[bell gongs]
[Big E] On this edition of WWE Raw Classics…
The champ is here!
[Big E] …see what hustle, loyalty, and respect is all about
as we relive the matches and moments
that made John Cena WWE's GOAT.
My show!
My house!
It's what we do.
[Big E] For those in need of an Attitude Adjustment,
your time is up.
The time is now.
It's the Raw Classics of Mr. You Can't See Me,
John Cena,
right here on Netflix.
♪ I'll get the drugs, the drugs For my generation ♪
♪ I'll take the… ♪
Oh…
Welcome, WWE Universe,
once again, to Raw Classics.
I'm your host, Big E,
and today, we are taking a look back
at the very best of "The Doctor of Thuganomics"
John Cena.
The Cenation leader has held the WWE Championship
a record 13 times,
and the World Heavyweight Championship three times,
tying him with Ric Flair as a 16-time World Champion.
If there's a Mount Rushmore in wrestling, John Cena is rightfully on it.
And while he may have unveiled his Ruthless Aggression on SmackDown,
"Mr. You Can't See Me" made his way over to Raw
in the 2005 WWE Draft,
in what is considered one of the most impressive debuts
in WWE history.
Would you please welcome my guest tonight,
the very first pick of the draft lottery,
come on down!
[King] Who is it?
Who is it?!
[JR] Is it a he or a she?
[inaudible]
[crowd booing]
Come on out!
[JR] Well, whoever it is, they're late.
Is there really somebody?
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd roaring]
[JR] What the hell?!
[man trills]
[King] Oh my God!
My God!
It's him!
[JR] Look at these fans, King!
On their feet!
Absolutely electrified!
[King] I can't believe it myself! I'm…
It's… it's incredible!
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise doing big business I live this, it's automatic… ♪
[King] Do you realize, JR, the…
He's the WWE Champion,
and he's here on Raw now!
♪ I'm thunder and lightnin Ain't no way… ♪
[King] Look at…
♪ I'm harder than nails ♪
♪ Plus I keep it on lock Like I'm part of the jail… ♪
[JR] This is unbelievable!
[King] How did Bischoff manage this?
[JR] The luck of the draw, King.
The luck of the draw in the draft lottery.
John Cena!
♪ In any weather, I'm never better Your boy's so hot… ♪
[JR] The first pick in the draft lottery!
And Bischoff was right.
This is the biggest acquisition in Raw history.
[crowd cheering]
[King] Oh man!
Look at these fans!
They can't believe it.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[King] It's giving me goosebumps, JR.
Have you ever seen or felt anything like this?
[JR] Absolutely not.
-It's overwhelming. -[man] I can't believe it.
It's John Cena! [laughs]
[crowd roaring]
It's about time!
[man] The WWE Champion right here on Raw.
How did this happen? How could this happen?
Dude, you know how it is.
You heard it.
Every member of both rosters. Nobody's safe.
I got the call.
They say, "John Cena is officially Raw."
[crowd roaring]
So I do it how they do it in St. Louis, baby.
The champ is herr.
[King] He's "herr."
Well… that may be true,
but actually, let me point something out to you, John.
Now with both you and Batista here on Raw,
that means that the two champs "are herr."
[King] That's right!
And the last time there were two champions on the same show,
I beat 'em both, and became the first Undisputed Champion.
[mouthing] That's right, you did.
So in that respect…
Well, thank you. In that respect, we have something in common, John.
We have a lot in common, when you think about it.
We're both becoming media superstars.
In magazines. On TV shows from coast to coast.
Both of us with successful musical careers.
[inaudible]
But think about it.
I think my music career might be a bit bigger than yours at this point.
I mean, I've had three CDs out.
I've played in front of fans across the world.
I've played in front of 30,000 people on a couple different occasions,
so might be a bit ahead of you. But it's okay, kid.
I got a good feeling about you. You're gonna do fine.
But I got a little advice for you.
If you wanna really make it,
if you really wanna make it in the music business,
you gotta go for it all the way, 100%, full bore,
even if that means alienating some of your wrestling fans.
[crowd booing]
Bro, you don't gotta come at me like that, man.
If… Whether these people love me or they hate me,
they're the reason I'm doing what I'm doing here tonight.
[cheering]
[John] There you go.
And if that's what you need to do to do your music, then fine.
Go do your thing, Superstar.
But I fight for these people.
And I'm here to say
that the WWE champ is in the house!
-All right! -[crowd roaring]
[JR] I love the look of that belt too.
And y'all know John Cena, same as it ever was,
real recognizes real.
This is a message to all of Raw.
You want some?
[crowd] Come get some!
Come get some!
["Just Close Your Eyes" playing]
[King] Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!
[JR] It looks like somebody might be coming to get some, King.
It's Christian and his "Problem Solver," Tyson Tomko.
[King] Well, you know, for the past few weeks, Christian has been…
or let me say "Captain Charisma,"
has been bad-mouthing,
he's been putting the bad mouth on John Cena.
[JR] Yeah, among others, but certainly Cena at the top of the list.
I… I'll tell you something. I don't know if this ring can hold all this charisma.
"Captain Charisma" and, of course, John Cena's got a ton of it himself.
♪ If you just close your eyes ♪
[music fades]
[JR] Didn't take long for somebody to "come get some."
I must be dreaming. My eyes must be deceiving me.
John Cena right here on Raw.
[crowd cheering]
Well, I heard the ovation.
I heard the cheers in the back.
And it reminds me of the cheers
they used to give to another fraud in this town.
A guy by the name of Mark McGwire.
-[crowd booing] -[JR] Oh.
[inaudible]
Well, you see, McGwire is a joke,
and he made these people look like complete morons.
[crowd booing]
[JR] That's Christian's opinion, folks.
Just like I'm going to right now.
The only thing is, it's not gonna take an Act of Congress
for me to expose you as a fraud.
[crowd] You suck!
[JR] Man. Uh-oh.
[crowd] You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck!
It's like this, Cena.
This is my show, poser.
[JR] "Poser"?
[Christian] So go take a stroll.
Canada in the house!
[crowd booing]
'Cause that's how I roll.
[crowd clamoring]
Jericho, I… I know this is The Highlight Reel,
but homey's been talking trash on me for, like, a month.
You mind just… I mean, is it okay with you if I handle my business?
[mouthing] Please do, John.
[crowd cheering]
That's how you… roll?
Like you got your routine mastered.
I'm gonna put you in your place, you creepy little bastard.
[JR] Oh!
Christian
used to come to the ring up through the fire,
wearing the Seinfeld shirt, thinking that you was a vampire.
[crowd laughs]
You couldn't cut it with The Brood. They even put you on the shelf.
Gangrel was sucking blood. You was sucking something else.
-[crowd] Oh! -[JR] Oh man.
[inaudible]
There ain't no way you could walk a mile in my shoes.
You went from swallowing blood to blowing people's kazoos.
-[King gasps] Oh! -[crowd clamoring]
And now you say you got these peeps that'll follow your vision?
Well, if you a fan of Christian, I'm gon' change your religion. Listen!
I gotta level with you, homey.
It's not that you're not on my level.
You're not on the level below me.
[crowd clamoring] Oh!
[Cena] Hey.
So keep talking
'cause I'm gon' lay yo' ass down.
This is The Highlight Reel,
so you must be the ass clowns.
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Man.
[inaudible] Burn!
[crowd whooping, whistling]
You the clown with charisma.
Who are you, the fight-starter?
The only problem you solving is being Christian's life partner.
[crowd clamoring]
[JR] Ooh.
And according to you,
Marky Mark I might be,
but I will beat both of your asses if you fight me.
[crowd cheering]
The champ is here!
[cheering, whistling]
So you better pray to God you switch shows.
But before you do,
for old times,
here's a five-second pose.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] "You can't see me," Cena's signifying.
Oh! Oh, look out!
[King] I knew this was gonna happen!
[JR] Cena and Christian going face-to-face here, fist-to-fist.
And down goes Christian.
And now Cena opening up on the big "Problem Solver."
But Christian gets a shot in, downstairs, straight right hands.
-[King] Oh, look out! -[JR] Oh my God!
Christian elevated over the top!
Cena scoring with those right hands.
-And now Jericho. -[King] Wait a minute.
[JR] Jericho in business.
Oh, look out.
FU time.
-FU's coming! -[King] Look out!
The FU to Tomko!
Right in the middle of The Highlight Reel!
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[JR] Man, what a ride this is gonna be
with John Cena on Raw on Monday nights!
What a way to start the draft lottery, King.
[JR] I cannot believe this!
This may be the biggest thing that's ever happened to Monday Night Raw.
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fightin' ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightnin' ♪
♪ Ain't no way… ♪
And just like that,
"The Doctor of Thuganomics" was off to the races on the Red brand.
Just two years into his Raw tenure, John Cena was firing on all cylinders.
And at WrestleMania 23 at Detroit's Ford Field,
Cena would face "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels
in the main event.
A match so good
that a rematch would be set mere weeks later in England.
And what transpired is considered
one of the greatest matches in the history of Monday Night Raw.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[man] Cena!
[singer trills]
♪ Amaudo… ♪
[Todd] And making his way to the ring,
from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
he weighs 246 lbs
and is the WWE Champion,
John Cena!
♪ You can't see me, my time is now… ♪
[JR] Indeed, that championship belt that Cena's holding,
that's what it's gonna be all about on Sunday,
but tonight, what this rematch is all about
is competition.
Ring superiority.
♪ Storming on you chumps Like I'm thunder…♪
[JR] Mano a mano between John Cena and the legendary Shawn Michaels.
♪ Part of the jail, slaughtering stale… ♪
[King] Well, the words came out of the very mouth of Shawn Michaels.
Shawn Michaels looked John Cena in the eye and said, "You're not the better man."
So that's what this match is all about.
Proving who is the better man between these two.
[JR] A loud and raucous crowd here tonight in London, England.
We thank you for inviting us into your home, wherever you may be.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Referee Mike Chioda's gonna decide
this main event,
a one-fall matchup.
[music fades]
[crowd cheering and booing]
[JR] What a classic these two men had at WrestleMania 23.
It was our privilege as broadcasters to be a small part of that equation
at ringside that night.
Just seeing that match was…
was… just absolutely extraordinary for me.
[King] Well… I mean, this just has a… a feel to it, doesn't it?
I mean, it's like electricity in the air right now.
[JR] I think anytime you get Shawn Michaels and John Cena in a ring,
no matter where it is in the world…
Tonight it's London, England. Sunday it'll be Atlanta, Georgia.
…you get that special feeling, that electricity.
And these fans, these great fans are… are moving that right along.
And here the bell sounds. Remember, one fall to a finish here tonight.
[King] And if this match is a fraction of what the match was at WrestleMania,
it'll be a classic.
[JR] Shawn Michaels, at WrestleMania, dominated the majority of the matchup,
especially in the early going of the matchup.
And posed some… some predicaments that Cena had a hard time countering.
And Michaels now, the knuckle lock,
using his shoulder to block
Cena's, uh, left arm.
Cena being right-handed.
He's got great power in his upper body, does John Cena.
And Shawn Michaels, fireman's carry takeover.
And Cena countered. Nice counter with a head scissors.
[King] Cena… I mean, make no bones about it,
Cena's an excellent wrestler,
but, you know, Shawn Michaels, he's… he's… he's a technician.
I mean, Shawn Michaels has been around…
he… he has been around long enough to know…
I mean, every… every hold, every counter to every hold.
And… and I think that in… in that respect,
Shawn Michaels is gonna have the advantage.
Strength-wise… you know,
you gotta give the advantage to John Cena.
[JR] I thought John Cena said something very poignant.
Cena has great respect for Shawn Michaels.
Side headlock takeover.
Another counter.
But the bottom line is
that John Cena is still the champ.
-[King] Right. -[JR] And that's what this… is all about.
The WWE Championship.
[King] Well, that's what Sunday at Backlash is gonna be all about.
You and I talked a little bit before this match, what's at stake here.
We… we… we said the word "pride."
To me, that's a little bit trite,
I think we both gotta admit, JR.
Let's face facts.
Both of these men we're looking at have egos so big they need a zip code.
And these guys, I mean,
they… they will not accept
losing to the other.
So what's gonna happen?
[JR] Nice takedown by Shawn Michaels,
focusing on the left arm.
And got a near-fall.
Slid into that lateral press.
Remember, at WrestleMania, it was John Cena who drew first blood,
literally, on Shawn Michaels.
-[inaudible] This close. -[JR] And now Cena looking for STFU.
The fatal STFU, if you will.
[King] And John Cena saying he was "this close"
just reminds me of the words from Shawn Michaels to John Cena,
when he said, "There have been any number of Superstars
that have come through the WWE
claiming that they were gonna beat Shawn Michaels,
and some of 'em came just that close."
"But they didn't get it done."
[JR] Shawn Michaels knows he must stay away from the STFU
in the center of the ring.
On the other hand, John Cena knows
he cannot experience Sweet Chin Music.
We'll keep our eye on both those situations
as this match evolves
and develops.
Side headlock by Michaels. Not taking any unnecessary chances here.
And nice drop toehold.
[King] A drop toehold by Cena,
looking at… at another way of getting back into the STFU.
[JR] And look at that little smirk on the face of John Cena.
[King] And, hey, Shawn Michaels, he knows…
Well, did you ever think you'd see Shawn Michaels tap out
to the STFU at WrestleMania?
[JR] Well, I never thought I'd see Shawn Michaels tap out to anything,
but that STFU is a…
that's a cat of a different breed, I'll tell ya.
Michaels had no choice,
especially after losing all that blood
and the physicality of the match,
the time these men punished each other.
Both were totally spent at the end of WrestleMania 23.
And John Cena,
and his little interruption
of Shawn Michaels' quiet time before this match,
seems to, perhaps, have gotten into Michaels' head.
Only my speculation.
[King] And these two played a lot of mind games leading up to WrestleMania.
But if you ask me, I… I agree with you, JR.
It looks like John Cena has that… that look in his eye,
that look of confidence.
I think he feels
that he is the better man in this match.
[JR] Well, he still is the WWE Champion.
And a waistlock takedown. Nice move.
And Cena again looking for that… that, uh, ankle
to get Michaels on Michaels's abdomen.
[King] And Cena is not gonna stop.
What… what do ya call it?
What's your expression, "You dance with who brung you"?
[JR] Absolutely. And Cena has…
has had so much success,
not only with the FU, but with the STFU.
[King] He knows that's what Shawn Michaels tapped out to. Uh-oh. Listen.
[inaudible]
[Mike] Hey, come on. Keep your cool.
[inaudible]
[King] Uh-oh! Oh! Ho-ho!
-[JR] Michaels-- -[King] Here we go!
[JR] Michaels struck the first blow,
and Cena retaliated big-time.
This one's shaping up to be a classic.
And this match will continue.
[Mike chattering indistinctly]
-[King] Oh man! -[JR] We are back live in London, England.
-A WrestleMania rematch. -[King] Let 'em go. Get it on!
[JR] John Cena, the WWE Champion,
in a one-fall match here tonight against Shawn Michaels.
Yes, the title will be at stake at Backlash.
But tonight, it's about… it's mano a mano.
[King] Who is the better man? It's as simple as that, JR.
These guys are just about to get down to it.
[JR] Michaels using the side headlock earlier very effectively,
and now John Cena taking a page out of Michaels' playbook.
But Cena was able to counter Michaels with a head scissors.
Michaels yet to be able to successfully counter
the side headlock of John Cena.
Well, I thought this thing was gonna degenerate into a slugfest for a minute.
And it may.
But cooler heads have prevailed for the moment.
[woman] I love you, Cena!
[King] I don't think… I just… I can't help but…
I don't think Shawn Michaels needs to get in a slugging match with John Cena.
[JR] Whoa, whoa. Cena, with all that upper body strength,
holding on to the side headlock.
Shawn Michaels now trying to roll onto HBK's shoulders.
And there's a count.
Referee Mike Chioda got a one-count out of it.
Unlike WrestleMania 23,
again, when Michaels started out so quickly,
so expertly, what a wonderful game plan,
and Michaels out-wrestled John Cena
at WrestleMania 23 in the early going.
And there's another cover!
Man, a long… That was a hell of a near-fall there.
But tonight, it's John Cena who's out-wrestling Shawn Michaels
in the early part of this one-fall match.
[King] Well, as you mentioned earlier and we talked about,
Shawn Michaels tapped out at WrestleMania to the STFU,
and how many times have we seen Cena go for that?
He knows that's effective. He knows that will work on Shawn Michaels.
And he's attempted to lock it in about four or five times already.
[JR] You're exactly right.
Certainly, John Cena knows
that if he locks in the STFU, this match will be over momentarily.
Shawn Michaels knows it better than anyone,
how effective the STFU can be and is.
Ask any Superstar in the WWE, they'll all give you an "amen" to that.
Well, by the same… Yeah, I'll give you an amen right now, JR.
[JR] Oh! By the same token…
[King] Hard shoulder block.
[JR] …you and I both know that
when you… Oh, look out!
-[King] Whoa. -[JR] Man.
Michaels's head, I mean, it bounced off the canvas
with a real uncomfortable velocity.
And now Cena squeezing the head of Shawn Michaels,
who may have concussed himself after that massive shoulder block
of the bigger, stronger John Cena.
[King] I thought for sure when Cena was behind Shawn there
that he was gonna lock in that STFU, but
he's content right now.
Look at the way he's got Shawn's neck crimped.
That's cutting off the oxygen to Shawn's brain, and he's content,
Cena is, to just try to wear Shawn down.
[JR] Cena dictating a pace here that he likes.
And certainly, Michaels quicker, faster than Cena.
Another near-fall situation.
And Cena dictating the pace that… that John Cena is comfortable with.
Shawn Michaels, we know, likes to… to kick it in gear,
make you wrestle his match, not your match.
And that's what Michaels did at WrestleMania more often than not.
[King] Well, Cena's strategy is obviously to slow Shawn Michaels down here,
but what Cena has gotta…
he has got to keep, and I'm sure it's in the back of his mind,
that Sweet Chin Music, JR, can come out of nowhere
when you least expect it.
You give Shawn Michaels just an inch,
he'll put your lights out with Sweet Chin Music.
[JR] You're talking about three seconds to win this match. That's all it takes.
Three seconds.
And Michaels going to the ribs,
and then that one shot to the, uh… to the thigh muscle.
And Michaels looking for a hiplock. Got beat to the punch.
Cena blocked it. Hook of the leg.
And Cena got a near-fall!
That was power! The raw power and strength of John Cena.
He set the base, he blocked the hiplock,
and then delivered a thunderous clothesline
to Shawn Michaels,
and now it's Cena back crimping the neck of "HBK."
[King] I gotta tell you something. The fans' reaction to John Cena amazes me.
It's… you know, it's different in every city that John wrestles in.
And, of course, it's different… depending on his opponent.
And as John Cena said,
he knows that Shawn Michaels has earned the respect,
over the years, of… of all the fans.
[JR] This time Michaels followed Cena in
and delivered a reverse elbow right to the… to the jaw.
Smart move by Michaels.
He followed Cena as close to the ropes as Michaels could get.
And there's a straight kick from the controversial Shawn Michaels,
who has regained that attitude
that… that made him famous, or infamous, if you will.
[King] Boy, that one kick
to the side of John Cena's temple.
[JR] A brief clean shot by Michaels…
Cena's dazed a little bit.
…followed up by that knife-edge chop and then…
Wake up! Pay attention.
[JR] Hard shot and a clothesline,
on the turnbuckle.
And Michaels…
Michaels seems extremely combative here tonight. Not only physically.
-[King] I think he was talking to you, JR. -[JR] But verbally. I don't think so.
[King] He's admonishing you. Do you look like you're not paying attention?
[JR] I hope not 'cause I'm loving this match.
And Michaels forcing Cena back in the corner.
Michaels…
[King] Oh man!
[JR] …has obviously turned the tables.
Michaels is building offensive momentum.
-[King] I think he… -[JR] Whoa!
Uh-oh.
Michaels walked right into that big boot.
-[King] Look out! -[JR] And another clothesline.
Another power move from the powerhouse WWE Champion, Cena.
The cover! The leg was tightly hooked.
And the referee says, "You got a two-count out of it."
-Cena again… -[King] Back in control. Look at Cena.
[JR] Cena using that headlock from the left side.
[King] Shawn Michaels had his moment there, but now, once again,
John Cena with that head in that vise grip.
The irony is that Michaels started working on Cena's left arm and shoulder,
and now Cena's fully utilizing that left arm and shoulder
to his advantage.
-[King] And the-- -[JR] Oh!
And the pace quickens.
-And Michaels… -[King] Look out!
Is… Whoa!
[JR] Michaels thought of Sweet Chin Music.
And Michaels now
gotta regroup.
Michaels has gotta regroup, but this main event will continue.
[JR] We are back here in London, England. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.
What a main event. A WrestleMania main event.
Shawn Michaels and John Cena one-on-one.
[Mike] Three!
[JR] Referee Mike Chioda exercising that five-count,
and Michaels did not exercise a clean break.
Michaels with a left hand deep in the abdomen.
[King] Boy, this is amazing.
The WrestleMania rematch we're witnessing here tonight
is a classic, JR, as we thought it would be.
[King] How can these guys keep going?
-[grunts] -[JR] And another hard shot there.
Shawn Michaels not thinking about his title opportunity this Sunday,
but thinking now about proving to John Cena
that Shawn Michaels is the superior man on this night.
And a snapmare takeover.
-Shawn Michaels. -[Cena groans] Oh!
[JR] Now the foot. A legal blow.
[King] Oh, that'll loosen a tooth or two.
[JR] Michaels being very aggressive now, as he should be.
Michaels with the… with the advantage.
And very few men are as good as Shawn Michaels
when Michaels starts dictating the pace and starts calling the offense.
[King] Well, let me ask you, JR.
How would you like to be in John Cena's shoes
this Sunday at Backlash?
Not only does he have to contend with Shawn Michaels,
but not just one, but three men.
Randy Orton and Edge as well.
[JR] And a knife-edge chop, but Cena fighting right back.
And it may not behoove Michaels to get into a slugfest
with John Cena.
-[King] I agree. -[JR] And Michaels again.
[King] Oh, look at the strength! That's what I was talking about.
[JR] Michaels tried to avoid the contact.
The slam. The cover.
[King] That's it! That's it! Oh. What?
[JR] Oh, the referee says it was a… a two-count.
And, man, that was a… that was a heck of a near-fall right there.
Michaels had less than a second to get his shoulder up.
[King] I think he's gonna go for the FU. Oh, no.
[JR] Shawn Michaels in big trouble here. Michaels sent for the ride.
-[King] Here it is! No! -[JR] And Cena.
Cena with that fisherman suplex.
Now Cena may have it. A hook.
Far leg's got hooked.
Chioda's hand coming down for three.
[King] Boy, earlier in the match,
John Cena went for that STFU maybe five or six times because he knows
that that's what Shawn Michaels tapped out to at WrestleMania.
What do we got here?
[JR] Cena one second away from winning this match
just moments ago.
Now Cena measuring his adversary, Shawn Michaels.
Cena going downstairs.
And Cena…
[King] Oh, whoa!
[JR] …with that facebuster on Michaels.
He's got it. Cena's got the leg hooked!
-Oh! -[King] Oh!
[JR] And Cena again with another near-fall.
Another predicament
created by the WWE Champion, John Cena.
[King] I gotta see that again if that was not a three-count.
Check this move out.
Beautiful move by John Cena.
And then… I mean, that was within a hair of being a three-count,
and I can understand the frustration now building in John Cena.
[JR] And the resilience of Shawn Michaels
certainly is admirable, but how much longer
can Michaels display that resiliency?
And Michaels now standing toe-to-toe with John Cena.
[King] How many times, JR… I'm trying to think in my mind.
…how many times John Cena has had near-falls…
near-pinfalls on Shawn Michaels?
But I… I can only remember Shawn Michaels almost pinning John one time.
Man, that…
-[King] Another one. -[JR] Back body drop. Here it is!
But don't discount the ability, the heart, the fight of Shawn Michaels.
And one thing, Sweet Chin Music.
It can come from anywhere at any time.
And to win this match, you gotta be down three seconds.
And, yes, Shawn Michaels has been down two and a half at least
on several occasions,
much like John Cena was at WrestleMania.
-[King] Uh-oh. Look out. -[JR] Michaels landing on his feet.
Oh, how quick was that?
What a… what a neckbreaker by Michaels
out of nowhere.
Quicker than a hiccup was Michaels
and a perfectly executed neckbreaker.
[King] Shawn, you better get a cover here.
[JR] Let's check this out one more time. How quick does this happen?
Boom. And then bang! There it is!
Man, that's like pouring smoke through a keyhole.
[King] But Shawn didn't have enough left in the tank to cover Cena quickly.
[JR] Michaels's lower back feeling the punishment here,
but Michaels has gotta battle through it,
just like we've seen John Cena battle through his
situations time and again.
But these knife… knife-edge chops and Cena's right hand,
I don't know how they equate, King.
Reversal by the champ.
And Shawn Michaels exploded in the face of John Cena!
[King] That'll equate for anybody right there!
Flying forearm by Shawn Michaels that found a home.
One!
[JR] And referee Mike Chioda's got a ten-count that he can utilize here.
[crowd] Three!
Four!
[King] Neither man stirring.
-[crowd] Five! -[JR] We're halfway there. The five.
[crowd] Six!
[JR] Uh-oh.
And Michaels flips up at six.
Cena up to a knee.
Michaels holding his back. Inverted atomic drop,
and a right hand!
And another right hand!
John Cena now being punished by Shawn Michaels,
but Michaels's lower back is giving him heck right now.
Michaels's lower back may be cramping up on him.
[King] And I think… I think Shawn Michaels realizes
that he needs to capitalize on this upper hand that he has right here.
-This may be his last shot. -[JR] Michaels going for broke. High risk.
-Michaels going for it all. -[King] Can he hit it again?
Yes!
[JR] Shawn Michaels hit the… the elbow right to the heart of the WWE Champion.
Michaels's death-defying leap…
[King] Uh-oh, JR.
Could we see it?
Could John Cena hear it and feel it, some Sweet Chin Music?
[JR] Cena may hear it
before he sees it.
And Michaels thinking Sweet Chin Music here.
[crowd] Three!
[JR] Cena staggering in a dazed state.
Oh wait.
-And the backslide! -[King] Hey!
[JR] A two… a two-count.
Michaels misses the clothesline.
Cena misses the shoulder block!
And the champ now hurting on the outside.
Cena maybe… he may have busted some ribs there.
Cena was contorted when he went through the ropes and hit the floor.
I'm certainly not a doctor,
but Cena may have suffered an injury there.
[woman] Cena! Cena!
[JR] Could be to his ribs. I'm not gonna assume.
[King] Maybe it's his arm.
-[JR] Could be. -[King] His elbow or forearm. Not sure.
[JR] I don't know what it is, but I know John Cena's hurtin'.
Now Shawn Michaels, as much as I hate to say it,
he has to take advantage here.
[King] Oh my God!
[JR] Oh my God, the strength of Cena!
[King] You gotta be kidding me!
[JR] Michaels with a plancha got caught in midair.
And John Cena now with Shawn Michaels…
-[King] Oh! -[JR] And Cena…
Cena right… right into the steel steps!
Michaels is down.
Cena is down.
[boy] Come on, John!
[JR] What the hell's gonna happen as this match will continue?
[crowd clamoring]
[boy] Come on, Cena!
[King] Oh man!
[JR] What another shot by Shawn Michaels. John Cena in obvious trouble.
We are back here, London, England.
This is the main event tonight,
a WrestleMania rematch,
Shawn Michaels, WWE Champion John Cena.
A one-fall match.
And before the break, John Cena, and I don't know how bad Cena's hurt.
[King] Well, this is where Cena misses, right here.
I… I couldn't tell if he landed on his ribs or his forearm or his elbow.
But then look at the strength that was still left!
John Cena catching Shawn Michaels in midair is amazing!
[JR] Amazing strength by John Cena.
That was nothing but gutting up right there by Cena.
But Shawn Michaels has an advantage in this one-fall match.
A hammerlock.
Oh, and Cena taken to the steel ring post.
I can assure you, the ring post has no conscience,
no feelings.
And Cena may… again, going back to that left arm.
There's something about this left arm situation.
I think that that's what… what John Cena hurt
when he missed Shawn Michaels,
and Shawn Michaels knows it.
That's why Shawn Michaels is capitalizing on it.
[JR] He is zeroing in on that left arm of John Cena.
[Mike] Come on, get up.
[JR] Referee Mike Chioda.
Will Shawn Michaels be content to win by count-out?
-[Mike] I'll deal with you! -[King] Check this out one more time.
I think we can see Shawn Michaels just intentionally
ram the shoulder of John Cena into that steel ring post.
[JR] And you can feel the momentum shift right back to Shawn Michaels
in this one-fall match.
And Michaels jerking Cena's arm right across the top rope,
more torque on that injured arm.
And Cena…
A one-armed man is not gonna beat Shawn Michaels.
[King] Well, we talked earlier about the experience
that Shawn Michaels has over John Cena,
and this is just a mark of that experience.
When you see a weakness, when you see an injury to your opponent,
you have to take advantage of it.
You have to zero in on it.
[JR] You have to exploit it,
and Shawn Michaels knows a… a million ways to exploit an injury.
Michaels using a very innovative move just moments ago.
[King] Now there's hair-pulling.
[JR] Hammerlock as Cena grabs a handful of hair.
Michaels's got a closed arm into the half nelson.
Michaels trying to turn Cena on his shoulders.
-[King] He's got him! -[JR] Shoulders are there!
And John Cena had to use every bit of strength that I think he had
to get his shoulders off the canvas before the fatal three-count.
[King] Shawn Michaels realizes if you can take away John Cena's… one of his arms,
then he's not gonna be able to lock in that STFU.
[JR] Shoulders!
Two.
[JR] Well, Cena exposed that arm, and Michaels half nelsoned it.
And now Michaels with that hammerlock, driving his knee and all that body weight
right down to that massive tricep of John Cena.
[King] This may mean that John Cena has to rethink his strategy
because if that… if that left arm is weakened,
he may not be able to use that STFU that he won
at WrestleMania with.
[JR] Right arm, Cena, one-armed slam.
[JR] And John Cena looking for the elbow on the left side,
and he missed,
and Shawn Michaels now has another opportunity
to get back on the offensive here.
-[King] What a match, JR. -[JR] It's an awesome match.
An awesome one-on-one contest,
right here on Monday Night Raw from London, England.
Uh-oh!
Cena lowered his shoulder, breaking concentration, maybe.
And then, by God, maybe not.
Oh my goodness, what a clothesline.
And the shoulder blocks. Cena building momentum.
[King] Here comes Cena,
the champ!
[JR] Cena with all the power…
the shoulder blocks.
-The slam. -[JR] Man!
And John Cena is back driving the train.
[King] Look at John Cena, it's like he's admonishing his own shoulder.
He's saying, "Don't you let me down now."
[JR] Man, what a slobberknocker of a clothesline by John Cena.
That would've…
[King] You can't see me!
Here it comes, JR!
Patented John Cena Five-Knuckle Shuffle!
He hit it!
[JR] Michaels ate the right hand.
[King] Could this be it, JR?
[JR] And the end could be near for Shawn Michaels now.
Michaels has countered everything Cena has dished out.
-Now Cena looking for the FU. -[King] FU!
-Oh, no. -[JR] No. And…
Oh, Michaels countered, looking for Sweet Chin Music.
-And the FU! -[King] And there it is!
Cena got the FU!
This will be it!
-Cena-- No! -[King] What?
What?!
[JR] How in the name of…
How did Shawn Michaels kick out of the FU?
[King] I don't know how he did it, but he did it!
-[JR] My God, this match. -[King] They're still going!
[JR] We are live here in London, England. Monday Night Raw.
[King] I still can't believe that Shawn Michaels was able to kick out,
he still had the energy to kick out of the FU.
[JR] And during the commercial break, John Cena continued
to whale away at the lower back of Shawn Michaels.
And now Michaels thrown to the outside extremely aggressively by John Cena.
Oh, what a match we have seen from these two.
Early on, John Cena went repeatedly after that STFU,
wasn't able to lock it in.
And, just, once again, we're talking about it now,
still the aggressiveness of John Cena,
trying to finish off Shawn Michaels.
[King] Shawn Michaels, as you said… What's the word? …resilient beyond belief.
[JR] Shawn Michaels has tried everything he can
to protect his back from the STFU,
but that's not gonna help Michaels.
Cena waistlocking Michaels.
Cena showing that uncanny strength,
driving Michaels spine-first into the steel ring post.
And this is after Michaels kicked out of the FU
just a few moments ago.
And now there's a cover. Hook of the far leg.
And Michaels did everything he could with every fiber of his being
to kick out before the three.
[King] And look at John Cena. He cannot believe it.
And you know what?
You… you almost have to find a little humor in that.
You… you laugh to keep from crying.
I'm sure he's gotta just be thinking, "Maybe I can't beat Shawn Michaels."
"At least not on this night," maybe, right?
[JR] John Cena has created numerous near-falls.
He has yet to pin Shawn Michaels.
But it looks as if now Cena is building confidence and momentum.
And Cena certainly has isolated Michaels's lower back.
Shawn Michaels realizes he knows exactly what Cena's going for.
He knows Cena wants that suplex,
and Shawn is trying everything to block it, but…
Suplex power. Look at the power.
Cena. Michaels trying to use his dead weight on Cena and use his legs.
The suplex. The hook.
And three! It had to be three.
[King] No, it wasn't.
[JR] How in the good Lord's name did Shawn Michaels kick out of that?
After everything that Michaels has endured,
all the pain, the suffering,
the lower back issues.
And now Cena with a bearhug.
And I don't recall John Cena ever utilizing a bearhug
in any of his encounters thus far with Shawn Michaels.
[King] JR, it may be pure frustration.
John Cena may be thinking,
"What I'm trying is not working. Let me try something else."
-[Shawn screams] -[Mike chattering]
[JR] I tell you one thing,
if anybody could punish Shawn Michaels's lower back,
with all that strength, it's John Cena.
[King] We saw John Cena earlier…
Shawn Michaels come sailing through the air over the top rope,
John Cena out on the floor, and John Cena with the strength…
[JR] Unbelievable.
[King] …catches Shawn in midair.
[JR] One of those extraordinary Raw moments we've witnessed live here tonight,
when Cena caught Shawn Michaels in midair.
[King] So with that kind of arm strength,
imagine the pressure that he's able to put on the back of Shawn Michaels right now
with that bearhug.
[JR] Michaels freed the hands, and Cena went right back to the bearhug.
You gotta hand it to both these men.
They're holding nothing back in this one fall to a finish main event.
And another elbow. That reverse elbow may have caught Cena in the temple.
Cena's hands aren't moving.
[King] I was… I was beginning to wonder
if Shawn Michaels had the strength to… to still stand on his own,
that maybe the only thing holding him up was Cena,
but he's still got it.
Oh! Oh! That may be it.
[JR] Oh man, what velocity.
The power of Cena
sending Michaels on the ride on the Irish whip.
But Michaels, again, like being
repelled from a vehicle,
a moving car that hit a wall.
[King] Watch this. It's almost like three different impacts.
Watch here. Shawn hits that turnbuckle, then the edge of the ring, then the floor.
[JR] Triple the damage on Shawn Michaels.
And now the referee using that ten-count.
And John Cena
doesn't seem to be even mildly content
to win this match, if he could, by count-out.
[King] Well, he knows…
No, John Cena knows that he's gotta have Shawn Michaels inside the ring
to be able to pin him.
That's what… that's what John Cena wants to do.
What the hell is this, JR?
[JR] Cena going up top.
This is uncharacteristic.
-This is-- -[King] Look out!
Oh my gosh!
[JR] The leg drop from the top right on the head of Michaels.
The hook of the leg.
And then…
Good Lord, how close was that?
How close can it get with it not being three?
Cena, uncharacteristically, went to the top.
Took a huge chance.
[King] Watch this again. I don't think I've ever seen this before.
This was taking a page out of Shawn Michaels's book.
But that…
I mean, he hit that leg drop perfectly from the top rope.
[JR] John Cena said before this match started to Michaels's face
that he respected Shawn Michaels.
[King] JR, John Cena just looked over here at you and I
and asked me, "What is it gonna take?"
I don't know, John.
[JR] You gotta believe that that respect has grown immensely
for John Cena as it relates to Shawn Michaels.
And look at Michaels
just falling to… to his knees.
And Cena muscling Michaels up to the top turnbuckle.
Nothing good can happen there.
[King] Uh-oh.
[JR] Michaels trying to force Cena away, but to no avail from Cena's right hands.
[King] Shawn Michaels still has enough of his faculties to know that,
what you said, nothing good…
Oh my God, JR. An FU from up there?
[JR] And Michaels fought his way back down,
but Michaels still in the danger zone there.
Cena with all that power.
And… Oh, Michaels avoided it.
-And Michaels, powerbomb! -[King] Hey!
-A powerbomb! -Whoa!
Shawn Michaels just hit the powerbomb
on John Cena from the top turnbuckle!
[King] But he just doesn't… Shawn doesn't have anything left.
You gotta try to cover him, Shawn.
[JR] Can Michaels cover Cena here and win this match?
Cena just got powerbombed from the top turnbuckle.
-[King] Let's see that one more time. -[JR] This is a difference-maker.
[King] Shawn Michaels able to slip away from that impending FU
and turn it into
a huge powerbomb.
[JR] The referee now utilizing that count.
Michaels stirring, as is Cena.
Count's up to eight.
[King] How are these men back to their feet?
[JR] Drop toehold!
[King] And look at Shawn turn immediately!
[JR] Michaels turning.
He knew that the STFU was a heartbeat away,
and that was what was on Cena's mind.
[King] Because that's what John Cena made Shawn Michaels tap out to
at WrestleMania.
[JR] My gosh, what a… what a physical match.
What a tremendously physical match.
Both men putting everything they've got, their heart--
-[King] Look out here. Oh God! -[JR] Oh my-- Good God!
John Cena's face just bounced off this wooden table.
Our announce table just shook.
It shook to its foundation from Cena's face.
[King] He's out.
[JR] Cena's eyes are glazed over.
And Michaels in the ring, Cena outside the ring.
[King] Check this out one more time.
JR, I happened to be looking down at the monitor
when… when John Cena landed right in front of us here.
[crowd] Cena!
[King] Scared the heck out of me, and he's still not stirring.
[JR] And John Cena… he's…
Cena's barely moving,
and Shawn Michaels just broke the referee's count intentionally.
You think Shawn Michaels wants to win this match via count-out?
[King] Well, look at Shawn Michaels. He… Uh-oh. What…?
[JR] Sunday is about the WWE title,
but tonight, isn't this about a whole hell of a lot more personally to these two men.
And remember WrestleMania.
[King] Oh, wait a minute, JR.
This… this has shades of WrestleMania right here.
-[JR] And Michaels, he… -[King] We…
[JR] He piledrove Cena at WrestleMania
and busted Cena open.
Cena trying to block it.
-[King] And does! -[JR] Oh, look out!
And Michaels just got backdropped.
My God!
[King] That's gotta be it for Shawn Michaels.
-[JR] How is Michaels gonna survive this? -[King] He's not.
[JR] Cena's back in the ring.
Michaels is writhing in pain here.
[JR] Oh God!
-[King] Look out! -[JR] Come on!
[King] Hey! Come on! John! Hey!
[JR] Shawn Michaels and Cena.
Michaels was trying to get up,
and Cena,
as competitive as Cena is,
has assaulted Michaels and was trying to just… to get around the ring.
-[Cena] He won't stay down! -I'm telling you!
-He won't stay down! -[Mike] You better listen.
[Cena] Come on!
[JR] Man, this… this is a one-fall main event,
the WrestleMania rematch,
Shawn Michaels and… and John Cena.
My God, that… that…
Michaels got backdropped off the ring step.
And there it is!
-The STFU! -[crowd roaring]
[JR] Michaels… he has done all he can do all night long to stay away from the STFU.
But finally, John Cena, for the first time in this match,
has been able to lock in the STFU on Shawn Michaels.
[King] And this is the move that beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania!
Michaels is fighting with everything he has,
with every… every gut in his body,
all the intestinal fortitude,
his magnificent will to win.
But Cena's got him locked.
The STFU is locked.
[King] Shawn Michaels is gonna tap. He's gonna have to.
His only hope is to try to somehow
get to the ropes,
but John Cena's got him squarely in the middle of the ring.
[JR] Michaels has turned to his side.
Can that help him? Will that help him?
Look at Cena. The determination etched on the face of the WWE Champion
as he punishes and tortures Shawn Michaels.
And this, almost a modified version of the STFU.
And Michaels is trying with everything he's got
to get to the bottom rope.
[King] Look at how red Shawn Michaels's face is.
[Mike] What d'you say, Shawn?
[King] The oxygen being cut off. He's… he's fading, JR. He's fading.
[JR] Michaels's hand getting closer and closer to the canvas.
But maybe there's… there's…
-Is there a little bit left? Yes! -[King] Oh!
-[Mike] He's got the rope. -[JR] Yes, there is something left!
And Shawn Michaels, "The Heartbreak Kid,"
able to get to the bottom rope.
The referee calls for the break.
But the question that begs to be asked,
is there anything left in "HBK" after what he has just endured?
[King] Well, it doesn't look like there is anything left in "The Showstopper."
John Cena looking.
He's just… just waiting, laying in wait for Shawn to get back to his feet.
He's gonna lock it on again, JR.
[JR] A valiant, courageous effort by Shawn Michaels
in this epic main event
wrought with individual pride and determination.
Cena and--
[King] Oh!
[JR] Michaels looking for Sweet Chin Music.
Couldn't get it.
-[JR] Oh! -[King] He got it!
-[JR] Yes! -[King] He got it!
[JR] Sweet Chin Music! [laughs]
Caught Cena!
[King] Out of nowhere,
Shawn Michaels hits the superkick.
[JR] Somehow Michaels was able to deliver
Sweet Chin Music on WWE Champion John Cena.
Cena is down!
Can Michaels capitalize?
[King] Some kinda way, if you can just get your arm across him, any part of you.
[JR] Michaels is trying.
Cena's shoulders are on the canvas.
[King] There it is!
[JR] The arm is over. That'll do it!
[King] Oh my gosh!
[JR] Cena, like Michaels earlier, able to get to the bottom rope
to break the pinning predicament.
[King] What a damn match this is!
[JR] Man, I tell you what,
what a… what a tremendous main event we are seeing here tonight.
One of the greatest one-on-one matches in the history of Monday Night Raw.
We are in London, England. This is a WrestleMania rematch.
The champion, John Cena,
taking on Shawn Michaels.
And this has been a true classic.
[King] Man, I can't tell you how long these guys have been battling.
But you saw John Cena's hand on that bottom rope
is all that saved John Cena just a moment ago.
Shawn Michaels with that superkick out of nowhere.
Sweet Chin Music put the lights out on John Cena.
[JR] I certainly never saw it coming,
and obviously neither did John Cena.
And Cena now trying to will himself back into this match.
We have seen Michaels on the… on the edge, on the brink of defeat
on several occasions here tonight
in this magnificent main event.
Cena pulling himself up.
Michaels…
[King] Boy, I'm… This is absolutely amazing, JR.
When you think that… Oh!
…this match that we are witnessing is not about the WWE Championship.
This is about who is the better man.
[JR] This Sunday at Backlash will be about the title,
but that's just Sunday.
This is now,
and what we're seeing now is a classic.
Shawn Michaels, John Cena
leaving everything they've got
inside this squared circle.
And who will prevail?
[King] And what will they have left this Sunday at Backlash?
[JR] And Michaels turned inside out, upside down.
And Cena looking for the second FU tonight!
-[King] Look at that! -[JR] And Michaels… Oh!
Yes! Michaels hit Sweet Chin!
Cover.
-And Michaels wins! -]bell dings]
-[King] Oh my God! -[JR] Michaels wins!
My God, Michaels wins!
[Todd] Here is your winner, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels!
[King] It took an encore of Sweet Chin Music,
but the second one did the trick, JR.
[JR] And if this happens this Sunday at Backlash,
Shawn Michaels will once again live his dream
of becoming the WWE Champion!
♪ Boy toy ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
Good Lord, was that a banger!
Cena and "HBK" went the distance.
But in the end, there could only be one winner.
Cena's endurance was awe-inspiring
and would earn him a reputation
as one of the true iron men in professional wrestling.
And on a September 2009 edition of Raw,
John Cena would put that assertion to the test
in one of the most daunting challenges of his career,
as he looked to run the gauntlet against three of WWE's fiercest competitors
in Chris Jericho, The Big Show,
and his greatest rival, "The Viper" Randy Orton.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[man trills]
♪ Amadou… ♪
[Justin] Approaching the ring, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing 240 lbs,
he is the WWE Champion,
John Cena!
[King] They're on their feet
because the champ is here!
[Cole] And, ladies and gentlemen, Sunday,
inside Hell in a Cell, which you see hanging above the ring,
John Cena defends the WWE Championship against Randy Orton.
But, King, the question is this,
for John Cena, he's gotta put Sunday aside,
put it out of his mind for a moment,
because tonight, he has to run the gauntlet
against the Unified Tag Team Champions and Randy Orton.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Got the whole block Wishin' they could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishin' with no bait Kid, your boy hold weight ♪
♪ I got my soul straight I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better Your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater… ♪
[Cole] Dire circumstances for the champion.
[King] John Cena hoping not to get smashed up here tonight.
[Cole] And the way this works for John Cena, he has three matches.
John Cena will face three men in succession.
Doesn't matter if he wins or loses, he's gotta face all three men.
Let's see who's gonna be first.
[King] Cena getting pumped up.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Break the walls down ♪
♪ Break down the walls ♪
♪ For those about to rock I'm what ya want… ♪
[Justin] Introducing his first opponent,
weighing 226 lbs,
he is one half of the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions,
Chris Jericho!
[King] A lot of times, I've thought, "I'd really like to be John Cena,"
but tonight is not one of 'em.
[Cole] Seen Chris Jericho earlier tonight involved in battle.
Him and Big Show successfully defended the Tag Team titles
against Mark Henry and MVP.
This is Monday Night Raw. We are live tonight in Albany, New York.
John Cena's first of three matches as he runs the gauntlet here on Raw.
So for John Cena, King, not only is it a one-on-one match with Jericho,
but Jericho's got a bone to pick with Cena
because Chris Jericho has never defeated Cena
in a one-on-one matchup,
hence more ammunition for Jericho here tonight.
[crowd roaring]
-[bell dings] -[Cole] Dangerous circumstances for Cena.
Any strategy at all, King, to running the gauntlet?
[King] Well, I mean, you've just gotta try to stay healthy
and get the match over with as quickly as possible.
[Cole] And that's what Cena's trying to do.
He's trying to pin Jericho early on.
[King] With these stipulations,
let's face it, they were devised or designed to, you know,
injure or do some damage to, uh, John Cena
before Hell in a Cell, to soften him up.
[Cole] Randy Orton's team had to win their match last week on Monday Night Raw,
and they did.
And Cena's in this situation.
As Jericho battles up. There's a big clothesline.
John Cena can ill afford any type of injury here tonight,
six nights away from Hell in a Cell.
Come on, Cena.
[Cole] Trash talking begins for one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions.
One.
[Cole] Let's not forget, King, that
Jericho defends the Unified Tag Team titles
along with The Big Show against Batista and Mysterio on Sunday.
[King] And also, let's not forget
it was Jericho and The Big Show that basically came up with this idea.
They approached the guest host with this idea.
[Cole] Well, "approached"? You think they sort of persuaded…
Cover by Jericho. Kick-out.
If Jericho'd picked up a pinfall victory, for Cena, it wouldn't matter.
He'd still have to face two more opponents tonight.
Jericho trying to wear down John Cena.
You saw Orton talking to Jericho and Big Show earlier on.
-What d'you think he was telling 'em? -[crowd] Cena! Cena!
[King] "Just go out there and do your job."
[Cole] Oh, look at Cena,
going for the Attitude Adjustment.
And Jericho rolls through. It'd be better if he hooked the leg.
Punishing Cena.
[Chris] Come on!
[Cole] John Cena took the World Championship away from Jericho…
[Mike] Get him in the ring.
[Cole] …at one point in his career.
[King] Oh no, no, no, no, no.
Oh no. Look out! Oof! Oh!
[Cole] Cena, history of neck injury.
Jericho well-versed in that.
Jericho so dangerous
when he has the upper hand.
[King] Now, this is the one thing that John Cena didn't want.
[Cole] Cena sidesteps Jericho.
[King] Cena's in big trouble, and this is just the first of three matches.
[Cole] Well, shoulder blocks. Vintage Cena there. Building momentum.
[Chris yells]
-[King] Oh! -[Cole] Cena planting Jericho.
[crowd roaring]
[King] And now Jericho's the one in trouble!
You can't see me!
[Cole] Cena with a little Five-Knuckle Shuffle.
Chris Jericho feels that!
And Cena primed, perhaps,
for the Attitude Adjustment on Jericho!
But again, Jericho fights out.
Rolls Cena up.
[King] Turning it into the Walls of Jericho.
[Cole] Trying to get Cena on his belly. Cena trying to fight it, but just can't.
Walls of Jericho. Will Cena tap out?
Perhaps Cena should to move on,
but we know the resolve and determination of John Cena.
As he crawls toward the ropes!
And the champion, can he get there?
-And he does! -[King] Yes!
[Cole] That'll force Jericho to break the hold.
-[Mike] He got the rope! -[Chris] Give up, Cena! No!
Two.
-[Cole] Oh, wait. -[Mike] Three. Four.
-[Mike] Five. Ring the bell! -[Chris] Come on, Cena!
-[Mike] Disqualification! -[Cole] The referee had no choice.
[King] And Jericho just absolutely refusing to break the hold
'cause that's what this is all about.
That's probably what Orton was telling Jericho.
"Hurt John Cena at any cost. Punish Cena."
Let go! Come on!
[King] Look at Jericho. No letting up at all.
Look at the way Cena's body is contorted.
[Cole] Cena's tapping, but it's over.
Come on, let go! Come on!
[Cole] Jericho.
[Justin] The winner of the first match of the gauntlet
as a result of a disqualification,
John Cena!
[Cole] But that doesn't matter. The damage continues to Cena.
Look at the look in the eyes of the champion.
["Big" playing]
[Cole] Oh no, and things are about to go from bad to worse.
'Cause it's not over for Cena.
John Cena must have another match.
This time against "The World's Largest Athlete."
[King] I don't think Cena's gonna be able to walk.
[Cole] The Walls of Jericho still being applied.
Cena groaning and crying in agony.
[King] Ref, come on, pull him off there!
[Cole] And Jericho finally releases the Walls,
but Cena a broken man,
as Big Show looks to pick up the pieces.
[King] Oh, this is not good.
You see The Big Show just absolutely taking his time
because… Cena is down and out.
[Cole] And Big Show…
[Chris] Cena's finished. His back is broken.
He's broken!
[Cole] Well, thanks to Chris Jericho for that commentary,
but Jericho may be right.
Big Show, who's got major issues with Cena as well, personal,
Big Show stalking Cena.
[King] The referee had no choice but to ring the bell and start the match.
It's the only way Cena was getting to his feet.
[Cole] And that's what this is, a gauntlet match.
[Chris] Come on, stay on him!
[King] Cena's in big trouble here.
[Cole] It is John Cena versus The Big Show.
And if Cena gets through this match, or even if he doesn't,
he faces Randy Orton.
All that happens next live on Monday Night Raw.
-[King] Uh-oh. -[Mike] Two! Three!
[Cole] Right and lefts from Big Show, as we're back live on Monday Night Raw.
This is the second of three gauntlet matches tonight for John Cena.
This is Big Show versus Cena.
You saw Jericho here at ringside. He had the first match.
[King] Yeah, Jericho in the first of the gauntlet matches against John Cena.
Jericho got disqualified,
but the damage that Jericho administered to John Cena--
[Chris] Big Show's handling him like a rag doll!
[King] Okay! Okay!
[Cole] Well, you saw that Chris Jericho had the Walls of Jericho,
that submission maneuver that affects the lower back,
on Cena for a good couple of minutes.
And Big Show has now targeted the lower back of Cena.
Randy Orton, who will face Cena next in this gauntlet match,
has gotta love what he's witnessing.
[King] Jericho just roaming, just ranting and raving over here,
pounding on the ring apron, coming over here yelling in our headsets.
[Cole] Tree limb-like arms wrapped around the waist of Cena.
Orton is enjoying this
because Orton faces Cena for the WWE title…
He's finished!
…inside Hell in a Cell Sunday.
[King] It looks like he may be facing what's left of Cena
after these three gauntlet matches.
[Cole] Well, Randy Orton did say
that Cena had no chance of surviving tonight,
that it was going to be a, quote, "slaughter."
[Chris] Come on!
[Cole] Look at the strength John Cena's still got--
It must take so much to get out of that type of hold from The Big Show.
[King] I'll tell you what took a ton out of John Cena was that Walls of Jericho…
[Cole] Oh my!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] …that Jericho applied for, what, a good four minutes?
-[Cole] Cena is a heap. -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Barely moving.
Needs the ropes to help himself to his feet.
And now Big Show measuring Cena.
John Cena in trouble.
But Cena counters!
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] Dug down deep and countered. Jericho's expression tells the story.
[Chris] Get up, Show!
[Cole] Cena able to somehow turn that into
a DDT on The Big Show.
You are watching Monday Night Raw.
We are live tonight in Albany, New York.
John Cena in the second of three gauntlet matches here tonight.
This one versus The Big Show.
He's already faced Jericho.
And Randy Orton waits in the wings.
-Look at Cena! -[King] Look at this!
-Look out! -[Cole] And Jericho from behind!
-And 500 lbs fell on the head of Cena! -[bell dings]
[King] And another disqualification. I don't blame the referee. Look at this.
[Cole] And the assault by the Unified Tag Team Champions.
Big Show's entire body just fell on the skull of Cena.
Now more damage to the back.
[Justin] Winner of the second match as a result of a disqualification,
John Cena!
-[Cole] The Colossal Clutch. -[crowd cheering]
[King] And… and Randy Orton hasn't even gotten down here yet.
-Oh no. -[Cole] More back damage to Cena.
["Voices" playing]
[Cole] And now "The Viper"
becomes "The Vulture"
to prey on the injured Cena.
[King] Oh my gosh.
Look at Randy Orton.
♪ You got your rules and your religion… ♪
[Cole] Randy Orton said that he will not be responsible
for his actions on Sunday.
[King] Just look at his face.
He looks as demonic as that Hell in a Cell structure.
[Cole] How about Orton's actions tonight?
Randy Orton.
[King] I don't see how Cena can even continue.
[Cole] Look at Orton.
Orton preying,
stalking.
[King] And as we said before,
this has to be the last thing that John Cena would've ever wanted,
to be in this predicament heading into Hell in a Cell this Sunday.
[Cole] We've said before that Randy Orton has absolutely no absence of malice,
and I guarantee you there will be none tonight either.
[King] Cena in a world of hurt,
and he hasn't even had his match with Orton yet.
[Cole] Think about the opportunity
that has been presented to Randy Orton here tonight.
[King] Look at Cena.
-[Cole] Well, Cena… -[King] He just said, "Come get some."
[Cole] That's what he's all about, King, but, I mean, come on.
John Cena has been destroyed
by Chris Jericho and The Big Show.
-Can't even get to his feet. -[King] He may be delirious.
I mean, he may be hurt so bad
he doesn't know he's waving Randy Orton in for some more punishment.
[Cole] Well, we've seen in the past
how much Orton has punished and tortured John Cena.
And Orton's a desperate man, King.
He realizes Sunday is his last opportunity to win the WWE title back.
[music fades]
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Man, this is a scary situation for John Cena.
[Cole] This is the third gauntlet match for Cena tonight.
[King] You call it a gauntlet match,
but I'm afraid it won't be much of a match.
[Cole] First, the Unified Tag Team Champions,
and now a five-time World Champion Cena faces in Orton.
[boy] Go, Randy!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh my.
[King] Is it mov… Is it mov…
-[Cole] They're lowering… -[King] The cell's lowering!
[Cole] …the Hell in a Cell!
[tense music playing]
[Cole] What on earth is John Cena thinking about?
And Orton! Orton's in trouble.
Cena on the attack!
John Cena!
-Cena's got "The Viper" cornered. -[King] Look at this!
[Cole] "The Viper" trying to squirm and slither away!
[King] Orton trying desperately to scratch and claw his way out of that ring
before that Hell in a Cell comes down around him!
[Cole] John Cena trying to trap Orton in the cell!
[King] Orton just battling.
Orton's gonna have to somehow get away.
[Cole] Cena holding on!
[King] Orton's trapped.
Randy Orton!
And Orton… Look at the snake! "The Viper."
[Cole] And he can't get out. He's caught.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Orton is trapped!
And John Cena knows it.
[King] That's five tons of steel.
Orton knew better than to get himself caught underneath that.
Randy Orton has been outsmarted.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[crowd whooping] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[King] Cena looks rejuvenated.
And he stares at that, what, 2,700 square feet of chain links?
-[Cole] Cena looking at the door now. -[King] Well, Cena rejuvenated.
He also looks a little bit crazed.
I think Randy's looking at the door as well.
And I wonder if…
That door will be closed and locked this Sunday.
[Cole] But the problem for Orton now, King, is,
the only way out tonight is through that open door.
[King] Yeah.
And standing between that open door and Randy Orton is John Cena.
-[King chuckles] -Cena ready to pounce.
Saying, "Come on, Randy."
-[King] There goes Orton! -[Cole] Orton makes a dash for it.
You want it? Earn it.
-Come on. -[Cole] Cena said, "You want it? Earn it."
And here comes Randy Orton and John Cena.
And here we go. Randy Orton side-steps Cena.
They're outside the cell.
[King] Put Orton on his back.
[Cole] How ironic is it that Orton's begging for mercy?
John Cena going for the Attitude Adjustment.
-Orton scrambling. -[King] Look at Orton!
[Cole] Only one way out of it, as Orton tries to scale the cell.
[King] Looks like Spider-Man. Look.
-[Cole] And Cena in pursuit. -[King] Oh my gosh!
[Cole] That cell 20 feet above the ground.
Five tons of steel!
Cena scaling the cell.
Orton… he's up there. Orton's up on top!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Orton's on top, but what is he gonna do up there?
[Cole] Oh my Lord.
[King] My God, look at the height.
And I think Orton's realized now this is a desperate escape from Cena,
and look at the predicament he's in.
[King] Cena, after the beating he took at the hands of Jericho and The Big Show,
still, somehow, able to scale that 20-foot-high steel cell.
What a sight.
[Cole] A smile across the face of Cena.
[King] Oh my gosh, how dangerous is this?
[Cole] A stalemate on top of the cell.
What a sight.
I cannot believe this, ladies and gentlemen.
-And look at Cena! -[King] Oh no!
-[Cole] John Cena. -[King] Oh, you gotta be kidding me!
-[Cole] Not on top of the cell. -[King] Yes!
-[Cole] The Attitude Adjustment! -[King] Wow!
[Cole] Could this be a harbinger of things to come?
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] Cena claims Orton has no idea what he's capable of.
He may be right!
["The Time Is Now" plays]
An unforgettable moment,
as "Mr. You Can't See Me" makes damn sure he is seen
as he gloats in the face of the slithering "Viper."
While Orton was undoubtedly one of the most detested opponents
Cena has ever faced,
there was one man who seemed to get under the skin of the Cenation leader
like none other.
If you smell-ell-ell-ell what I'm cookin'.
Of course, I'm talking about
"The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment" The Rock.
And their rivalry would reach new heights in the aftermath of WrestleMania 27,
when Cena made a once-in-a-lifetime offer to "The Great One" on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[man trills]
♪ Amaudo ♪
[inaudible]
I missed you.
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise. Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ In case you forgot or fell off… ♪
[Justin] Ladies and gentlemen,
John Cena!
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fightin' ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightnin' ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breakin' me, kid, I'm harder than nails ♪
♪ Plus I keep it on lock Like I'm part of the jail ♪
♪ I'm slaughterin' stale competition I got the whole block wishin' ♪
♪ They could run with my division But they gone fishin' with no bait ♪
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight I got my soul straight ♪
♪ I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better Your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ If they hate, let 'em hate I drop ya whole clan ♪
♪ Lay yo' ass down For the three-second tan ♪
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise. Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ Uh! It's gonna be what it's gonna be… ♪
[music fades]
[crowd booing]
[inaudible] I didn't even say anything.
[Josh] Some people love him, some people don't.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
I know. I know. I know. I know. I know.
[crowd whooping]
A lot of people are upset
about a certain someone's actions last night at WrestleMania.
[crowd clamoring]
I must admit, I'd be a bit naive if I didn't think anything was coming
because that certain someone put on his Twitter
he was headed to WrestleMania to… How does he put it?
…"whip some candy ass."
[crowd cheering]
So right then I knew he wasn't talking about Zack Ryder.
I didn't think that certain someone would actually decide the winner
of the main event at WrestleMania.
[woman] I love you!
But you know what?
If he didn't do what he did,
the final moment of WrestleMania 27
would have been…
a draw.
And that would've sucked donkeys.
So you know what?
Things didn't go my way. I will not complain.
As a matter of a fact, I'm gonna congratulate…
The Miz.
[crowd booing]
Boo! Boo!
[Cena] Miz,
congratulations.
I've been around long enough to know it doesn't matter how you did it.
The fact is you did it.
You were able to walk in to the main event of WrestleMania
the WWE Champion
and walk out of WrestleMania
still the WWE Champion. There's something to be said for that.
[crowd cheering]
I know you're watching and, trust me,
you are still the most annoying person on Earth
and I hope I never get another chance to face you.
But I think these people would agree with me
that after your showing tonight, you have earned all of our respect.
Which, of course, brings me back to that certain someone.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Because after hearing him speak for so very long,
it's obvious I have not earned his respect.
It's obvious he doesn't like me very much.
Here's the good thing. That certain someone is here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
That certain someone was also supposed to be the guest host of WrestleMania,
but very quickly became involved in business.
My business.
Which means that certain someone and I have business of our own to settle
right now.
[crowd cheering]
[woman] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[woman 2] John, I love you!
[woman 3] Go, Cena!
-[woman 4] Let's go, Cena! -[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
-[woman 4] Let's go, Cena! [claps] -[crowd] Rocky!
-[woman 4] Let's go, Cena! [claps] -[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
-[woman 4] Let's go, Cena! -[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
-["The Rock" playing] -♪ If you smell what The Rock is cookin' ♪
[crowd cheering]
[crowd whooping]
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
-[woman 5] Cena! -[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[chanting fades]
[crowd] Fruity Pebbles! [clapping]
Fruity Pebbles! [clapping]
Fruity Pebbles!
John Cena.
Let me be direct with you.
What d'you think was gonna happen?
You knew payback was coming.
You poke a shark in the eye, you get swallowed whole.
Has The Rock talked trash about you? Yeah, you bet your candy ass he did.
It's what The Rock does. Does it better than anybody.
It's what the people love.
[crowd roaring]
But you're wrong about one thing, John Cena.
You're wrong about respect.
You see, The Rock respects you.
[crowd booing]
[inaudible] Okay.
The Rock respects you, knows what you've done.
The Rock has been away.
Don't think The Rock doesn't know all about you.
The Rock knows that you live and breathe the WWE.
[crowd cheering]
The Rock knows that.
The Rock also knows it's because of that drive
that you have become one of the greatest WWE Superstars,
one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[inaudible] Thank you.
But it doesn't change the fact, flat out,
that The Rock just doesn't like you.
[crowd cheering]
Look at us, John Cena.
We are completely opposite.
We look different. We talk different.
We fight different.
But the truth is,
we're very similar.
One thing, and that is a fact,
that whatever it is that John Cena does, whatever it is that The Rock does,
they wanna do it the absolute best,
better than anyone, period.
[crowd cheering]
So we're very similar,
except when we go shopping.
The Rock shops at department stores. You obviously shop at Baby Gap.
[crowd clamoring]
Hey, awesome. What do you know?
Fashion advice from the Tooth Fairy.
-[crowd cheering] -[Josh chuckles]
[Cena] Listen.
We've both said the time for talk is over!
You are "The People's Champ." Listen to the people.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd clamoring]
Hear it?
Hear it, feel it, see it.
There are people standing in the ceiling
not because they want us to talk.
Because they want a match.
[crowd roaring]
And not just a match.
These people know what match.
A match where generations collide.
Only in the WWE would you be able to see
Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in their prime.
Only in the WWE would you be able to see
Michael Jordan go one-on-one with LeBron James.
The match that they want
is John Cena versus The Rock!
[crowd roaring]
It's obvious this is what we should do.
So do you wanna talk about it…
or do you wanna bring it?
[crowd cheering]
John Cena,
you have no idea
what you just asked for.
[crowd cheering]
You asked The Rock to bring it.
Oh yeah, The Rock'll bring it.
You bet your candy ass The Rock will bring it!
[crowd cheering]
But The Rock says we make history.
The Rock says we do something that's never been done before.
The Rock says we make the biggest matchup of all time!
[crowd whooping]
On the grandest stage in the world.
WrestleMania 28, John Cena versus The Rock.
[crowd cheering]
[man] Go back to your movies!
[crowd clamoring]
But it's not just any matchup.
No, no, no, no, no. Not just any matchup. No!
It's gonna be The Rock, "The People's Champ."
Never alone! Never alone!
Team Bring It all day, all night long
with the millions…
[crowd] And millions!
[Rock] …of The Rock's fans.
WrestleMania 28, the main event.
John Cena, "The People's Champion."
The people's WrestleMania.
[crowd cheers]
If you smell
what The Rock is cookin'!
[crowd] Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
history has been made tonight.
Never before
has the main event at WrestleMania
been set one year out.
Miami, Florida, look out.
It is the match the world wanted.
The match the WWE Universe demanded.
[King] What on… on earth?
[Cole laughs]
[King] The Corre?
-[Booker] What is going on here? -[Josh] What is The Corre doing out here?
[Cole] Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, and Justin Gabriel
looking to steal this moment, this historic moment.
The Corre, the four members of Corre, taking out Cena and The Rock,
making this their night,
making their statement.
[wrestlers grunting]
[crowd cheering]
[King] And Rock. "The Brahma Bull" battling back on Barrett.
[Booker] Man, here we go right here.
The Rock is upset.
[Cole] And now John Cena!
Ooh!
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] I think The Corre is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[crowd booing]
-You can't see me! -[crowd] You can't see me!
[Cole] John Cena, his patented Five-Knuckle Shuffle!
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] But not to be outdone
or outshone tonight!
The Rock
off the spinebuster!
[crowd roaring]
[Booker] Man, WrestleMania 28 is gonna be something!
[Cole] And now, "The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment" The Rock
with the People's Elbow!
[crowd cheering, whooping]
[Cena yells]
[Cole] Cena setting up.
Attitude Adjustment!
[crowd clamoring]
-["The Time Is Now" playing] -♪ Your time is up, my time is now… ♪
♪ You can't see me… ♪
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen…
No, no, no!
It's… it's Rock's turn with the Rock Bottom!
[crowd clamoring]
[Booker] Looks like The Rock and Cena are trying to see who can outdo each other
at the expense of The Corre.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[inaudible] I'll see you at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] I believe tonight was a draw. -[rock music playing]
[Cole] But two of WWE's most important eras
will clash in the biggest main event
in WrestleMania history!
An epic confrontation that set the stage
for their legendary once-in-a-lifetime match
the following year at WrestleMania 28.
And while The Rock would indeed be off to Hollywood,
Cena kept grinding in WWE,
where he crossed paths with "The Best in the World" CM Punk.
In one of the most highly-regarded matchups in Raw history,
they would face off in the squared circle
with the winner heading to WrestleMania.
[crowd clamoring]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[man trills]
♪ Amaudo ♪
Yes!
Our time is now.
Let's go to work.
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise. Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ In case you forgot or fell off ♪
♪ I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stacked fat… ♪
[Cole] 17,131 WWE fans are on their feet
at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas tonight
for Cena versus Punk.
The winner heads to WrestleMania!
[King] This American Airlines Arena is jam-packed here tonight,
and you see John Cena surveying the landscape.
They're all the way up in the rafters!
[Cole] You know, King, we, uh, a lot of times in this business,
well, sometimes have a tendency to overhype some matches.
No way you can overhype what is gonna happen here tonight.
The winner of this match is gonna main-event WrestleMania.
No ifs, ands, or buts about that.
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me… ♪
[Cole] I'm gonna tell you something.
I just get a sense, I'm just watching body language.
John Cena seems…
[Justin] Introducing first, from Chicago, Illinois,
weighing 218 lbs,
CM Punk!
[crowd clamoring]
And his opponent, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing 251 lbs,
John Cena!
[crowd roaring]
[King] Well, I'm… I don't know if I should even finish my sentence or not,
but I'm just watching John's body language,
and I was gonna say, and I'll still say it,
John seems a little nervous.
[Cole] And who could blame him?
Well, John Cena won the opportunity to face The Rock at WrestleMania,
the WWE Champion, when he won the Royal Rumble back in January.
Cena gave all that up
to prove once and for all that he can beat CM Punk tonight.
[King] Well, John, in his own words,
wanted to prove he was worthy.
But I don't know if that was a wise decision.
We'll find out in this match.
[King] This has put enormous pressure on John Cena.
[Cole] It's a big-fight feel in Dallas tonight.
It's all about WrestleMania.
You can see the sign hanging in the background.
Cena and Punk.
The reason there's pressure on Cena,
not only did he give up the, uh, opportunity to go to WrestleMania
to have this match here tonight and have to earn it once again,
but as CM Punk pointed out, this has been one of the great rivalries
of the past year and a half here in WWE.
The problem is, throughout all this,
John Cena has not been able to beat CM Punk in a big match,
and that is a fact.
It all started back in 2011 in the Money in the Bank match.
[King] That doesn't bode well for John. This is the biggest of big matches.
And, I mean, this match is so big,
John Cena has, well, nothing to win,
and CM Punk has everything to win.
Come on! One. Two.
Thr-- Come on. He's in the ropes.
[Cole] John Cena has everything to lose tonight.
CM Punk has everything to win.
[King] You said it better than I did. That's exactly the way it is.
That's why I questioned was this a wise decision
for John to take this match?
[Cole] Cena said he had to prove something.
He's gonna have to stay totally focused.
If he, for one minute in this match, starts second-guessing himself,
it's over.
[Cole] Well, Cena wanted to shut up the critics.
Those were her-- his words from last week.
You said that CM Punk talks business. Cena says he means business.
[King] I… I don't know. I gotta disagree with you.
I don't think it has anything to do with John's critics.
I think this is all about John's gut feeling about himself.
[crowd] Cena! Cena!
[Cole] Cena wanted to make 2013 his year.
A return to the top. He tries to get back tonight.
Nice hip toss by Cena. Gains a little early momentum.
And the veteran, CM Punk, gonna cool off a bit.
John Cena has the upper hand so far.
Who is going to WrestleMania
to face The Rock for the WWE Championship?
This match rolls on live on Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] A turn-away crowd tonight.
Sold-out American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.
17,131 witnessing Cena versus Punk.
Winner to main-event WrestleMania.
German suplex by Cena.
And Cena starting to get back into this thing.
-[King] Oh! -[Cole] Well, momentarily.
Punk side-stepping Cena.
And once again, Punk regains control.
[King] Throughout the entire commercial break, we saw CM Punk just--
[Cole] Here's the cover.
And Cena, at two, gets the shoulder up.
[King] Around John Cena, just wearing Cena down
with moves like that.
Elbows to the back of his neck.
[Cole] We also talked exclusively on the WWE app during the commercials,
the fact that CM Punk looks very confident here tonight.
Neckbreaker to Cena.
Again into the cover. Hooks the leg on John.
And two again.
Another near-fall for Punk.
[King] John Cena, CM Punk trending worldwide.
What would you expect?
I mean, this is… this is worldwide tension right here.
Who is gonna be victorious
in this biggest of big matches?
[Cole] Punk is doing a great job so far
containing Cena.
Again, Punk's confidence breeding from the fact
he knows he can beat John. He's done it in the past.
-[King] Whoa! -[Cole] Again, you can't match this.
[King] No, you can't.
[Cole] You can't match the pure strength and power of John Cena.
Cena makes Punk pay!
And he creates separation, so important in this match.
-[woman] Come on, Cena! -[King] Oh!
Cena showing some fight. Running bulldog!
And this is what…
Cover! Hooks the leg. Does he have it?
-No! -[King] Nope. Nope.
[Cole] This is what CM Punk was trying to avoid.
[King] He needed to keep Cena grounded.
You let John get to his feet, it's gonna be trouble for Punk.
[Cole] Who does this pace favor so far?
[King] So far it's favored Punk, up until the last 30 or 40 seconds.
[Cole] And now it's Punk in trouble.
Front facelock by John Cena.
As Cena looks now to… wear down Punk,
put that entire 245-lb frame on the back of Punk.
[King] Just a little R&R right now for John Cena.
He's just trying to get his bearings back from the abuse that he's taken
from CM Punk up to this point.
He'll go on the offensive.
[Cole] Takedown by Cena again. Shoulders down.
And Punk with his shoulder up.
John Cena a ten-time WWE Champion.
No man in history has held the championship more times
than John Cena.
He'd love to win tonight and have an opportunity
at extending that record to 11 at WrestleMania.
[King] You gotta wonder if The Rock
has a favorite, uh, between these two of who he wants to face at WrestleMania.
[Cole] Well, Rock knows he can beat Cena.
As Punk goes up over the top.
Cena runs right into the heel kick!
Punk crawls to the cover. Hooks the leg.
And a near-fall again for Punk.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] It's almost like Punk seems to think the slower pace will favor him.
-Perhaps he's right. -[King] He may be right.
I mean, I think it… it's obvious that Punk wants to just
wear John Cena down.
That's the way you take some of the… some of the pop out of those power moves
that John's famous for.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] You hear the rumbling here in Dallas.
-Cena back to his feet. -[wrestlers grunt]
-[Cole] Ow.
Doing what he can. He does create separation again.
[King] A bit unorthodox there by John, but, oh, that big boot.
-May have telegraphed that move. -[Cole] The flying shoulder tackle!
And this is… Oh!
Great move! Great move by Punk!
[King] Wow!
[Cole] Wonderful move by CM Punk.
That is how well Punk knows Cena.
-And Punk very pleased. -[King] Yeah.
That smile on the face of CM Punk says, "I read your book, John."
-"I knew what was coming." -[man] Get up, John!
[Cole] Punk may know Cena better than anyone.
CM Punk launching himself through the second rope!
Both these Superstars leaving it all out there.
Which one of these men is gonna headline WrestleMania?
Punk has been dominating so far.
[King] Can Cena get back in it, live on Monday Night Raw?
[Cole] Again, the story of this match tonight
has been CM Punk almost in complete control of John Cena
since the get-go.
The winner heads to WrestleMania to meet Rock for the title.
[King] Look at this move before the break.
Watch John Cena's head bounce off the wall.
And since that time, Cena has been in big trouble.
[Cole] But can John Cena rally?
[woman] Come on, Cena!
[Cole] We'll show you what happened during the break
exclusively on the WWE app.
Cena had Punk in an Attitude Adjustment position,
but Punk with a DDT.
Looking to try to put Cena away now. Back to live action.
Now Cena hits with a double flying shoulder tackle.
And John Cena now starting to…
Oh, wait a minute! Punk… What a counter!
-Going for the Anaconda Vise! -[King] He's got it!
Submission hold! Submission hold!
Will Cena tap? Will Punk go to WrestleMania?
-John Cena! -[King] Hey!
[Cole] Shoulders down for Punk. Punk shoulders down.
Oh, Punk had to release at a count of two!
-[King] Look at this! -[Cole] A swinging neckbreaker!
Punk again cover. Hook of the leg.
Cena kicks out!
What a sequence here tonight on Raw!
[King] But you can tell
the confidence… the confidence is building
for CM Punk.
I think Punk feels he's got this in hand.
[Cole] Or is frustration building, maybe?
Cena was able to get out of the Anaconda Vise.
[King] I don't think so.
-That doesn't look-- Whoa! -[Cole] Cena!
-[King] Wait a minute! -[Cole] Cena was going for the STF!
-And Punk makes it to the ropes to break. -[King] Oh!
[Cole] And Punk gonna launch himself.
Top rope. Clothesline. Flying clothesline. Is it enough? Is Punk going to New York?
No! And Cena with a shoulder up.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] As tense as it gets.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[King] Oh, what's he thinking?
What is going through Punk's mind right now?
I don't like the look on his face.
[Cole] CM Punk is always thinking.
Punk gonna launch himself again.
And he's caught by Cena!
Cena going for the STF!
-[King] Yes! -[Cole] STF is in.
STF is in! What's Punk gonna do?
Punk has nowhere to go!
What do you say, Punk?
Cena's a tap-out away from WrestleMania!
[King] Oh, look at Punk!
He's trying to… He's…
[Cole] And CM Punk! CM Punk now.
-[King] Oh my God! -[Cole] And Punk reverses it!
Into the Anaconda Vise!
The Vise locked in. It's locked in!
It's Cena's turn to perhaps tap!
[King] What a reversal by CM Punk!
Is Punk… is Punk gonna get Cena to tap out?
Now it's Cena trying to counter!
Cena reverses. Back into the STF!
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] Oh my, what a match!
Is Punk gonna tap out?
Is it Punk's turn?
[King] Punk is screaming.
-[Cole] Punk is close. -[King] Watch his hand!
[Cole] Punk trying to somehow reverse!
And he does! Cena's shoulders down!
And he's gotta kick out at two!
[King] An exhausting performance by both these men!
Oh man!
This is a war.
[Punk groans]
[King] That, as you said,
that sequence had to take a lot out of both Punk and John Cena.
[crowd] Cena! Cena!
[Cole] Damage done to the shoulder and the arm of Punk
from the STF.
Same, I'm sure, for John Cena off the Anaconda Vise.
Both men trying to utilize their submission maneuvers here.
Cena went for the AA earlier. Punk still yet to try his Go to Sleep.
[Cena groans]
[Cole] Who is gonna be able to dig down the deepest
and find what it takes to pull this thing out?
-[crowd groaning] -[Cole] Oh! Wow!
Big uppercut!
But Punk comes back!
Oh man!
[crowd continues groaning]
[King] Look at the look of determination on Cena's face.
-That took the starch right out of him. -[Cole] Yeah, just like that!
CM Punk and his dangerous legs.
John Cena!
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] And Punk, as Cena went for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle.
Could be Go to Sleep time!
-Cena slides down the back. -[King] Look!
[Cole] And now Punk. It's Punk with a counter! Shoulders down!
And Cena having to kick out.
Ladies and gentlemen, high drama in Dallas.
17,131 at the American Airlines Center.
It is John Cena versus CM Punk live on Monday Night Raw.
The winner of this match goes to WrestleMania
to face The Rock for the WWE Championship.
[King] It doesn't get any bigger than this!
The stakes can't get any higher.
WrestleMania main event for the WWE title against The Rock
hanging in the balance of this match.
[Cole] Oh, and a high knee! That is vintage CM Punk.
He caught Cena on the temple.
And remember, Cena had his bell rung earlier on in the match.
[King] Whoa.
Cena blocks that running bulldog and drops CM Punk!
[Cole] Cena's got him where he wants him.
[King] You can't see me!
Is he gonna hit it?
[Cole] Yes! Five-Knuckle Shuffle!
And now perched for the AA. The Attitude Adjustment.
Punk manages to wiggle out of it. Go to Sleep time for Cena.
Back and forth we go.
[King] Look at this!
Powerbomb!
-A huge powerbomb! -[Cole] Powerbomb from Cena!
Will that be his ticket to WrestleMania?
-And a-- No! -[King] Did he get it?
-[Cole] No, he didn't! Two and a half! -[King] Oh my God!
Oh my God.
[Cole] Cena is literally muttering to himself.
[King] I guess!
[Cole] Somehow, CM Punk survives to fight on.
Cena is talking to himself.
"What do I gotta do to put Punk away?"
"Can I beat Punk?"
The doubts and thoughts may be crawling into Cena's mind.
[King] Watch this one more time.
I gotta see
how Punk,
if he really did survive this.
One, two…
No, you're right!
[Cole] And now John Cena.
John Cena gonna climb to the top rope.
CM Punk's in trouble. Cena looking to pull out all the stops.
This is about going to WrestleMania, folks.
-Packed to the rafters here in Dallas. -[King] John taking…
I don't know why he's trying this now, and taking way, way too long.
-Very dangerous up there. -[Cole] Yeah, great point, King.
Cena couldn't get his balance. He's been knocked loopy a couple times.
And Punk took advantage.
And now it's CM Punk's turn to go on offense.
CM Punk.
Punk was looking for that walk-off home run,
but John Cena was able to counter.
[King] The strength of John Cena coming into play now. Couple of headbutts.
-Right into the collarbone. -[Cole] That's the resilience of Cena.
And now Cena.
Going up high.
-John Cena. -[King] Look out!
[Cole] Leg drop across the back of the neck!
Is that it?! Is that it?!
Cena! Cena!
Punk!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Unbelievable!
-Wow! -[Cole] It is electric in Dallas.
[King] Well, I… I don't think John Cena is the only person
in this jam-packed arena
that is wondering
if Cena can beat Punk.
[Cole] Well, there's WrestleMania fever in the air
among the 17,000-plus in Dallas tonight.
Who is going to the show?
Is it Punk or Cena?
[King] Punk got Cena in the back of the head with that kick.
[Cole] Punk trying to regather himself too.
Both these men have been through so much.
-Punk. Again the high knee. -[King] Oh!
[Cole] I think he caught Cena.
Caught him flush. No, he didn't! Cena!
AA! AA! AA!
He's got him! He's got him!
No! Punk! Punk staying alive!
-Wow. -[Mike] John, he kicked out.
[Cole] Wow. This is amazing.
Something's gotta give!
We may go on all night tonight!
[King] John Cena is just
shaking his head in disbelief.
I think we're in overtime, folks.
-I thought Cena was out there. -[King] I did too.
How John came right back, too, to deliver the AA…
[Cole] And this… this right here says something about John Cena.
No count-out victories tonight. John Cena wanted to pin Punk.
And he may have paid for it.
-[King] That may do it. -[Cole] Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
Remember, the referee was counting when both men were outside the ring.
-He's at a count of six already. -Seven!
[Cole] The official at a count of seven!
-[King] John! John, you gotta get up! -[Cole] And Cena's…
If Cena doesn't get up, this is over.
-[Mike] Nine! -[Cole] Punk…
And John Cena beats the count!
[Mike] He's in!
[Cole] Punk, I think, was about to pop the champagne.
[King] I don't think…
[Cole] He had to put the cork back in the bottle.
[King] I don't think John even heard the count until he was at eight.
[woman] Come on!
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[Cole] This is incredible.
This is absolutely incredible.
Two athletes in the prime of their careers tonight on Raw.
-[King] Here we go. -[Cole] Punk! Go to Sleep!
-[King] Got him! -[Cole] CM Punk!
-[King] Good night, nurse! -[Cole] Is Punk going to WrestleMania?
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] Wow!
-Now it's Punk left shaking his head. -[King] What can he do?
What can either of these Superstars do?
[Cole] Maybe Punk's gonna try it again. Gonna go for a second one.
Gonna go for a second GTS. Looking to put Cena away.
John Cena countered!
-[King] What? -[Cole] Cena countered!
STF! Look at Punk. Punk's covered up. Trying to cover up.
[King] Oh, he's got it!
[Cole] Cena's got it in. Cena's got it in.
[Cole] Punk is screaming.
Punk is writhing in agony.
[King] And he's got him!
I don't think Punk's gonna get out of this!
[Cole] Is Punk gonna tap? He's gonna tap!
Punk's gonna tap!
He's gonna try now a last-ditch effort.
Trying to drag Cena's 250-lb body to the bottom rope.
[King] The pain has gotta be excruciating.
It's all about WrestleMania.
[Cole] Punk makes it to the rope!
[Mike] John, he's got the rope! Come on!
[Cole] Cena's gotta break the hold.
-[Mike] He got to the rope. -[woman] Cena!
[King] And once again, somehow, Punk survives.
-[Cole] What else can they do? -[King] I don't know.
[Cole] They've hit each other with their AAs, the Go to Sleep,
and the STF and the Anaconda Vise and everything else under the sun here.
They can't put each other away.
[King] Cena literally just looked over here,
and looked right at me and said, "What's it gonna take?"
I don't know, John.
[Cole] Look. Punk went for the knee. Punk went for Cena's knee.
[Cole] Is he-- No! He's not gonna--
-Oh my God! -[King] Piledriver!
[Cole] Oh my God, a piledriver to Cena!
A piledriver to Cena!
Cena's out!
Cena kicks out!
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] I… I… I don't know what to say.
[King] I don't either!
[Cole] Cover again by Punk. Cena, does he have enough left?
And he does!
And now Punk's frustration.
Punk wants to put Cena away at Cena's game.
[King] I don't know how these guys are doing it. I'm spent watching this.
[Cole] Can you imagine what Rock's feeling,
the WWE Champion, watching these two men go at it?
He's gonna have his hands full no matter who wins this match tonight.
-[crowd] Let's go, Cena! -[crowd] CM Punk!
[Cole] This is what the WWE Championship
and an opportunity to headline WrestleMania
means to both of these men.
They've been there before. They want it again.
Oh, watch out here.
[King] Punk risking it all!
[Cole] Went for the elbow!
John Cena rolls out of the way!
Cena. John Cena.
Look at this! Hurricanrana from Cena!
-Oh my God! -Are you kidding me?
AA!
-Cover! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Cole] Cena did it! -[bell dings]
[Cole] Cena's coming home!
-Cena's going to WrestleMania! -["The Time Is now" playing]
[Justin] The winner of this match, John Cena!
♪ My time is now… ♪
[Cole] Holy cow!
♪ Knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
[song ends]
If there's one thing John Cena knows how to do,
it's win.
And he did exactly that against CM Punk
on the Road to WrestleMania.
Being the fighting champion he is,
John would continue to take on all competitors,
issuing an open challenge to any Superstar willing to step up.
And on this edition of Raw in July of 2015,
we were gifted one of the most stellar and beloved matches
in Raw history.
[bell dings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the United States Championship!
Introducing first, the challenger,
from Lucerne, Switzerland,
weighing in at 232 lbs,
Cesaro!
[crowd cheering]
His opponent, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 251 lbs,
he is the United States Champion,
John Cena!
[Cole] And we invite you to use the hashtag #CenavsCesaro.
We have a United States Championship match.
Cesaro believes, and he could be right, guys,
that he would've been the United States Champion
if it wasn't for Kevin Owens last week, so a rematch here tonight.
[John] Cesaro's got a valid point, but I'm still in shock
at how easily Kevin Owens was willing to relinquish that chance
to challenge John Cena.
[John] I'm not sure Owens wants any of this.
[Cole] Owens is gonna get Cena either way in two weeks at Battleground.
-[crowd] Let's go, Cena! Let's go… -[crowd] Cena sucks!
[Cole] They are loud and proud here tonight in Chicago.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Leapfrog by Cena, and Cesaro with an uppercut.
Cesaro… can he win the United States Championship
from John Cena?
Raw continues live.
[Cole] Back live on Monday Night Raw in Chicago,
and Cesaro has forced himself into this United States Championship challenge
tonight against the champion, John Cena.
We thought it was gonna be Cena and Owens, but Cesaro demanded this rematch
after Owens cost him, perhaps, the title last week.
[Byron] I'd agree with Cesaro, what he said earlier.
It looks like John Cena was about to tap out last week
before Kevin Owens interfered.
[Cole] Wicked clothesline.
Cover by Cesaro for the title.
Kick-out at two.
[Byron] Cesaro knows opportunities for titles don't come often,
so when you can get it back-to-back two weeks in a row,
this could be a game-changer for Cesaro.
[Cole] There's Cena with a standing dropkick.
For Cesaro, John, he was a credible United States Champion at one point.
[John] Cesaro held the title himself 200-something days.
A very good United States Champion.
He's a very good Tag Team Champion as well.
Come on, let go. One. Two.
[Cole] There's no denying, say what you want about John Cena,
but he's really brought the prestige back to the United States Championship,
defending it week in and week out against all comers.
An important title
held by more than a dozen WWE Hall of Famers over the years.
Look at the power and strength of Cesaro. Look at this.
[Byron] Wow!
[Cole] And squats!
Cesaro, cover. Is it enough to put Cena away?
The power display. Almost had the champ.
[John] As good as Cena is… A 15-time World Champion.
He's the four-time United States Champion.
…this suplex of Cesaro,
squatting down just to show his strength…
[Cole] That is incredible.
Pound for pound, strongest man in WWE today.
[John] Cena's held the United States Championship more times than anybody else
since it's been in the WWE Era.
Four times!
[Cole] And Cena buys himself some time.
Ric Flair the most overall at six.
[wrestlers groaning]
[Byron] You talk about the reigns of John Cena,
all the success John Cena's had.
There's like a new sense of pride
ever since John Cena won the United States title at WrestleMania.
A new sense of pride in bringing prestige back to the United States title.
[John] Byron, I agree completely,
but Cena's gonna screw up one of these days.
His open challenge against top-level competitors
every single Monday night?
-There's no way he can win 'em all. -[Cole] Doing a pretty good job so far.
[John] Doing a great job so far, that's why--
[Cole] Going for the AA on Cesaro!
Oh, and he plants him with a DDT!
Great counter by Cesaro for the championship,
and a near-fall.
John Cena says the United States title has become his "symbol of excellence."
[John] That is exactly what it has been around John Cena's waist.
[Cole] Oh, right to the rib cage of Cena!
Cesaro knows he can only win the championship
via pinfall or submission, so he's gotta get Cena back in the ring.
Cesaro into the cover. Hook of the leg now on Cena,
who kicks out at two.
[Byron] Here's the thing about Cesaro. He is a film study master.
Watch this again.
This counter by Cesaro,
almost capturing the United States title there.
There are a lot of preparations Cesaro goes through.
I guarantee you, after that match last week against John Cena,
he went back, he studied that video.
He looked at any sort of mistake he made that he could've capitalized on.
[Cole] And he really didn't make any mistake.
It was Kevin Owens who broke things up.
Cesaro, cover on Cena.
-And a kick-out. -[John] Yeah, Byron, you're right.
That's the one thing Cena has a disadvantage in this open challenge.
Everybody is game planning him.
Cena has no idea
who is gonna walk out.
[Chad] What do you say, John?
[Byron] One thing we have seen.
If you talk a big game, you gotta back it up,
and Cena has kept his word.
It's an opportunity for any Superstar who wants to step up,
who wants to take the challenge, and Cena has been there every time.
[Cole] Cena may be fading.
Realizing it. Trying to get back to his feet.
And again, Cesaro wrestling Cena down to the mat.
Look at John's eyes. John in a predicament here.
Cesaro is dominating the United States Champion.
[Byron] Cena's in trouble!
[Cole] Can Cena get back in this match?
And John Cena, the United States Champion,
with a shoulder tackle to the challenger, Cesaro,
who catches Cena in midair!
Backbreaker. Cover for the title. Does he have him?
And a kick-out by Cena.
John Cena said whoever takes the challenge tonight
better bring his A game.
Well, Cesaro is bringing his A game.
[Byron] Cesaro always does!
[Cole] And Cena looking to take advantage.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And the champ has been punished by Cesaro.
You can't see me.
Cesaro right back to his feet. Missed with the clothesline.
Cena puts him right back down again.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Whoa!
Cesaro caught him
off the Five-Knuckle Shuffle with a crossface.
Cesaro with a crossface center of the ring.
Cena's got nowhere to go!
Cesaro's got this locked in, guys.
John Cena is in the middle of the ring, far away from the bottom rope.
[John] Last Monday night, Cesaro thought he had Cena and--
[Cole] Look at this! Look at this! Look at the power of Cena!
Lifting Cesaro up off the mat.
Cesaro rolling through,
shoulders down on Cena.
Cena fighting out of it.
Now a drop toehold.
And now Cena going for a submission of his own!
[referee shouting]
[Cole] The STF on Cesaro! Trying to drag himself to the bottom rope.
[Byron] He's almost there!
-[Cole] And it's gonna force the break. -[Chad] One. Two. Three.
Come on. Gotta let go.
[Byron] How lucky are we
to get this rematch between Cesaro and John Cena?
[John] One more time, United States Championship on the line.
[Cole] Hey, that's the beauty of Cena's open challenge.
-[Byron] Oh, look at Cesaro! -[Cole] Wow.
And he's yet to release.
And again,
tossing Cena around.
These gut wrenches by Cesaro.
[John] The trifecta.
[Cole] And a third. And now Cesaro, to win the championship.
And Cena at two and a half!
[Byron] Cena didn't just kick out.
Cena kicked out with power.
You just sense how much Cesaro prepared himself
for this opportunity
to once again challenge John Cena for the United States Championship.
[Cole] And Cesaro with an uppercut to Cena.
And another one by Cesaro.
[Byron] The uppercut train is rolling.
[Cole] The self-proclaimed "Swiss Superman"
is taking it to the United States Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] US champ's about to go a-swinging!
-Cesaro Swing time! -[Byron] Here we go!
[Cole] Cena gonna make sure that doesn't happen.
[Byron] Cena's trying to get out of it!
-Oh wow! -[Cole] Wow!
Cena, great counter!
What a counter by Cena!
[crowd clamoring]
Can he put Cesaro away?
Hooks the leg.
Cesaro just gets the shoulder up!
[Byron] We talked about the new-found pride John Cena has
in defending the United States title.
We've also seen newfound additions to his offensive arsenal.
[John] But those additions,
not everybody does 'em because not many can.
It takes the incredible strength
of John Cena to be able to pull off that DDT counter he just did.
[crowd] Let's go, Cena!
[Cole] John Cena.
John Cena gonna climb now to the top rope,
putting it all out there.
And Cesaro with a dropkick,
and Cena
knocked to the floor.
The United States Champion, John Cena, is in trouble.
Cesaro's gotta get the champ back in the ring, however.
[man] Kick his ass! Kick his ass!
[Byron] Here comes Cesaro!
[Cole] And he caught Cena with an uppercut.
[John] Cena blocked a little bit of that with his left shoulder.
[Cole] Cena's hurt.
Cena's hurt, as Cesaro tries to drag his body back into the ring.
[John] Could be about to see a new United States Champion.
[Cole] Now it's Cesaro's turn to go up top.
What's Cesaro gonna do here?
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] And Cena rolls through!
-[Byron] That is incredible strength. -[Cole] Yeah, there's the power of Cena.
[Byron] How does Cena do it?
-"Big Match John." -[Cole] Going for the AA on Cesaro!
[Cole] Finds a way to win.
[Cole] Cena may have just--
-[Byron] Oh, whoa! -[Cole] No!
Cesaro landed on his feet.
Uh-oh!
-[Byron] Wow! -[Cole] Cena sends Cesaro flying!
-[Byron] Man! -[Cole] Cena always finds a way.
-[Byron] Hurricanrana by Cena. -[Cole] Face-first.
Cena, to retain the championship.
[referee and crowd] One. Two.
[Cole] And Cesaro again stays in it.
This is Monday Night Raw.
We are live at the Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois.
Capacity crowd watching the United States Championship open challenge.
John Cena defending against Cesaro.
[John] And if you're just tuning in,
the WWE Universe here in the Allstate Arena in Chicago
is chanting "this is awesome"
because they're in the middle of a classic championship match.
[Cole] And if you're just tuning in,
the WWE World Champion,
Seth Rollins, is running around somewhere on the streets of Chicago
after being chased out of this arena by Brock Lesnar tonight
after Lesnar destroyed J&J Security and their Cadillac.
Cesaro, second rope. And an uppercut!
A spinning uppercut in midair by Cesaro to win the United States title.
And Cena at two.
[Byron] Cesaro and Cena are pushing each other to their limits.
[John] You're right. And they are both spent.
John Cena normally kicks out powerfully.
Barely was able to get that shoulder up on that last pinfall.
[Cole] And, John, you made the point, week in and week out,
Cena puts himself through these grueling matches,
these grueling punishments against A-level competition
to defend the United States title.
One week it's gotta catch up to him.
[John] Cena had a week to prepare, but Cesaro had a week to prepare for Cena.
Cena doesn't know who his opponent's gonna be each week.
[Cole] Both of these men were in Japan just a few days ago,
part of the tour there.
-Look at Cesaro. -[Byron] Oh gosh.
[Cole] Uh-oh, John Cena.
Cena trying to hang on. Cena realized he's in trouble.
May have saved the title there.
Uh-oh. Cesaro catching Cena.
[man] Kick his ass!
[Byron] Oh no!
[Cole] Fall-away slam.
Right into the barricade!
[man] Kick his ass!
[man 2] Come on, Cena!
[Cole] You made a living with that, John, but not quite like that, did you?
[John] Not quite like that! Didn't have the power to do that.
[Byron] We're seeing a man in Cesaro that knows this could be his final opportunity.
He doesn't know when this chance is gonna happen again.
[Cole] And now it's Cesaro launched into the timekeeper's area!
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Cesaro's hurt.
And what this does for Cena,
it allows him to regroup, reset a little bit here.
[John] Referee Chad Patton doing a great job here,
giving these guys leeway.
This is a championship match. You wanna see this end in the middle of the ring,
not out here on the floor.
[Cole] Watch Cesaro launched right into the timekeeper's area.
[man] Get in the ring!
[woman] Come on, Cena!
Thank you.
-[man 2] Cena! -[Cole] Now Cena in pursuit of Cesaro.
Sends him back into the ring.
-[man 3] Come on, Cena! -[man 4] Cena!
[crowd clamoring]
[woman 2] Go, Cena!
[Cole] Cena going up top.
Cesaro with an uppercut!
[John] Well, that caught John Cena flush.
[groans]
[Cole] Wow.
[Byron] It's the wear and tear, the damage from this match.
[John] Both these guys are one big move away…
from an incredible victory here on Monday Night Raw
and walking out United States Champion.
[Cole] Cena, the headbutts to Cesaro.
This could be Cena's moment right here.
-John Cena. Leg drop! -[Byron] Wow.
-[Cole] Back of the neck. -[Byron] That's gotta be it.
[Cole] Cover to retain the title.
And a kick-out.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] How is Cesaro staying in this?
[John] That is indeed "The Swiss Superman" Cesaro!
[Byron] "What's it gonna take?"
John Cena's gotta be asking himself that question.
"What's it gonna take to put away Cesaro?"
[Cole] I thought it was that right there.
But Cesaro, at just two and a half, managing to get the shoulder up.
And now Cena, wheels turning, "What do I gotta do here?"
[man] Cena!
[Cole] Going for the AA.
Cesaro hanging on.
-[Byron] Oh! -[Cole] Uppercut!
And here's the cover!
Hook of the leg on Cena, who kicks out.
The uppercut caught Cena in the top part of the chest, I believe,
not on the chin, and that may have saved Cena the championship.
[Byron] Even Cesaro had to believe he had Cena beat right there.
[Cole] I don't think he caught him flush, and I think that saved John's title
[John] Cesaro's finding out what competitors have found out here.
[Cole] Watch where the uppercut lands here
by Cesaro.
Yeah, just below the chin. Upper chest, I believe.
And it allowed Cena to kick out at two.
If he hit him in the jaw there, this one's over.
[John] Cesaro would've been the new United States Champion.
-Cesaro's finding out… Oh no! -[Cole] Cena!
AA!
-[John] Here we go! -[Cole] Cover.
And a kick-out at two!
[crowd roaring]
[Byron] I love this! I love this!
[Cole] Cesaro stays in it.
Capacity crowd
standing.
[Byron] This is what the United States open challenge is all about.
Put your heart on the line. Put your passion on the line.
Everything you got, leave it in the ring.
[John] This match right here is a great fitting tradition
of the incredible sports-entertainment tradition
here in Chicago.
Hanging on every move of this match,
the great WWE fans here in the Allstate Arena.
[Cole] Cena mentioned earlier
some of his all-time great matches in his career
in this building, in this ring.
[Byron] A wealth of great matches here. Rogers-O'Connor,
Gotch-Hackenschmidt, all here in Chicago.
I think Cena belongs in that group.
-And this match here. -[Cole] Uh-oh.
Cesaro Swing!
[crowd clamoring]
How many times is Cesaro gonna go?
And he's still going!
[Byron] Swinging around that 250-lb frame of Cena like it's nothing!
[Cole] And now stepping through. Looking for the Sharpshooter.
Looking for the Sharpshooter on Cena.
Sharpshooter! Submission.
Will Cena tap?
Is Cena gonna tap out?
[Byron] Is the United States Champion who says "never give up" gonna give up?
[Cole] Cena tries to make it to the bottom rope, but an arm's length away.
Great move by Cesaro. Back to the… back to the crossface.
We saw it earlier. Great switch by Cesaro.
Coming out of the Sharpshooter into the crossface.
And now moving Cena even more into the center of the ring.
Cena's got nowhere to go, and he's locked up good.
[Byron] Cena went for the counter, and Cesaro countered back.
And Cena ends up in the middle of the ring.
Just like you were saying, that's a long way from help.
[Cole] Look at Cena trying to use his strength to try to break the grip,
which he just did there.
John Cena slipped out of it.
-Cena dragging Cesaro back. -[Byron] Oh man.
[Cole] Center of the ring. Now it's the STF for Cena.
Counter after counter in this match.
[John] Look at that left leg of Cesaro. The leg's not meant to bend that way.
[Cole] Cesaro realizes he's gotta make it to the bottom rope.
He's a long way away.
Cesaro gonna try to use his power to power his way out of this,
make it back to his feet.
Cesaro's got Cena up.
-[Byron] What is this? -[Cole] Oh my goodness.
-Oh man! -[Byron] Wow!
[Cole] What a suplex by Cesaro!
-[Byron] That is sick! -[Cole] Cover.
For the United States Championship.
And Cena gets the shoulder up again.
[man] Come on, Cena!
[Cole] What a matchup between Cena and Cesaro.
If you missed it earlier,
we mentioned the damage that Brock Lesnar did
to J&J Security's brand-new Cadillac.
He wanted to do damage to Seth Rollins as well,
but Rollins ran out of the building.
Went for the springboard stunner.
Cena missed it.
But Cesaro, though,
going for the Neutralizer.
Neutralizer for the championship, to win the United States title!
And Cena powered out!
Cena missed the springboard stunner.
Then he thought he had Cesaro for the AA.
Cesaro countered into the Neutralizer.
[Byron] This is unbelievable.
[John] And Cesaro with the tight cover too.
That was pure guts and power by John Cena to keep this match alive,
and his championship reign as well.
[Byron] Even that couldn't put Cena away.
[John] Cesaro's finding out
what the WWE Universe has found out the last 11 years-plus.
Uh-oh. Cena.
[Cole] Oh, Cesaro countered again.
Think about the core strength of Cesaro to counter that tornado DDT.
Plants Cena.
Again a crossface!
Again middle of the ring!
Can Cena break out of it a third time?
[Byron] Cesaro may be closing in!
[Cole] Cena trying to drag himself toward the bottom rope.
Look at Cena.
Everything he's got!
The passion, the will of a champion.
[Chad] Hey! Break the hold.
[Byron] You almost feel like this is sudden death mode
for Cesaro and John Cena.
-[Cole] One move could be the match. -[Byron] I think you're right.
[John] One big move,
and we're either gonna see a new or still United States Champion.
[crowd] Cesaro! Cesaro! Cesaro! Cesaro!
[Cole] What is… Oh no, no, no!
We've seen Cesaro do this to some guys in the past,
but look at the… the strength of Cena!
He just lifted Cena up over the ropes!
For the win!
And a kick-out!
That's a 250-lb man
Cesaro just powered over the ropes into the suplex and into the cover.
With no leverage whatsoever. That is just pure strength.
[crowd] Let's go, Cena! Let's go, Cena!
[Byron] Cesaro said he deserved this opportunity.
-Look at this strength. -[Cole] Wow.
He's making the most of it!
One. Two.
[Cole] And now Cena
floats over.
John Cena
plants Cesaro.
Can Cena retain?
[John] Can't get a good cover.
-[Cole] And that cost John. Exactly. -[John] And it cost him.
Open your eyes.
[Byron] John got wrapped up in Cesaro's leg
and couldn't get a good cover.
[Cole] Yeah, Cena hit the powerbomb and, to your point,
he got all wrapped up and couldn't quite get to the cover.
[Byron] Emotions and frustration could be your worst enemy right now.
[Cole] If anybody's been able to keep his emotion in check
over the years in big match situations, it's John Cena.
[John] Now's when you need a clear head.
Now is when you gotta slow things down.
[women] Come on, Cena!
[Cole] Oh my God, Cena with Cesaro up on his shoulders.
Cena's gonna go up to the second rope here.
But Cesaro now, Cesaro is the one on offense.
[Byron] Only bad things happen in this situation.
[John] Cesaro's trying for a counter here.
[Cole] What on earth…?
-No, not from the second rope! -[Byron] No! No, no, no!
[Cole] Cesaro going for the Neutralizer.
[Byron] He can't do this!
[Cole] And Cena just trying to survive.
[John] Cena knows that'd be the end of the line
for his championship run if Cesaro hits that.
[Cole] And now, from the second rope, it's Cena
with Cesaro up on his shoulders.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] AA from the second rope by Cena!
Cover!
[crowd] One.
Two.
-[Cole] Cena retains the title! -[bell dings]
[Cole] Wow!
[Garcia] Here is your winner,
and still the United States Champion,
John Cena!
[John] That is what you call a main event,
and that is a championship match.
[Cole] Oh no! Kevin Owens!
Kevin Owens assaulting Cena after the matchup!
Went for the Pop-up Powerbomb.
Cena countered.
AA by Cena!
[crowd roaring]
Cena thwarts the Cesaro challenge and then the Owens attack!
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[Cole] Owens tried the ambush tonight,
and it didn't work.
He's gotta wait two weeks for Battleground to meet Cena.
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off… ♪
[Big E] An instant classic.
John Cena fended off an attack from Kevin Owens
after going tooth and nail with Cesaro for over 20 grueling minutes.
There really is nothing Cena can't do.
For over two decades, Cena's dedication to professional wrestling
has been unparalleled.
We see you, Mr. Cena,
and we want to thank you for the years of entertaining your peers
and, more importantly, fans.
That's gonna do it for another installment of Raw Classics.
Your time is up,
and my time to go
is now.
I'm Big E. See you next time.
[man trills]
♪ Amadou… ♪
[instrumental version of "The Time Is Now" playing]
[music fades] version of "The Time Is Now" playing]