenacity here
of Kurt Angle. And look-- hook of the arm again.
[Michael] Again, the shoulder down. And again, a kick-out.
[Tazz] I'll tell you, Kurt Angle is just making John Cena
exert strength and energy.
[Michael] Watch this suplex here, the German to the turnbuckle.
And did you see Cena's neck and head snap as he hit that turnbuckle?
[Tazz] I'm glad we had a replay because I didn't know where he hit.
-I didn't know where Cena did hit. -[Michael] Backbreaker.
Hooks the leg again. And John Cena rolls out again.
[Tazz] I knew it was his back, I didn't know if it was his neck
and that's why Angle's working on the back of the neck
and the upper spine of Cena.
[Michael] This crowd trying to will John Cena on,
but Kurt Angle now dominating the United States Champion.
But this is not about the United States Championship.
This is about to have a shot at the WWE title at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] Well, sure enough, that's the main event, baby.
That's where you wanna be
at WrestleMania in the match, the main event.
Snapmare by Angle.
Now, that body scissors with the leg and controlling the head.
Well, he had the head there, Angle did.
[Michael] And it's not a main event, it's the main event.
-[Tazz] Yes, yes. -[Michael] And Kurt Angle knows
what it's like to be in the main event at WrestleMania.
Now what does this do here, Kurt Angle controlling Cena like that?
[Tazz] It just wears you down.
You can't breathe if someone's squeezing your stomach
with someone as-- legs as strong as Kurt Angle,
those quads and those calves.
He's got a body scissors on the midsection of John Cena,
making him breathe hard.
[Michael] John Cena said Thursday night on SmackDown
that he is a hungry SOB, that he wants this more than anything.
But he's gotta be frustrated here
that he's being outwrestled by the master Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Nice. He's going for that choke right there.
Actually, it looks like maybe Kurt's gonna start crossfacing him
and he's just grinding that forearm into the face of Cena.
Look at Cena's neck getting torqued back while Kurt controls the body.
I'm sure that's the stuff that Kurt Angle did to people in the wrestling room
at Clarion University where he--
where he trained to become a gold medalist.
[Michael] And how about the Olympic Training Center…
-[Tazz] Yeah, exactly. Yeah. -[Michael] …in Colorado?
John Cena's gotta get back to his feet.
He needs to make it back to a vertical base here.
Kurt Angle continues the pressure.
The sweat rolling off his body.
That's how much he's putting into this matchup here.
[Tazz] Sure it's a nice-- a second body shot.
A third uppercut to the gut.
Nice, right to the jaw by Cena.
[Michael] Now look at this. Oh. John Cena with a high elbow.
The elbows and the rights have been John Cena's best…
-[Tazz] Whoa. -[Michael] …allies so far.
But there's one German suplex. Hands are wrapped.
A second German suplex.
You see Cena grabbing the head that bounced off the turnbuckle.
[Tazz] Yes, he sure is.
[Michael] And a third German suplex by Angle.
-Cover. Forearm to the face. -[Tazz] Angle's got it. He's got it.
[Michael] He may have it here. Cena got his foot on the bottom rope.
[Tazz] He couldn't kick-out, but he had smart ring sense
and mat sense, Cena did, to know where he was in the ring
and to utilize, as an ally, that bottom rope.
And he saved himself.
He almost wasn't gonna go to WrestleMania, the main event,
you know, against the champion.
[Michael] If it was in the center of ring, this matchup would've been over with.
[Tazz] No doubt. And now Kurt Angle working--
working on the back of that neck by--
just with his knee and the small, you can't see it now, off Cena's back.
-Look at that. -[Michael] And those suplexes
of course working the neck, the shoulders,
and now the pressure on the neck and the back again by Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what, John Cena's in trouble I think, Cole.
I mean, the kid's got a fighting heart, no doubt.
But Kurt Angle's got a plan and he is focused.
And he looks deadly tonight. He looks unstoppable.
[Michael] Well, Kurt Angle had a plan coming into this matchup,
there's absolutely no doubt about that.
John Cena again with the right hand, battling out.
Can he muster some more offense here? Cena whipped across the ring.
John Cena, shoulder knockdown.
There's the pound and ground that John Cena likes to use,
but can he capitalize?
[Tazz] Well, Cena exploding from a vertical base,
chest and shoulder first right into Kurt Angle, dropping him.
[Michael] Kurt Angle's had great success at No Way Out.
He won the Intercontinental Championship here last year.
Kurt Angle defeated John Cena and the Big Show
in a Triple Threat match to become the number one contender.
So Kurt Angle looking to beat Cena again this year at No Way Out.
[Tazz] Well, that remains to be seen.
Both men almost-- well, Kurt's to a vertical base.
And now Cena is up blocking Kurt's punch.
It looks like Cena here, second one, third, fourth punch.
[Michael] Well, it looked like John Cena's actually gotten Kurt Angle
to come into his game to try to play his game a little bit.
Cena exploding with a clothesline.
[Tazz] Did you see Cena's face before that first clothesline?
-This kid… -[Michael] High elbow.
[Tazz] He-- I'll tell you what, it's the fourth quarter for him.
-He gotta-- -[Michael] Oh. And rake to the eyes,
that is vintage Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] What? Killing the man's momentum? That was smart by Angle.
Illegal but smart.
-[Michael] Spinebuster. -[Tazz] Oh, man.
-[Michael] Cover. Hooks the leg. -[Tazz] One, two--
[Michael] Is Cena going to WrestleMania? Not now.
[Tazz] Wow.
Well, Cena… Cena looked-- in his face, his eyes,
it looked like it was like, "Okay. What do I gotta do now?"
"What do I gotta do to beat Angle?"
[Michael] Every once in a while, you'll hear people--
-[Tazz] Look at this. -[Michael] Look at that,
the German suplex. Kurt Angle again with a--
And you see, John Cena's trying to shake the cobwebs from that suplex.
There's a block elbow again.
You hear every once in a while a cheer for Kurt Angle.
We are in Angle's hometown of Pittsburgh. Tilt-a-whirl.
-I don't think they're cheering Angle. -[Michael] Here's the cover.
-[Tazz] But here we go. One, two-- -[Michael] Hook of the leg,
shoulders down, and Angle just got the shoulder up.
Remember what John Cena said Thursday night, Tazz,
that the pressure is on him tonight.
He's gotta prove that now is his time.
That it's his time to be in the big dance.
That's he's among the upper echelon of superstars here in on SmackDown.
[Tazz] You don't see John Cena out here,
you know, hotdogging, doing that thing.
-F-U time. -[Michael] Cena's going for the F-U.
Kurt Angle rolled him through.
-Angle's gonna catch him-- -[Tazz] Whoa.
[Michael] And Cena just kicked out.
-And right into… -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Watch out.
[Michael] …the belly-to-belly throw, vintage Angle.
[Tazz] Kurt was so quick to hook his fingers and lock up John Cena
and pop his hips with that throw.
And I think John Cena, Kurt Angle, Cole, they're both super aware
of what opportunity lies before them
to go to Mania and be in the main event.
[Michael] Kurt Angle setting Cena up. Went for the Angle Slam.
John Cena to the midsection, DDTs Kurt Angle.
This could be the turning point of this match.
[Tazz] Well, if Cena could get a cover, it might be the end of the match.
[Michael] He does get the cover. Hooks the leg. Big upset. No.
Kurt Angle rolled the shoulder out again.
[Tazz] I don't know if it's-- it would be an upset, Cole.
Really, this kid, John Cena, he is the United States Champ,
-on a big time roll too. Look at his eyes. -[Michael] It would be an upset
because of one thing,
because of the experience of Kurt Angle being here before.
For John Cena, this is new ground for him.
-John Cena, going for the F-U. -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Angle rolled through again and into the ankle lock.
And into the ankle lock.
[Tazz] Oh, my God.
Cena got caught, Cole.
[Michael] Hometown crowd on its feet.
-John Cena-- -[Tazz] No.
[Michael] What a reversal. What a counter.
[Tazz] John Cena saved himself right there.
Kudos to Cena who escaped that ankle lock.
[Michael] That was the best counter that John Cena has made in this matchup
-at the perfect time. -[Tazz] John Cena went for the F-U.
Kurt Angle countered with a-- going for a victory roll.
Rolled the victory roll into that ankle lock.
Cena rolled out of it. Very impressive.
[Michael] And how smart by Cena to use this time to regain himself.
Now John Cena--
And you don't see John Cena go to the top rope often.
-[Tazz] He's doing it now. -[Michael] But John Cena's here.
-[Tazz] Watch out. -[Michael] Cena's gonna fly.
-Oh, my. -[Tazz] Man.
[Michael] A leg drop to the back of the neck.
And remember Kurt's history of neck problems.
Here's the hook of the leg, shoulders down.
He almost had him.
A half second away from WrestleMania's main event.
[Tazz] What a match here.
Oh, man.
[Michael] Can you believe that leg drop
and the impact to the back of the neck of Kurt Angle?
[Tazz] It's a move you don't see Cena do often.
But you gotta leave it all in the ring right here
to go to WrestleMania and be in the main event.
[Michael] What a boot to the jaw of John Cena.
-Look at this. -[Tazz] He's got him.
-He's got him. -[Michael] F-U. He's got him.
John Cena's got Angle.
-John Cena's going to WrestleMania. -[Tazz] Cena's gonna do it.
[Michael] Here's the cover, hook of the leg…
-[Tazz] He did it, Cole. -[Michael] …and Kurt Angle kicked out.
[Tazz] How the hell did Angle kick-out of that?
[Michael] Kurt Angle kicked out of the F-U.
And I don't think John Cena realizes
-that Angle kicked out. -It was two.
[Tazz] Referee Charles Robinson's telling Cena now.
Smart by Cena not to draw chaff with the ref.
But, oh, watch-- oh, the knee.
[Michael] Right to the kneecap.
Angle bringing Cena to his-- to the mat below
with a shot to the kneecap.
And now Angle working on the ankle.
[Tazz] Look at that. Second elbow drop on that knee,
I don't know if it's-- I don't--
He smells the blood now, Angle.
He's gonna go to that like a shark smells blood in water.
[Michael] He's trying to weaken the ankle,
weaken that leg for the ankle lock submission hold.
Kurt Angle realizes he was almost defeated by the F-U
and he's gotta put Cena away here.
-Chop block, low. -[Tazz] Yeah.
Clip that leg hard.
And look at that-- oh, my God. How graphic is that?
[Michael] And not only do you weaken the leg for the ankle lock,
but if you can't stand, you can't deliver the F-U.
[Tazz] Watch out. Well, that's true.
You have no base. What's Angle doing now?
[Michael] I'll tell you what he's doing.
He's gonna use the steel post as a weapon.
[Tazz] Cena is hurting, man.
And rightfully so. Look at this.
[Michael] Debilitating assault to the ankle.
And another one.
[Tazz] The mean streak of Kurt Angle is being shown…
right now, Cole.
[Michael] This is how bad Kurt Angle wants to main event WrestleMania
for a third straight year.
And now Kurt Angle--
[Tazz] He's butterflying-- he's leg-lacing--
-[Michael] And listen to Cena. -[screams]
[Michael] John Cena got to the bottom rope.
Cena had to get to the rope
-or he's through. -One, two…
[Tazz] Kurt's not letting go of that leg. You can't see.
He got a leg lace on there that will twist both of your ankles and your knee.
Very excruciating submission hold.
[Michael] Kurt Angle has to break on four.
If we get to a count of five, he'll disqualify him
and Cena's going to WrestleMania.
[Tazz] Look at how he's stomping-- it's nasty, man.
He's stomping on the ankle.
[Michael] John Cena trying to make it to his feet.
He's just dragging that ankle.
And Kurt Angle now methodically stalking and picking apart John Cena.
-[Tazz] Going for the Angle Slam here. -[Michael] And the Angle Slam connects.
It was a valiant effort by John Cena.
But Cena can't stand.
-[screams] -[Michael] The Angle Slam has been hit.
And now Kurt Angle is in his zone.
[Tazz] He's in his zone in his hometown and he's feeling victory to go to Mania.
-He's got the ankle lock, Cole. -[Michael] And there's the ankle lock.
John Cena's in the middle of the ring.
John Cena with nowhere to go.
This is pure torture by Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] This kid's fighting hard to get to that bottom rope, Cole.
-Cena's trying his best. -[Michael] John Cena got there.
But Angle ripped him off the rope back to the center of the ring again.
[screams]
[Michael] Listen to Cena.
Excruciating pain.
[Tazz] How much pressure-- Angle's gonna rip his ankle off the bone.
He'll destroy this kid's ankle.
He'll destroy Cena's ankle.
[Michael] Kurt Angle may break the ankle here.
But this is about the main event at WrestleMania.
John Cena trying to crawl
to the bottom rope, but he can't.
And now Angle's really got it locked in.
And John Cena has nowhere to go.
[Tazz] The ankle lock is grotesque.
John Cena's ankle being torqued.
[Michael] And look at Cena.
Every ounce of pride, every ounce of strength in his body.
-He makes the bottom rope. -[Tazz] Wow.
[Michael] And he's gotta break the hold.
[Tazz] How bad does Cena want it?
John Cena got the bottom rope with two hands this time.
And Kurt Angle utilizing the five-count to break the hold.
Like it or not, it's smart.
Wow. How much pain is this Cena in?
[Michael] How much damage has been done to the ankle?
As Kurt Angle, again, goes back to the ankle lock.
Cena's in the ropes.
Angle's gotta break the damn hold.
[Tazz] This Angle don't give a damn, Cole.
[Michael] He better give a damn. Oh, wait a minute.
The referee knocked down.
[Tazz] And now what?
-[Michael] Was that inadvertent? -[Tazz] I don't know.
I'm thinking about Cena, the pain he's in.
And how much Kurt--
-[crowd chanting indistinctly] -[Tazz] Oh.
[Michael] What is he doing?
[Tazz] I don't know.
[Michael] Oh, my.
That is-- that's John Cena's chain.
-[Tazz] You know, I know that. -[Michael] That's Cena's pride and joy.
[Tazz] And the referee is down.
I think John-- Kurt Angle has got bad intentions.
[Michael] Wait a minute. Cena driving Angle into the ropes.
John Cena's got him. John Cena has got him over the shoulder.
-[Tazz] Look at this. -[Michael] F-U. F-U by Cena.
-How the hell did he do it? -[Tazz] He's got a cover. There's a cover!
-Come on, ref. -[Michale] One.
There's one. Come on, ref.
-[Tazz] He's got it. -[Michael] John Cena is going
-to WrestleMania. -[bell ringing]
-[Tazz] Whoa. -["Basic Thuganomics" playing]
[Chimel] Here is your winner, John Cena.
[Michael] I cannot believe it.
John Cena has defeated
the greatest pure wrestler in the history
of World Wrestling Entertainment.
John Cena is gonna battle for the WWE title
in the main event at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] You look at the dictionary,
under the intestinal fortitude, ladies and gentlemen,
you will see that man's face.
John Cena showing what kinda stuff he's made of.
What a match by both men.
What a physical confrontation.
-Great match. -[Michael] Was it heart?
Was it adrenaline? Was it resilience?
Was it never say die?
-Was it a will to win? -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Kurt Angle is terribly upset.
But the bottom line is John Cena, on a bad ankle,
got the F-U and he's going to WrestleMania.
[Tazz] John Cena refused to be denied, Cole.
The Doctor of Thuganomics came in here,
was focused on becoming the guy
that was going to WrestleMania to face in the main event.
He did that.
Look at this.
[Michael] Kurt Angle trying to use the chain and it bit him in the back side.
-John Cena with the F-U. -[Tazz] And the ankle.
How much weight--
how much could he put weight into the-- all of Cena--
All that weight on that ankle, but Cena did it.
-Oh, my God. -[Michael] Kurt Angle left his game plan
for one second and John Cena capitalized.
And the bottom line is April 3rd
in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, the Staples Center,
John Cena will be battling for the WWE Championship
in the biggest match of his life.
[Tazz] No doubt about it.
John Cena earned it the hard way.
He busted his rear end in there.
What a matchup, Cole. What a match.
[Michael] What else can you say about John Cena?
Pure guts here tonight.
♪ Forget two takes Kill y'all birds the first time ♪
♪ Yo' best ain't worthy Of my filler or worst rhymes ♪
♪ I'm better than nice ♪
[upbeat rock music playing]
[music fades]
Well, we have one piece of the SmackDown main event at WrestleMania set.
We know John Cena's gonna battle for the WWE Championship.
Later on tonight, just coming up in a few moments, JBL and Big Show.
Who will defend the title at WrestleMania?
The big question is where's Batista gonna be?
Is he gonna join SmackDown
-or Raw Monday night? -[Tazz] I don't know.
[Michael] We've been awaiting the arrival of Batista all night long
-and-- -[Tazz] You know, Cole, I gotta wonder.
I mean, it's getting late.
I mean, is Batista-- is he gonna show up tonight?
-I mean, what's up? -[Michael] He said he was.
He accepted General Manager Theodore Long's invitation,
but he's not here yet.
Nonetheless, coming up next--
[Tazz] Well, I'm starting to think that Batista's not gonna get here.
[Michael] Great Point.
For the first time ever, a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match.
Big Show versus JBL for the WWE title
in a cage surrounded by razor-sharp barbed wire.
[Tazz] And that door on that cage will be locked
by a big steel lock and chain throughout this whole match,
so you can't escape through the door. You gotta go over the top.
[Michael] Coming up next, the WWE Championship is on the line.
One of these two men will defend the title at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] And when I said you gotta try to escape over the top,
pinfall or submission.
But if you go over the top, you gotta deal with the razor-sharp barbed wire, Cole.
[Michael] This all began last month at the Royal Rumble.
[dramatic music playing]
[announcer] The following contest is a Triple Threat No Disqualification match
for the WWE Championship.
[Michael] I believe Big Show is the odds-on favorite.
[Tazz] Oh, what the hell?
[Michael] Bradshaw through that barricade.
And wait a minute. Kurt Angle with a steel chair…
-[Jerry] Oh, my God. -[Michael] …in midair.
Face-first, Kurt Angle's skull off that steel chair.
Big Show cover, hook of the leg,
and Marc Jindrak pulling the referee out of the ring.
And look at Luther Reigns, Angle's other protege.
-Orlando Jordan's got the champion. -[Tazz] Here comes Orlando.
[Michael] What is the Chief of Staff doing?
[Tazz] He's throwing JBL back in the ring
[Michael] JBL with the Clothesline from Hell.
-JBL's gonna steal the damn match. -[Tazz] One, two, three.
-Holy-- -[bell ringing]
[Michael] He did it again. He stole another damn title match.
And the Big Show's expression says it all.
"You have gotta be kidding me."
JBL survived again.
-[laughter] -[indistinct chatter]
Let's talk about SmackDown's next pay-per-view.
At No Way Out, you will face the man
that you did not pin tonight, the Big Show.
There will be no outside interference at No Way Out,
because for the first time
in the history of the WWE,
this match will be
a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match.
[tense music playing]
First, you ask me about a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match
and then you ask me about Dave Batista?
Yes, Dave Batista won the Royal Rumble.
And, yes, Dave Batista is an animal.
And, yes, he's gonna be a great champion one day.
But in case you haven't noticed, what I have been through in the past year,
I smell like smoke, son, because I have been through fire.
He's built like Tarzan.
I will make him look like Jane.
And Dave Batista, as good as he is,
is not in my league.
-[dramatic music playing] -JBL, come on.
Come get it.
[tires screeching]
Looks like I'm going to SmackDown this Thursday.
I did not run down Batista.
[music builds]
[Michael] Oh, no.
Here comes The World's Largest Athlete
and JBL is all alone.
[Big Show] Bradshaw, come No Way Out, you're gonna be trapped
in a steel cage surrounded by barbed wire with me.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Wait a minute.
That's Batista. Batista's here.
The power of The Animal.
[Big Show] Bradshaw, run and hide while you still can.
[Michael] JBL will have to contend with the Big Show inside
the barbed wire steel cage, but he'll also have to deal with Batista.
[Big Show] JBL, there's no way out.
[music concludes]
[Michael] Perhaps there has never been a more dangerous steel cage.
Much like a prison, razor-sharp wire covers the top,
a deterrent to prevent people from getting in or getting out.
[Tazz] Well, the cage with the barbed wire surrounding the top
is awaiting its two victims.
[suspenseful music playing]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is the first-ever
Barbed Wire Steel Cage match
for the WWE Championship.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, the only way to win this match is inside the ring
by submission or pinfall
or escaping the cage and having both feet on the arena floor.
["Longhorn" playing]
[Tazz] Here we go, Cole.
[Chimel] Making his way to the ring from New York City,
weighing in at 297 pounds,
is the WWE Champion,
John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
[Michael] We mentioned earlier, no longhorns on the hood of the limousine
for the champion, Tazz, 'cause of what Batista did on SmackDown Thursday night.
But, nonetheless, the champion, JBL,
can be described, in my mind, as a survivor.
He's held the title since June of 2004 when he defeated Eddie Guerrero
at The Great American Bash, but he's defeated all comers,
controversially, but wins nonetheless.
People like The Undertaker, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Well, JBL has done it.
He has to do it again tonight.
You can see the look on JBL's face.
Usually got that big toothy grin.
Not tonight.
The champion is focused.
The champion knows he's entering something
that's never ever been done before, a barbed wire steel cage.
And he's gonna be trapped in there with the largest athlete
in the world in the Big Show.
[Michael] You see JBL, the WWE Champion,
surveying the steel cage that will be his prison
for the duration of this matchup.
The bottom line, Tazz, is you're gonna have to win by pinfall
or submission because there's absolutely no way you're gonna go over the top
of that cage with that razor wire there.
[Tazz] I don't know how you climb over it. I don't know. I don't know.
I've said on Sunday Night Heat that, you know, a couple of times,
the matches I've been involved early in my career,
there was some barbed wire involved.
Never ever-- nothing like this.
Believe me, I never would have got in a steel cage
surrounded by barbed wire. This--
This steel cage with this barbed wire is gonna take a life on of its own.
It's a weapon. A dangerous weapon.
[Michael] And the champion, JBL, said earlier tonight that his challenger,
the Big Show, had no soul. That he had no guts.
That he should not even be in this matchup.
[Tazz] Well, the general manager might have overstepped his boundaries here
because no one should have to go through this.
I mean, come on. I mean, Bruno Sammartino is from this city.
It's a city of champions, Pittsburgh.
Would he have to go through something like this?
-This is ridiculous. -["Big" playing]
♪ Well, it's the Big Show ♪
[Chimel] And the challenger, standing seven feet tall,
weighing 470 pounds,
the Big Show.
[Michael] On SmackDown, Thursday night, Tazz, Big Show said he was willing
-to get his flesh ripped apart… -[mouths] Mine. Mine.
[Michael] …to bleed to the mat below in order to win
the WWE Championship and defend that title at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] That just might happen.
Man, look how large the Big Show is.
The door is too small for this monstrous man.
I'm getting goose bumps, Cole, I'm telling you.
[Michael] The WWE Championship is on the line.
You see the door close and a chain will be wrapped around it.
It will be locked.
So, again, the rules of this matchup.
You win by pinfall or submission or escape from the cage.
But unlike a traditional steel cage match,
you can't signal to the referee to open the door,
so you can walk through because that door
is gonna be locked for the duration of the matchup.
[Tazz] Well, there's nothing traditional about a steel cage with barbed wire
just surrounding the top of the cage. And you're right. That door stays shut.
[Michael] See how they double wrap the chain around that door
and, there, the locks going on.
[Tazz] We got two very, very large athletes in the ring.
I mean, they could put enough weight behind it,
they might pop it, but that's not popping nothing.
Big link on there.
-But here we go, Cole. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] This is what it's all about.
The champion, JBL, with a right hand to the challenger, the Big Show.
John Cena's already in the main event at WrestleMania.
The winner of this matchup will defend the title at WrestleMania 21.
And there are those huge hands dropping the champion.
Is there any strategy at all in this match?
[Tazz] You gotta try and win it quick and survive.
Oh.
And use the cage as a weapon.
That's what Big Show is attempting to do. And he--
-[Michael] JBL realizing it. -[Tazz] JBL blocked it, yeah.
[Michael] Blocking it a couple of times.
And there's that frying pan-like wide hand.
[Tazz] God Almighty. That is just--
[Michael] And what a right.
[Tazz] We knew this was gonna be physical.
And this thing, right out, right from jump street,
just two-- just two men just bruising each other up already.
[Michael] And, again, the champion countered again.
And if you're the champion, you gotta battle the Big Show in the ring.
You're not climbing through that razor wire.
You're gonna rip yourself apart.
[Tazz] There's no cavalry out here. No one can help JBL at all.
I just don't-- in my opinion, I don't think JBL--
I don't think it's fair to him. I don't think he should be in this match.
But what's done is done. He's in the match.
[Michael] JBL off the ropes, oh, knocking the Big Show down
with a big shoulder to the gut.
No disqualifications in this matchup.
It's basically anything goes.
-[Tazz] That was a smart strategy by… -[Michael] Oh, and a neckbreaker.
[Tazz] …by JBL. Smart strategy. Take a leg out.
-Lower the man's level-- I don't know. -[Michael] Where the hell is he going?
[Michael] The champion is gonna try to escape.
[Tazz] Let's see.
[Michael] Oh, he's surveying the razor-sharp barbed wire,
maybe looking for an opening.
[Tazz] You gotta know where he can--
It's-- you can't-- you can't even--
[Michael] Now look at this. JBL thinking differently
-and caught in midair by the Big Show. -[Tazz] My God.
-Uh-oh, uh-oh. -[Michael] That's a 300-pound man.
-[Tazz] Watch out. Look at this. -[Michael] Fallaway slam by the Big Show.
[Tazz] God.
-And JBL is dead. -[Michael] Into the cover quickly.
-[Tazz] Here we go, Cole. -[Michael] Title's on the line
and a kick-out by the champion.
[Tazz] Very smart by the Big Show.
Very smart. Go for the cover quick.
Hit a high-impact move and try and win the match.
[Michael] And, again, a right hand by the Big Show,
who's been dominating since the get-go.
And sort of what I expected.
I figured this matchup would go this route, with the Big Show dominating.
[Tazz] Well, the Big Show is-- oh, God.
I'm telling you at home, I cannot explain what that feels like.
Look at the arm right there. The forearm. It's bleeding.
That must've been--
[Michael] That's when Bradshaw was on the top rope
and he was feeling for a-- for, perhaps, an opening.
He got-- he got cut by that barbed wire.
[Tazz] Well, that barbed wire will--
-[slapping] -[crowd exclaiming]
[Tazz] It will just-- will just shred your skin, I mean, right apart.
I mean, I'm telling you, it's so-- wait!
[Michael] Thumb to the eye by the champion.
-Bradshaw, again, going to the top rope. -[Tazz] Here we go. Trying to get--
[Michael] Gonna try to escape.
Looking for an opening but there is none. There is no opening up there.
This is-- like I said before, it's like a prison wire.
-Look at JBL. -[Tazz] Watch out. Watch out.
[Michael] Shoulder knockdown, ran into a brick wall.
That's like running into a wall.
[Tazz] And that's-- well, I mean, JBL is, you know, about six-foot-six,
six-foot-seven and usually he knocks people on their rear ends with that.
Here we go. Here we go.
[Michael] Oh, what a suplex.
Big Show has been methodical.
He's been deliberate.
And it may just be a matter of time
before the champion's reign ends inside this cage.
[Tazz] I think you hit the nail on the head.
He's been methodical, and that's the key.
Big Show not being overzealous, staying zoned in--
staying zoned in on the champion, on JBL.
Big Show knows what's at-- what's at stake.
Oh, that looks like the fourth or fifth.
One of those frying pan-like chops to the chest.
[Michael] Remember, you know how much that title means to JBL.
He said his body is temporary, the title is eternal.
Oh, wait. Big Show bouncing off the steel.
And not just the steel cage meshing, but that steel post
-that keeps the mesh together. -[Tazz] Yeah, that's a good point.
We're forgetting about the steel cage these men are in.
You know, we're thinking about the barbed wire only,
but there's so much more involved that--
you know, that's the weapon of this match, is that cage.
[Michael] Yes. The mesh can rip the skin. The support beams can knock you out.
Look, the champion again, now on another side of the cage.
He continues to look for an opening.
[Tazz] Oh, my goodness. Look at the Big Show.
[Michael] Big Show has been busted open.
I said his head bounced off that support beam,
that steel support beam.
And I think Bradshaw realizes now that the Big Show's bleeding
and now he's stalking his man.
[Tazz] Bradshaw is changing his strategy now. Look at this.
[Michael] A shoulder block from the top rope knocking the big man down.
[Tazz] And now JBL--
well, now that he knows-- he knows he's got this big monster wounded
and he's going right after that wound, it looks like,
that open wound in his face or head area of the Big Show.
[Michael] And JBL continues
-to open the Big Show up. -[Tazz] That's a lot of blood, Cole.
[Michael] The more blood the Big Show loses, the weaker the big man gets.
-And now Bradshaw-- -[Tazz] A moment ago, you noticed that
Bradshaw-- JBL was trying to get out of this steel cage, but now,
like I said, changes-- changed his strategy.
[Michael] Here's the cover, shoulders down, kick-out by Big Show.
But, again, he changes his strategy because
this is what Bradshaw does so well.
Whenever he realizes he's in control of the matchup,
he gains that confidence of a champion and he beats the hell out his opponent.
[Tazz] There's nothing wrong with that.
That was an extremely vicious kick to the face.
[Michael] Again, off the elbow, another cover.
Pinfall or submission wins this matchup. And a kick-out by Big Show.
[Tazz] Oh, I'll tell you what, JBL, I thought the odds were against him.
Now, I mean, for some-- now what?
[Michael] I agree with you. I May have spoken too soon
-about the resolve of this man. -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
JBL-- that's the-- part of the tag rope right there.
-[Michael] A tag rope. -[Tazz] Another vicious kick to head.
He's got that tag rope in hand.
[Michael] And again, remember, no disqualification.
And he's gonna use the tag rope here to choke the Big Show.
And if he gets the Big Show to pass out,
-submission, it's over. Goodbye. -[Tazz] Look at that.
This is extremely graphic, ladies and gentlemen.
And this is not--
this match picks apart your body, which will pick apart your career,
and it's just extreme physicality here.
[Michael] The champion said earlier tonight that you're not gonna walk
out of this matchup the way that you came in.
You're gonna remember this day for the rest of your career.
[Tazz] Well, I was just gonna say, that's exactly what JBL said
and I think JBL was correct.
And now just-- JBL staying-- keeping the attack
steady-- oh, nice reversal here by the Big Show.
[Michael] JBL off the ropes and a big size-22, 5E boot to the skull.
[Tazz] But did he lose too much blood?
I mean, can Big Show capitalize on the big kick, the big boot?
[Michael] Well, Big Show trying to regain his composure here.
JBL crawling, as the challenger, the Big Show, again in control.
-What's he gonna do here? -[Tazz] Well, he's got him hooked--
got him hooked maybe for a--
[Michael] What the hell is this? Bradshaw bounced off the steel.
Oh, and a powerbomb.
[Tazz] But before the powerbomb, Bradshaw went face-first into the steel cage.
[Michael] And I don't even think it was the cage again, Tazz.
I think he went face-first into that steel support beam,
the same beam that opened up the Big Show.
[Tazz] Big Show-- I mean, Big Show's eyes gotta be burning.
If you got blood flowing through your-- off your face,
in your eyes, it burns so much.
And Big Show is losing some blood here.
[Michael] And this is damage caused by the cage,
not even the razor-sharp barbed wire from the top of the cage.
[Tazz] I couldn't tell. It looked like Big Show--
If we could get a shot of JBL's head.
I think he might-- he might be bleeding also from-- I mean--
Look at this. Look at this. Oh.
[Michael] And again, yes, JBL has been busted open.
Bounced off the steel mesh again.
And again into the steel, which will rip that flesh, as we talked about earlier.
And, again, the cage is a weapon.
A cage takes on a life of its own.
It's like a carnivore that will eat flesh,
that will eat human beings alive in the ring,
and that's what the cage is doing here.
[Tazz] Big Show just-- Big Show's on the attack even though he's-- oh, man.
Headbutt.
[Michael] The WWE Championship on the line.
Defending that title at WrestleMania in the main event at stake.
One of these two men will be there.
[Tazz] And we knew it would be like this.
Now what? What the hell is the Big Show doing here?
[Michael] Not this. Monkey flip right into the steel again.
[Tazz] Pole vaulting JBL face-first into that steel.
-And Big Show-- -[Michael] Wait minute.
-[Tazz] What? -[Michael] It's the "Chief of Staff"
Orlando Jordan. What the hell is he gonna do?
Now the Bashams. What the hell has he got in his hand?
-What are the Bashams doing? -[Theodore] Whoa, hold there, player.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold on just a minute, player.
Hey.
Now I assured America
and I let all these people know tonight
that there will be no way out.
So the best thing for the Bashams to do is to get to stepping, gentlemen.
-[Michael] Did you see Orlando Jordan? -[Theodore] You guys are out of here.
-[Tazz] Yeah. -[Michael] Orlando Jordan left
-the bolt cutters-- -[Theodore] Hey. And, by the way,
Orlando, it goes for you too.
Get to stepping, player.
-Come on. You're out of here. -[Michael] Orlando Jordan left--
he left the bolt cutters to Bradshaw.
And Big Show doesn't realize Bradshaw's got the bolt cutters.
-[Tazz] No one realize-- oh. -[Michael] Right to the skull.
And there's no disqualification.
But the bolt cutters-- Bradshaw, another Clothesline from Hell
-taking the Big Show down. -[Tazz] How smart of JBL's cabinet
and JBL to have a plan. Look at this.
[Michael] Here's the cover, shoulders down.
-[Tazz] JBL did it. -[Michael] And Big Show kicked out.
But the Bashams were able to cut enough of that cage open,
so Orlando Jordan could slip the bolt cutters into the ring.
[Tazz] Come on, Cole. Can you admit it now?
You give JBL and his cabinet credit.
-How smart-- -[Michael] Give them credit?
The damn cabinet cheated again.
And now Bradshaw is probably gonna steal the damn title.
[Tazz] Well, that remains to be seen. We'll see.
Both men losing so many-- so much blood.
[Michael] Look at JBL just measuring his man. Uh-oh.
JBL got caught.
I spoke too soon.
There is the chokeslam.
-Here's the cover. -[Tazz] New champ.
-It's over. -[Michael] Big Show probably going
to WrestleMania-- no, not right now.
[Tazz] Look at the face of Big Show. The frustration.
Look at the-- Oh, my God. Oh, jeez. Look at that.
[Michael] JBL dripping blood.
Big Show, a pool of blood as well.
Big Show frustrated.
You hit the nail on the head, partner.
Big Show extremely frustrated that he didn't get the win there.
[screams]
[Tazz] Well, I'm kinda wondering.
I mean, how-- what more has gotta happen here?
Come on, you son of a bitch.
[Michael] The champion begging off.
[Tazz] Both these men lost so much blood, Cole.
-And Big Show now is-- -[Michael] Low blow.
A low blow perfectly legal.
And a boot off the open wound on the skull of the Big Show.
The cover by champion, shoulders down, and a kick-out.
[Tazz] The third vicious boot to the face of the Big Show by JBL.
[Michael] JBL said he would be carried out of the ring if he had to
because his body is temporary, his title is eternal.
And you're not getting out the door, champ.
The door has been locked and bolted.
[Tazz] I'm telling you, Cole, watching this match,
any normal man would be beat, but not the Big Show, not JBL.
They're still persevering. They're fighting on.
[Michael] And look at the champion looking around for a way to get out of this cage.
[Tazz] Well, he's got those-- He already cracked the Big Show in the head
with those bolt cutters.
-Well-- -[Michael] Wait a minute.
The Big Show down center of ring.
JBL climbing to the-- to the top rope, but--
[Tazz] He's got the bolt cutters in hand.
[Michael] Look at this. JBL's-- he's-- come on.
-He's gonna try to cut his way out. -[Tazz] Are you kidding?
-[Michael] And Big Show-- -[Tazz] How smart is--
-I never thought of that. -[Michael] And look at JBL trying to cut
that razor wire away to get himself a hole.
And look at Big Show.
[Tazz] But, wait, did he-- did he lose the bolt cutters?
[Michael] I think he dropped them.
Yeah, Bradshaw did drop the bolt cutters.
And now exchanging blows with Big Show.
[Tazz] Well, they're both on the top rope. That's a lot of tonnage up there.
[Michael] Bradshaw bounced off the steel of the top of that cage.
-And, again, the open wound -[Tazz] Oh, my God, skull-first.
And that razor wire-- that barbed wire is up there.
[Michael] A third time bounced off the steel support beam.
[Tazz] Oh, my God. This is just--
[Michael] JBL viciously assaulted,
trying to battle back against the challenger.
And a thumb to the eye by the champion.
[Tazz] Both men on the top rope, balance themselves--
[Michael] All about survival here, ladies and gentlemen.
All about the WWE title.
All about WrestleMania's main event.
One of these two men will defend the title at WrestleMania against John Cena.
We know Cena's in the main event,
as Big Show and JBL battle on the top rope.
[Tazz] Well, we know-- obviously, this thing here is like a car wreck, Cole.
I mean, both men bleeding bad.
-They're trying to find a-- -[Michael] Trying to find a way out, yeah.
Trying to find an opening on the top of that cage but there isn't any.
[Tazz] Oh, no. This thing is just-- there's barbed wire everywhere.
-Oh, my. -[Michael] Uh-oh, look at this.
-[Tazz] He's got him goozled. -[Michael] Big Show's got JBL.
[Tazz] JBL is in trouble. Oh! -[Michael] Chokeslam.
Holy--
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Big Show! Big Show!
[Michael] Big Show just chokeslammed the champion through the ring.
[Tazz] Wow.
[Michael] Through the canvas.
Through the lumber.
Through the steel. Through the ring.
[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] The champion is barely moving.
[Tazz] He's not moving, Cole.
My God.
Look at that.
[Michael] Big Show chokeslammed a 300-pound man through the ring.
[Tazz] I don't know what to say.
[Michael] I'll tell you what I can say.
The WWE Championship is coming to the largest athlete in the world today.
The Big Show is gonna win this thing.
JBL has not moved.
[Tazz] He chokeslammed him from the top rope, through the ring.
[Michael] But the problem is Big Show is in a dilemma now.
What does he do?
Can you pin Bradshaw in a mess underneath the-- underneath the ring or--
[Tazz] Well, there's the door that's bolted up.
[Michael] Wait a minute.
The Big Show--
[Tazz] Kick the whole damn side of the cage off.
[Michael] Well, he can escape over the top,
but he doesn't wanna do that with the razor wire.
[fan] Come on, Show.
All Big Show has to do is get out of the cage and this match
is over. He's going to WrestleMania.
[Tazz] He's lost a lot of blood, Cole. I mean, look at this.
-[screams] -[Tazz] What the hell is he doing here?
[Michael] He's trying to bust the-- Big Show--
Did he just bust the chain?
No, he didn't. Did he? Yes, he did. [laughs]
The Big Show just busted the chain and the lock off the damn door.
We're gonna have a new champion here.
Big Show is unlatching the door.
-[Tazz] I don't believe this, Cole. -[Michael] Big Show is gonna walk through
the door and go to WrestleMania.
[Tazz] He busted the chain. He's going to WrestleMania.
[Michael] Big Show is over the top rope.
[Tazz] Bradshaw is stuck in the ring.
[Michael] Big Show is out on the ring. Big Show is out of the cage.
-Big Show is the new WWE Champion. -[bell ringing]
-[Michael] Big Show is going… -[Tazz] Wow!
[Michael] …to WrestleMania.
Can you believe it?
[Chimel] The winner of this match
-and still WWE Champion… -[Michael] What?
-…John "Bradshaw" Layfield. -[Tazz] Wait a minute.
[Michael] Chimel, what are you talking about?
[Tazz] Listen, the ref--
[Michael] What the hell are you talking about?
[Tazz] Wait a minute. Wait.
[Michael] Where the hell did he come from?
[Tazz] Wait. I don't-- I don't know-- anybody-- I don't know how--
[Michael] How is JBL still the champion?
How is JBL going to WrestleMania?
["Longhorn" playing]
[Tazz] Big Show ended up on--
-[Michael] Wait a minute. -[Tazz] What the hell's going on here?
[Michael] Wait, whoa, whoa.
Big Show chokeslammed JBL all the way to the floor, right?
[Tazz] Yeah, through the ring.
[Michael] Did he crawl-- did he crawl out of the--
[Tazz] I don't-- I don't-- I have no idea.
[Michael] Did the champion crawl-- he must have.
[Tazz] He must have. He must have just--
[Michael] I cannot believe this.
JBL is still the champion.
Big Show can't believe it.
And I don't believe the assault is done yet.
[Tazz] No, I don't think so either.
And I, quite frankly, I don't blame the Big Show here one bit.
[Michael] Oh. And a right hand to the champion.
I thought the Big Show had won the WWE title,
but, apparently, the champion got out of the cage first.
[Tazz] Are you telling me that JBL got chokeslammed from the top rope
through the ring and he crawled under it and--
[Michael] And got out of the cage before Big Show did.
That's what I'm telling you.
[Tazz] Well, now, JBL looks defenseless.
[Michael] And I understand that-- I understand that--
Well, first off, here's the chokeslam.
[Tazz] Which is-- that alone is just…
[Michael] Bradshaw, the champion, through the ring.
-Now he-- -[Tazz] Oh, wait, wait, wait.
[Michael] And there he is.
[Tazz] He did-- oh, my God.
[Michael] The champion crawled out of the ring…
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Michael] …apparently, before--
[Tazz] And then referee Brian Hebner saw it.
[Michael] Referee Brian Hebner right there,
-as Big Show begins the assault. -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Well, you saw it, ladies and gentlemen.
Here comes The Cabinet.
Orlando Jordan and the Bashams assaulting the Big Show,
-trying to break the Big Show down… -[bell ringing]
[Michael] …bringing Big Show to his knees here.
[Tazz] Like three on one right now.
The Big Show's lost a ton of blood.
He's getting stomped on--
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Whoa.
[Michael] The Cabinet assaulting the Big Show.
-["Animal" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Oh, my. -[Tazz] Oh, my. He's here.
[Michael] The winner of the Royal Rumble, Batista's here.
There go the Bashams.
-[Tazz] Well, I guess he showed up. -[Michael] Clothesline on Orlando Jordan.
Spinebuster. Batista's arrived.
Batista sending a message to the champion.
[Tazz] Evolution's Animal came, saw,
and he's kicking some ass right here.
[Michael] This is how Batista won the Royal Rumble,
by destroying everything in his path.
God! Batista Bomb.
[Tazz] Major league impact on that Batista Bomb.
[Michael] That's the kinda guy we need on SmackDown.
Batista sending a message to the champion
and JBL wants no part of Batista at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] Uh-oh. That's Cena.
[Michael] The man JBL faces at WrestleMania.
John Cena and JBL are both in WrestleMania
to meet each other for the title.
[Tazz] JBL caught between a rock and a hard place.
[Michael] And Cena on the attack.
JBL through the television equipment.
[Tazz] Whoa.
[Michael] Cena fired up.
[Tazz] It's just breaking down. It's insane here.
[Michael] It's chaos reigning at No Way Out.
[Tazz] It's out of control.
[Michael] What is Cena doing?
[Tazz] I don't have a clue.
-[Michael] John Cena-- -[Tazz speaking indistinctly]
There goes the-- some of the television equipment.
And now--
[Michael] Oh, no.
[Tazz] Oh, I don't-- Big Show's defenseless.
-[Michael] Look at this. -[Tazz] God.
[Michael] Spinebuster through the TV equipment, the steel supports.
-["Basic Thuganomics" playing] -At WrestleMania,
we know one of two things will happen,
either John Cena versus JBL for the WWE title,
but if I'm a betting man, it's gonna be a Triple Threat match,
Batista, Cena, and JBL
-for the WWE Championships… -I'm the man!
[Michael] …at WrestleMania 21.
♪ My discipline is unforgiven ♪
♪ Got you backin' up, In a defensive position ♪
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for joining us from Pittsburgh for No Way Out.
♪ New fight joint Like a broken needle, kid… ♪
[Michael] What a night.
♪ We dominate your conference With offense, that's no nonsense ♪
[Tazz] Look at the champ.
-[inaudible] -[Michael] Will it be Batista, Cena, JBL
in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE title at WrestleMania?
Good night, everybody.
Thank you for joining us from Pittsburgh.
♪ Bitin' through your one-liners New Deadman Inc ♪
♪ And we about to make you famous ♪
[music fades] ut to make you famous ♪