[Big E] On this edition of WWE Raw Classics,
it's time to play "The Game."
I am "The Game"!
[Big E] Witness "The Cerebral Assassin" on his epic rise to the top
and his unforgettable encounters with Mankind,
Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and more.
It's the very best of Triple H today on Raw Classics.
Oh…
Welcome, WWE Universe, to Raw Classics.
I'm your host, Big E.
And today it's all about "The Game" and how you play.
He goes by many names.
"The King of Kings," "The Cerebral Assassin," "The Game."
Above all, he is considered one of the greatest Superstars
in all of sports entertainment,
the one and only Triple H.
Before he was the head honcho of WWE,
"The Game" was a general in the ring and assassin on the mic,
and one of the truly brilliant minds in the entire industry.
When it came to his performances inside the squared circle,
Triple H has had so many memorable Raw moments
that it's almost impossible to fit them all here.
But we'll do our best.
[rock music playing]
Let's start by going back to Triple H's early days in 1997
for his falls count anywhere match
versus Cactus Jack.
[JR] And we are back live here in Madison Square Garden.
-["Ode to Joy" playing] -[bell dings]
[Tony] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
with no time limit,
and pinfalls can happen anywhere.
Making his way to the ring, being accompanied by Chyna,
from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing in at 244 lbs,
the King of the Ring,
Hunter Hearst Helmsley!
[JR] Hunter Hearst Helmsley set to meet Dude Love
in a falls count anywhere matchup.
And what a heinous pair
after what they did to The British Bulldog,
what they did to the Bulldog's wife
in Birmingham on Saturday night.
King, we were there, but you've got a special guest as we can see.
I got a special guest here with you.
Of course, Chyna…
[inaudible]
["Ode to Joy" continues]
[JR] We're having… we're having some microphone problems, King.
King, your mic's not working.
Here, try this one.
Try this one, King.
[inaudible]
[JR] Oh.
-Is this mic working? Somebody tell me. -[JR] That's working, King.
Once again, let me say, the queen of late night television is with us.
She's right here.
USA Up All Night, every Friday night.
-Rhonda Shear. Rhonda-- -That's coming from "The King."
And, you know, I was gonna come out here and say that I can dropkick you
and then body slam you,
but I'd rather just keep you Up All Night every Friday night on USA.
Whoo!
-All right with me. -Is that okay?
[King] Thank you.
[JR] Not even Rhonda Shear can raise the dead, but that's another issue.
And remember, this match falls count anywhere.
["The Dudester" playing]
[Tony] And his opponent,
from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico,
weighing in at 287 lbs,
Dude Love!
[mouths]
[JR] Quite a rivalry between Dude Love or Mankind, Dude's alter ego.
Falls count anywhere, no disqualifications.
[Dude chuckling] Ow!
Have mercy, Hunter, and especially your fine-ah Chyna.
I know what you must be thinking.
Dude, what are you doing back here
when you should be out there kicking some heavy-duty booty
all over the Garden?
Well, Hunter, my man, I believe it's time we had a little rap. Ho-ho!
Because you see, falls count anywhere,
well, that's not exactly my bag, baby.
The pinfalls in the hot dog stand,
the pinfalls in the street, the chairs, the tables.
It's not exactly a love thing.
But I know somebody, daddy, whose bag it indeed is.
He's my man. He's my main man.
You might even say, "Well, daddy, he's a kind man." [chuckles]
A kooky type of cat.
Let's bring him out right now. Ho-ho!
Mankind, my main mandible. Up high, big man. Down…
You're too slow.
Mankind, good to have you at The Love Shack.
[Mankind] Hi, Dude, thanks for having me here.
[Dude] The pleasure is all mine.
You really are eye candy for the chicks, Dude.
That much I know, daddy.
But you gotta tell me about this wacky match,
falls count anywhere.
Dude, as much as I've dreamed about destroying Hunter Hearst Helmsley--
I know you have.
As many horrible things as I'd like to do to him…
I know you can.
…I know someone who dreams about it even more.
Who is it, Manny?
Someone who's willing to do even worse things than I have.
Oh no. Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?
I think I am thinking what you think I think you're thinking.
Can you bring him out, Manny?
-Here he comes. -Where is he?
Cactus Jack is back!
[Dude] Somebody spank me, I thought he was dead!
-[Mankind] He's alive. -[Tony] Helmsley.
[Mankind] He's alive!
[Mankind] It may be the darkest day of your life
because it's Madison Square Garden
and Mrs. Foley's little boy is finally home.
[Jack] Bang-bang!
Lord have mercy!
-[King] What in the world? -[JR] Oh my God.
[King] Drastic times call for drastic measures.
["Whole Lotta Groove" playing]
[JR] And for a man that has wrestled on nails
in barbed wire, and set himself on fire,
this will be a day at Central Park.
Bang-bang, he's back!
[King] Look out!
[song fades]
[bell dings]
[JR] Cactus Jack, the other alter ego of Mick Foley.
Yes, there's Mankind and Dude Love.
And we've never seen Cactus Jack in the WWE until tonight.
[crowd] ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW!
[King] Listen to these moronic fans.
This has got to be the second-blackest day ever
in the WWE.
Maybe the blackest.
[JR] Cactus Jack is as hardcore as anybody could ever be.
Remember, this match has no disqualifications.
Falls count anywhere.
A neckbreaker on the exposed floor of the Garden.
And there's a cover.
And a three, no, a two-count on the outside.
[King] Well, falls count anywhere,
anywhere in Madison Square Garden or anywhere outside the Garden.
And knowing Cactus Jack,
he might chase Hunter Hearst Helmsley all the way down to the Metropolitan Opera
where Bill Clinton is, try to pin him there.
[JR] Very prominent left foot of Cactus Jack
right in the face of Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
[King] Look at this!
Bang-bang!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Cactus Jack is an idiot!
[JR] He may be a little insane. I have to agree with that, King.
[King] Run, Hunter.
[crowd] Oh!
[JR] Chyna just nailed Cactus Jack.
Nothing the referee can do about it.
-And a… -[King] Whoa!
[JR] The 200-pound female bodyguard of Helmsley
just knocked Cactus over the rail right into the people.
[King] Yes! Yes!
[JR] There's no telling where this one is gonna end up
here in Madison Square Garden.
-Look out! -[King] Where they going?
[JR] Back to the locker room area, here they go!
[King] What?
-[wrestlers grunting] -[referee] Two!
[King] He tried to pin him back there!
[both grunting]
[King] Oh my gosh!
[JR] Cactus Jack slammed on the floor
right back in the locker room area.
Helmsley now walking back out here in the arena.
[crowd clapping, hooting]
[King] Grab something, Hunter, and hit him with it!
That was three.
-[JR] Helmsley thought it was three. -[King] He thinks he won!
[King shrieks]
[crowd] Oh!
[King] Fire! Fire! Look out!
[JR] A fire extinguisher right in the face.
Cactus Jack.
Should I say fighting fire with fire?
And Helmsley goes kidneys first right into the security railing.
[King\ All hell is breaking loose in Madison Square Garden!
They broke the entire railing!
I've never seen that done before. They broke the entire railing down!
[JR] Here's what Chyna did just a few moments ago.
[crowd] ECW! ECW! ECW!
[King] Oh! Oh, look out!
[JR] Helmsley up and over from the Irish whip.
Here's Chyna.
[King] Boom, right there!
Oh no!
He hit him with a garbage can!
Metal trash can
is as legal as a wristlock.
Cactus on top.
Oh! Nobody there!
[JR] My gosh!
[King] Cactus drove his own elbow right into that trash can.
His entire body!
Unbelievable. Look at Chyna!
Look at this! Ooh!
[JR] Chyna really asserting herself in this matchup
on Mrs. Foley's baby boy from nearby Long Island.
Cactus Jack, in his first appearance in the WWE, is in trouble.
And we'll be right back.
-And now… -[King] Pound him!
[JR] We're back and we're live in Madison Square Garden
here on Raw is War.
This is a falls count anywhere matchup.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley taking on the other alter ego of Mrs. Foley's boy.
And it's not Dude Love, it's not Mankind, but it's Cactus Jack.
[King] Yeah. What are Mr. and Mrs. Foley thinking about right now, huh?
Here's something they didn't see right before break.
Take a look at this. Wham!
Baby boy gets crowned.
[JR] If you've just joined us, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler here at ringside.
Vince McMahon has been injured at the hands of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and the Stone Cold Stunner.
We'll give you an update on Vince's condition
as soon as it's made available.
And Cactus Jack's neck just snapped off the top ring rope.
[King] I guarantee McMahon's in better shape than these two guys.
They fought everywhere.
They've been in the locker room, got chairs in the ring.
They've got mops in the ring, garbage cans.
It's been horrible. Look at this!
[JR] Chyna, the Amazon, the bodyguard of Helmsley
has really been involved in this matchup.
And Helmsley, the Connecticut Blueblood,
who, in recent weeks, has shown tremendous aggression.
[King] Oh! Oh!
-[JR] And a chair right to the ribs. -[King] That'll leave a mark!
[JR] Cactus Jack's ribs have gotta be aching from the pounding
that he has been taking.
[King] Oh, look at that!
[JR] Sternum-first, right into the steel ring post.
[King] Hey, do you think Dude Love and Mankind are watching this?
Mankind's probably enjoying it.
[JR] I got a feeling they're feeling the pain.
-[King] Oh no! No way! -[JR] There's a low blow by Cactus Jack.
Remember, this match has no disqualifications
and falls count anywhere.
-Sunset flip off the… off the ring! -[King] What is he doing?
And that's a near-fall.
A near-fall. What a move.
What a stupid move.
[JR] Cactus Jack in trouble.
-And Helmsley… -[yells]
[JR] Did you hear the impact?
Helmsley, from Mr. Bang-Bang.
The back body drop on the railing.
And Chyna just nailed Cactus with a steel chair.
And he doesn't like it.
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Oh! Helmsley just rammed Cactus from behind,
who in turn collided with Chyna.
[King] He hit Chyna!
-He hit Chyna! -[JR] Chyna nailed against the ring steps.
She looks to be unconscious!
[King] She's out. He hit Chyna!
[JR] We'll take another look. There's a cover.
One… it's over.
No, it's not!
-There's a counter! -[King] Look at this!
-[JR] There… -[King] Oh my God!
[JR] Chyna being mashed against the steps.
[King] She's gotta be hurt and hurt bad. Look at this!
Suplexed on the steel girder.
[JR] How can these two athletes…
How can they even walk?
How can they even stand?
Chyna is injured.
She's not moving.
And Cactus Jack almost pinned for the three-count.
[King] Where's your compassion? Poor Chyna's hurt.
[JR] Why don't you help her?
[King] Well, get some medical help.
[JR] Why don't you give her mouth-to-mouth, King?
[King] She's a lady. I'm not a doctor. She needs help!
Look at this!
Smash him. Yes!
[JR] Helmsley with another trash can
right to the head of Cactus Jack.
[King] Pound him like a railroad spike!
Check on Chyna.
There's a…
[JR] And Cactus Jack…
got the left shoulder up.
[King] I knew this was gonna be an unbelievable match. Look at this!
Snow shovel.
But who would have ever expected Cactus Jack would show up here tonight
at Madison Square Garden of all places?
[JR] Cactus Jack was born Mick Foley, grew up on Long Island,
used to hitchhike to the Garden.
[King] Quit browbeating us with useless information.
Go check on Chyna.
[wrestlers grunting]
[men in crowd] Table! Table! Table! Table
-[King] Oh man! -[JR] Did you…
Oh my gosh.
Cactus Jack, the back of his head
just bashed off of the… the steel like a basketball.
And now Helmsley is bringing a table out here.
[King] Yeah!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] I guess Cactus Jack isn't exactly the sharpest blade in the drawer, is he?
Oh man. What's this gonna be?
No way!
Helmsley is gonna Pedigree… No, he's not!
No, he's not!
No way!
Piledriver, yes!
[crowd roaring]
[King] That's a three-count!
Cactus Jack wins it!
Cactus Jack has won it!
["Whole Lotta Groove" playing]
Look at Chyna sacrificing herself.
She collapsed.
[JR] Unbelievable!
[Tony] Here is your winner,
Cactus Jack!
[King] Raw is War in Madison Square Garden!
This has been a phenomenal matchup.
[JR] My God. We need an ambulance.
-We need a… -[King] We need three ambulances!
We've got… It looks like a car wreck.
Look at that idiot.
[Big E] Cactus Jack won a hard-fought battle that particular night.
But in 1999,
"The Game" would have a chance at ultimate redemption.
A shot at his first WWE Championship
against Mick Foley's other alter ego,
Mankind, on Monday Night Raw.
[Rock] Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?
[cheering]
-[Cole] What… what the hell is this? -["Do You Smell It" playing]
The Rock!
[King] What else is gonna happen here tonight?
[The Rock, rapping] ♪ The Rock says The Rock says… ♪
[Cole] I guess he wants a bird's-eye view, King,
of what's gonna go on in the title match.
And keep in mind,
The Rock said earlier tonight something about taking matters into his own hands.
♪ The Rock says… ♪
[King] Well, we've had X-Pac and Kane sitting out here.
We've had The Big Show, Paul Bearer, and The Undertaker
completely take over our announce position.
Do you think The Rock's gonna come over with us too?
[Cole] He's gonna hopefully sit next to you if he does.
I don't mind him sitting next to me.
[Cole] "The People's Champ" The Rock
coming out to observe the WWE Championship match.
Triple H and Mankind.
♪ The Rock says… ♪
[Cole] You're right, King.
"The People's Champ" on his way over here to ringside.
Welcome, Rock.
Shut up. You don't need to welcome The Rock to anything.
Right now ratings going through the roof because "The Great One" has come.
[Cole] And the title's also on the line, Triple H and Mankind.
Sure, the title's on the line, but The Rock wants to know
is who's booking this crap?
The Rock is the one that should be in the ring
fighting for The Rock's WWE title.
[King] What now?
Wait a minute.
First, The Rock, and now…
Shane McMahon in a referee shirt?
What about this, Rock?
[hip-hop music playing]
[Rock] Regardless of who the referee is, who the announcer is,
this goof holding the camera, you, you, and everyone here,
The Rock says The Rock should be in the middle of the people's ring
holding The Rock's WWE title.
All of a sudden, The Rock faces "Badass" Billy Gunn
at SummerSlam?
Well, whoopee. Yippee.
Let the party begin for The Rock and "Badass."
And then Rock against Gangrel.
Well, so what?
[Cole] It was Shane who ultimately booked this championship match here tonight.
And now he's sending referee Earl Hebner back.
[King] I get it. I realize you're a little slow, Michael.
It takes a while to get the big picture when you got a small screen
like yourself.
But Shane is gonna personally referee this big title match here tonight!
[Cole] And this is gonna be fair, King. Call it right down the line, right?
I'm sure he will.
Shane's been bucking for Triple H to be the champion
for weeks now.
It's Shane to the rescue. He saved Stephanie earlier.
["My Time" playing]
[Cole] And here comes the challenger.
[man laughing]
♪ Yeah, you let the music Keep playing, Mr. Dunn… ♪
[bell dings]
[Garcia] The following match is scheduled for one fall.
And now, for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship,
making his way to the ring,
Triple H!
[King] Well, there he is.
Here comes Chyna… Well, here comes Triple H without Chyna.
[Cole] Well, Chyna was just laid out with a guitar by Jeff Jarrett.
WWE title on the line.
Triple H wants it bad.
He's obsessed with winning the championship.
He snapped, King.
But he snapped with a focused, cold, calculated plan.
[King] How about The Rock says a few words?
[Rock] How about knowing your role and shutting your mouth?
If you were a little smarter, you'd realize how stupid you sound.
The Rock's music should be hitting now.
The Rock coming out and whipping the living hell
out of Triple H right there.
[Cole] When it's not…
-[King] Uh-oh. -[Cole] Excuse me.
[King] He interrupted, Rock.
[Rock] Don't you ever interrupt The Rock like that again, jabroni.
[Garcia] Ladies and gentlemen,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
weighing in at 287 lbs,
Mankind!
[Cole] Call him the miracle man.
Last week, he surprised us all
by returning after a three-month stint on the injured list.
Six days later,
last night at SummerSlam,
Mankind became the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
[King] Just like Jesse Ventura, he shot through… Hey, watch it, Rock.
[Cole] And here we go now.
-Mankind wasting little time. -[bell dings]
[Cole] Triple H and Mankind,
WWE Championship on the line.
Triple H hammering away. He wants it bad.
Rock, I have to ask, earlier on tonight you talked about
taking matters into your hands. What were you talking about?
[Rock] Well, obviously, The Rock came out here unannounced.
You didn't know The Rock was coming here.
The Rock's taking matters into his own hands.
Who is booking this crap?
The Rock against Billy Gunn. The Rock against Gangrel.
Next week, they'll be having The Rock laying the smackdown
on The Brooklyn Brawler, for Christ's sake.
-[Cole] And Mankind-- -[King] You feel slighted, Rock?
[Rock] Naturally The Rock feels slighted.
The Rock is not one to go ahead and cry over spilled milk.
The Rock is one to call a spade a spade.
And right now, The Rock is, without a shadow of a doubt,
the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.
The absolute best on the microphone and in the ring.
-[Cole] Look out. Now Mankind… -[King] That was a great little…
[Cole] Wait a minute, cover now, King. The referee…
Look at the mat!
Look at this jabroni talking to The Rock. You don't say nothing.
[Cole] Mankind had Triple H covered.
Shane McMahon conveniently turned his back on the situation.
[Rock] Talking to The Rock like he's a friend.
[Cole] Mankind, elbow to the head.
[King] He got distracted. Shane got distracted there.
He didn't realize you were out here.
[Rock] Trust me, Shane feels the electricity
as you do and everyone else here.
[Cole] Wait a minute. You know what this means.
[King] Not the stinking Socko.
[Cole] Socko. Mankind with Socko.
[Rock] The Rock'll take that, turn it sideways, spit on it,
stick it straight up his candy ass.
[Cole] You should know. You’ve had it in you.
[Rock] Well, so has the Rock's boot been in you, so shut your mouth.
[Cole] Wait a minute!
To Shane! Socko to Shane!
[Rock] Look at this. It's the first sensible thing Mankind has done,
putting a sock on Shane McMahon, that piece of monkey crap.
[Cole] That nasty sock is down the gullet of Shane McMahon!
-Oh my God! -[Rock] Shane tossed over the top rope!
-Socko… -[King] Oh my God!
[Cole] And now Triple H takes advantage. Pedigree time.
If he hits, we can have a new champion.
-[King] No! -[Cole] Reversal by Mankind!
Can Triple H get him over?
Socko on Triple H.
Triple H tasting Socko.
-Uh-oh, look at this! -[King] Wait a minute!
[Cole] Here comes Chyna!
Chyna was just laid out with a guitar a little bit ago,
but she's coming down to help Triple H.
-[King] Oh no! -[Cole] She gets Socko.
[King] What a headache Chyna must have now she's sacrificed herself. Look at this!
[Cole] Mr. Socko doing a number on Shane, Triple H, and Chyna.
-Double-arm DDT! WWE title on the line. -[King] It's over!
[Rock] First thing, one, two, three!
[Cole] Four! There's no referee!
-The referee-- -[Rock] Here comes the ref, you idiot!
Get in there and count.
[King] There's one. There's two.
[Cole] Triple H gets the shoulder up.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Shane, who appointed himself the referee to this match, was tossed out.
Mankind had this one won.
[King] It's Mankind's own fault.
He's the one that threw the referee out of the ring over the rope onto the floor.
[Cole] Mankind and Socko leaving a path of destruction.
-[King Look at Shane. He's hurt. -[Cole] Yeah, Shane's hurt.
[King] He don't even know where he's at.
[Cole] Mankind, the WWE Champion. Triple H, the challenger.
Triple H over the barricade.
We saw Mankind earlier in that interview, King,
focused, upset with that vicious attack by Triple H on Jim Ross.
Oh, come on, now we got Earl Hebner out here.
[King] Shane was a good referee. Earl Hebner, he can't see.
He'd have trouble finding…
-[Cole] Oh man! -[King] Did you see that?
[Cole] Double-team, Triple H and Chyna.
And Mankind thundering off those steel stairs.
[King] What about that, Rock?
[Rock] Hey, I'll tell you what. Mankind is a complete idiot.
This guy, he likes pain. He likes punishment.
That wasn't too bad by Chyna.
But no move is greater than The Rock's move.
The Rock needs to be in there.
[King] Wait a minute, Rock, you're gonna get Mankind in your lap!
Watch it!
[Cole] Mankind tossed onto the table.
[Rock] You spilled soda over The Rock's shoes!
The Rock's shoe is $600!
[Cole] I don't think they're worried about your shoe. The title's on the line.
[King] They better be worried. It cost $600.
[Cole] Mankind with a chair. Triple H with a boot.
[King] Mankind taking it flush in the face.
[Cole] Triple H now, the challenger in control.
He said winning the WWE Championship is burning him like a laser.
It's all he's been focused on for weeks.
[Rock] He's crying like a woman. He should be after the Women's title.
Shut up, Michael Cole.
-[King] Shut up, Michael Cole. -[Cole] Take a look at the double feature.
-Let the ref call it. -[King] Chyna.
[Cole] Tremendous double-team by Triple H and Chyna.
Mankind, headbutt now.
And the champion starting to battle back.
[King] Rock, how does Mankind do it?
How does he absorb that pain and keep going?
[Cole] Neckbreaker.
Cover now. Triple H, could have a new champion.
Hook of the leg. The champion kicks out.
The Rock says this. The guy's got scrambled eggs for brains.
-[King] Right. -He enjoys pain.
He enjoyed when The Rock hit him across the face and the head
15 times at Royal Rumble. Oh!
[King] I bet he enjoyed that.
Hook of the leg. There's two.
Mankind again gets the shoulder up.
[Cole] You gotta wonder, is somewhere "Stone Cold" Steve Austin watching?
It was Triple H with the vicious attack on "The Rattlesnake."
[Rock] They are chanting The Rock's name. Shut up, Michael Cole, and listen.
[King] You can't get Michael Cole to shut up ever.
[Cole] Triple H with the right hand. Now a kick.
[King] Did you see what happened, Michael Cole?
Triple H grabbed Socko and threw it out to the crowd.
There's no more Socko. It won't be a factor.
[Cole] Triple H now tossing Mankind across the ring and into that steel post
shoulder-first.
-That's gotta hurt. -[King] Wow.
[King] Triple H focused, intense.
[Cole] Here's a roll-over now. Mankind.
There's one. There's two. And a kick-out again.
The champion battles back again.
[King] How does Mankind do it?
[Cole] Keep in mind, it was Triple H who knocked Mankind out of action
for three months with that sledgehammer attack to the ring…
to the knee.
And Triple H now in control.
[King] And Triple H also did a number on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And Austin will never be the same again.
Not after last night.
-Uh-oh. -[Cole] Mankind counters again.
And another right hand, hammering away.
[Rock] Mankind's coming back.
He's showing resil… Oh.
-[Cole] Knee to the face. -Mankind sucks.
[King laughs]
[Cole] And Triple H now.
Oh! He can't suck too bad, Rock. He's the champion.
Here's Triple H now, cover. There's two.
And a kick-out by Mankind.
[Rock] The Rock is gonna come over there and slap that goofy haircut right off you.
And then give it back to you. Shut your mouth.
You just don't do anything but sit here and enjoy The Rock's electricity
emitting from The Rock.
[Cole] And here's Triple H now, hammering away.
WWE Championship on the line.
We are live.
[Rock] You realize, Michael, The Rock is out here for one reason.
To show the entire world that The Rock should be in there
getting The Rock's WWE title.
They want The Rock as their champion. They call for The Rock.
[Cole] And Triple H better watch it.
He just shoved the referee.
He doesn't wanna blow his title shot.
Mankind hammering away now.
And Triple again backing Mankind into the corner.
What a right hand by the champion.
[King] You gotta wonder what kind of plans does Triple H have for Mankind?
Is it the same as he had for Austin? Is it the same as he had for JR?
Is he gonna cripple Mankind?
[Cole] He's a desperate man, King.
Desperate men do desperate things.
Mankind clothesline. Cover now.
Here's two.
Triple H again gets the shoulder up.
[King] Oh my gosh.
[Cole] What a matchup.
Triple H wants it.
You gotta give him that, Rock. He's obsessed. He wants the championship.
[Rock] The Rock's giving nothing to nobody.
Triple H came out crying like a woman. [mock-crying]
-[Cole] Watch it. -[King] Look out!
[Cole] Both men over the top rope.
Mankind and Triple H right out here in front of us.
[King] And now Chyna's… What's Chyna doing?
[Cole] Chyna trying to get into the ring. Distracting the referee.
Argument ensuing there.
Mankind and Triple H getting back up to their feet.
-[King] Look out now. -[Cole] Watch yourself here.
Triple H tossed onto the table.
Right into the lap of The Rock.
Oh, shut your mouth and do your thing.
-Go ahead. -Man--
[Cole] Oh! Shane with a chair from behind.
Right into the back of Mankind.
But Mankind still on his feet.
Triple H, chair to the head of Mankind.
-[Rock] Right there to Mankind. -[Cole] Did you see that?
-[Rock] Right there-- -[Cole] Oh no!
Triple H just laid out The Rock with a chair!
The referee was distracted.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Whoa, ref!
The Rock, he's out cold, King.
The Rock is out. Shane is tossing Mankind.
-[King] Look at Shane! -[Cole] Mankind's out too!
-[King] Look at this! -[Cole] Referee pulled out of the ring!
Shane just cold-cocked the referee.
Triple H now. Mankind in the ring.
Pedigree time. Pedigree time.
He got it!
-Triple H with a Pedigree. -[King] This is unbelievable!
[Cole] Will it be? Will it be?
-Triple H! -[King] Yes!
[Cole] Triple H wins the WWE title!
[King] Finally!
Right here!
[Garcia] …World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
-[King] Please. -[Garcia] Triple H!
[King] Finally it has happened, Michael Cole!
Finally it's happened.
Yes! Triple H has realized his dream!
It's all about Triple H!
He is now the World Wrestling Entertainment champion!
[Cole] Triple H destroyed Austin last night.
He injured Jim Ross tonight.
He's destroyed Mankind and The Rock.
And he's won the WWE Championship.
Triple H realizing a career goal.
[Cole] I gotta tell ya--
[King] All he's focused on for months is the World Wrestling Entertainment…
[Cole] I am so impressed.
[Big E] That would be the first of Triple H's astonishing 14 World titles,
and would ignite his meteoric rise to the top of WWE.
As hard as it was to get to the top of the mountain,
staying there was the true test.
As champ, "The Game" defended his title against the best in the business,
including his fierce rival "Y2J" Chris Jericho,
who was hungry for the opportunity to become WWE Champion.
And to ensure a fair fight,
Chris Jericho would enlist the services of the toughest hired guns in WWE,
the APA.
Damn.
[King] Oh man!
[JR] Jericho had more than a mouthful to say about Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley,
"The Game"'s wife
last Thursday night on SmackDown.
And for that, Jericho may pay a supreme price
here tonight when he takes on the man on top of the world, Triple H.
Do you remember what Jericho called me last Thursday?
I remember what he called you. I remember every word he said.
Do you think what X-Pac and Road Dogg did to him last week was anything?
Wait till you see this.
I'm gonna show you how a real husband defends the honor of his wife.
Oh, we're throwing joints.
Oh yeah, that's it. That's the champ.
[JR] "The Game"'s got plenty of motivation in this one-on-one encounter
with "Y2J" Chris Jericho.
And what an ovation
for Jericho here tonight
at Penn State University.
Welcome to Raw Is Jericho!
[King] Maybe the last time we hear him say that.
[cheering]
And it seems that Y2J is in hot water yet again.
[King] Keep opening your big mouth.
Last week, I was punished
for calling Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley a bargain-basement slut.
[King] Oh my God!
[laughs]
And I also called her the filthiest, dirtiest,
most disgustingly skankiest, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash-bag ho
I had ever…
[King] He's doing it again!
…ever seen in my life!
[King] Is he crazy?
So I came out here tonight to apologize.
[crowd booing]
[King] I think it's too late for that.
[JR] He's got nothing to lose.
I came to apologize to all of the bargain-basement sluts.
[King] What?
And to all of the filthy, disgusting,
dirty, skanky, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash-bag hos.
I apologize for even comparing you
to the miserable slimeball pig
that is Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
-[King] Oh my God! -[cheering]
-[Kate] Is he… -[JR] That's strong.
[King] He's crazy!
So I apologize for offending anybody,
with the exception of Stephie baby.
[King] JR, I'm in shock.
He's crazy.
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[King] A real husband defends the honor of his wife.
[JR] Jericho's not got a damn thing to lose here, King.
[King] Except his life.
[rock music continues]
[JR] Look at Triple H. "The Game" is hot.
-He is angry. -[King] You got that right.
[King] I don't blame him.
[JR] Triple H, the World Wresting Entertainment champion.
[King] Get in there, Jericho, you stupid coward!
Back up those words.
[JR] Wow.
[song fades]
[JR] Look how nice Stephanie looks.
Perfect lady.
How valiant and touching it is, Triple H,
that you've come down for the honor of your wife.
I mean, that's really touching.
But I think if you think she's really special
and you want to really impress her,
I think you should put that title on the line.
[King] What?
[JR] Scheduled to be a non-title matchup. I think that's a good idea.
I think you should make this match tonight
for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.
[King] No, wait a minute. This is for Stephanie's honor. That's all.
-Are you crazy? -[King] He's nuts.
What are you doing?
-[Triple H] You want a shot at this? -I do.
You want this? You're on! Come on!
[JR] Triple H just said, "You're on."
[King] No, wait, wait. Wait a minute! Reconsider.
Now that this match is officially
a World Wrestling Entertainment Championship match…
[King] Wow, what a way to kick off Raw!
I hope you don't mind that I invested in a little insurance policy
for this match only.
[King] Uh-oh, what's he talking about?
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you,
say hello to my little friends,
The Acolytes.
[JR] Oh, The Acolytes!
[King] What has he done?
[JR] Jericho has just checkmated "The Game."
Jericho has baited "The Game" into defending the WWE title here.
[King] JR, calm down! This is not fair. They're trying to screw Triple H.
This is not supposed to be for the WWE title.
[JR] Listen, the champion himself said it was for the WWE title.
And I'm assuming, and it's only an assumption,
that The Acolytes are here to make sure there's no outside interference.
-[King] Come on. -[JR] And here we go.
WWE title on the line.
[King] Jericho has hired The Acolytes to be in this corner. This is not fair.
[JR] Jericho got everything to gain here and nothing to lose
in this impromptu matchup for the WWE title.
[King] This is what happens on live TV. Triple H didn't know what he was doing.
Oh, this is bad.
[JR] Triple H, drop toehold by Jericho,
beating "The Game" to the punch.
Triple H has been taken right out of his rhythm by the challenger.
[King] Right, he's gotta worry about those Acolytes interfering at any moment.
[JR] Get him off there.
The Acolytes' menacing presence on the outside for this match.
Allies of "Y2J" Chris Jericho.
-[King] Listen to this crowd. -[crowd] Y2J! Y2J!
[JR] This crowd chanting for Jericho, the challenger for the WWE title.
-[King] Look out! -[JR] Oh man.
Back body drop over the top rope all the way to the floor.
And The Acolytes…
[King] I think that was smart by Triple H. Maybe he can get counted out here.
Y2J can't win on a count-- Uh-oh, look out.
Oh yeah!
[JR] Jericho looking for the baseball slide.
Didn't get it, but he got the right hand from "The Game."
[King] He was out at home.
[JR] What a thunderous right hand
by the WWE Champion with his title on the line.
[King] These Acolytes are causing a lot of trouble out here.
They've already made Shane…
[Shane] I said get in there!
[crowd chanting, clamoring]
[JR] Triple H in an emotional frame of mind coming out here.
-Oh! A dropkick. -[King] Oh!
-[JR] Good God Almighty. -[King] Look at this!
[JR] Jericho caught Triple H right in the face with a dropkick.
[King] I'm gonna tell you, I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
This is not good at all!
[JR] Jericho has taken "The Game" completely out of his game.
[wrestlers grunting]
[King] This is not fair at all.
He… he goaded Triple H into putting it… There you go.
[JR] Triple H hanging Jericho out to dry on the top rope.
Oh.
And Jericho again trying to mount some offense,
but it's… it's… it's the WWE Champion.
[King] Don't know how "The Game" can concentrate.
He's having to worry about those Acolytes.
Because Jericho's got 'em in his hip pocket.
[JR] And now "The Game" getting back in control here.
-[King] There you go. -[JR] Perhaps for the first time.
The WWE Champion has the advantage.
[King] Stay focused, Triple H.
One, two…
[JR] Hard right hands right to the face of Jericho,
who has baited "The Game" into putting the WWE title on the line
here live on Raw.
[King] The referee needs to back off. Give Triple H some breathing room there.
[JR] King, you gotta admit, Jericho's very clever.
[King] Oh, how can a man… How can you call somebody clever--
[JR] He didn't have a title match when he came out here.
He's in one now. That's why.
[King] He referred to Triple H's wife as a… as a ho!
That's not too clever if you ask me.
Look at this!
[JR] "The Game" measuring Jericho.
Found that elbow right in his esophagus.
[King] Shut his mouth once and for all.
[JR] Now, King, Triple H came out here to defend the honor of his wife.
[King] Watch, JR.
[JR] Jericho blocked.
[JR] His head just bounced right off the table.
[King] He broke our table.
[JR] The WWE Champion's head bounced right off the table.
Now the challenger met with a kick to the face.
[King] Good.
[JR] Man, what a match this is.
And it's continuing to build and build
for the WWE… Oh!
-[King] Wow! -[JR] What a collision.
Jericho's body and the steel ring steps.
[King] That may have done it.
[JR] Chris Jericho came out here and has baited, has goaded Triple H
into defending the WWE title.
[King] It's not fair
because Y2J also brought with him the Acolyte Protection Agency.
-[JR] Oh, look at this. -[wrestlers grunt]
[JR] Oh man.
You can hear the impact of Jericho's body meeting those steel steps.
Man, Jericho is an amazing… an amazing athlete.
And quite frankly, at least in my view, has outsmarted "The Game"
in getting this title match.
It was supposed to be a non-title match.
-[King] Right. -[JR] That's what it was earlier today.
[King] I told you, that's what happens on live TV.
Triple H, he got caught up in the emotion.
Speaking of emotion, this is for you, Stephanie! Yes!
[JR] Triple H dropping that knee straight south on the forehead of Jericho.
There's a cover. One.
Oh, and a near-fall.
-[cheering] -[King] Come on, ref!
[JR] You can almost feel and see the frustration building
on the WWE Champion, Triple H.
[King] What match are you watching?
I think Triple H has got everything under control,
but I… I guess I gotta hand it to Jericho.
He has taken a lot of punishment. Look at his mouth. Ooh!
[JR] Jericho has…
his lip has been busted open from this savage attack by "The Game."
[King] That's what happens when you mess with Triple H.
Knock all his teeth out!
[JR] I agree with that, King.
[King] Y2J can't call people names with no teeth.
[JR] Remember what "The Game" did to The Rock one week ago tonight.
The Rock busted wide open, literally from ear to ear,
at the hands of "The Game."
Get on him! Stay on him!
[JR] We know what "The Game" can do.
And now with the WWE title on the line,
he perhaps is even in a more desperate state.
[King] He didn't need any more motivation, JR, after what "Y2J" called his wife.
-Look out! -[JR] The arm drag off the top rope.
[King] Oh my gosh.
[JR] Triple H hesitated just a heartbeat
to acknowledge his wife and brother-in-law, both at ringside.
[King] All he's trying to do is defend his wife's honor.
Any man worth his salt would do that, JR.
[JR] I agree with that.
[King] Oh!
[JR] Knockdown by the challenger for the WWE title.
Jericho now again seems to be building some offensive momentum.
Countered by "The Game."
And the counter by Jericho.
What a matchup here on Raw.
[King] Look out! Oh my God.
[JR] Missile dropkick from the second rope.
[King] Could be all! Could be all!
[JR] A kick-out.
I mean, oh my. How close was that?
[King] Oh my gosh, JR. I just had a horrible thought.
What if "Y2J" were to upset Triple H?
What would happen then?
[JR] He'd be the WWE Champion.
[King] Oh, come on.
[JR] Triple H going for the Pedigree.
-[King] Uh-oh. No! -[JR] Jericho counters.
Jericho. Going for the Walls of Jericho!
-His submission move! -[King] Somebody do something!
[JR] Triple H is trying to fight out!
[King] Stephanie! Shane!
[JR] Jericho can't quite get "The Game" turned.
[King] Because he is "The Game."
[JR] Again, Jericho
reaching down into his soul to turn Triple H over.
[King] Look at him!
[crowd] Y2J! Y2J! Y2J!
[JR] Jericho.
[King] Oh, look out!
[JR] Jericho catapulted Triple H right into the referee, Mike Chioda.
And down goes the champion.
[King] This is bad. This is real bad.
[Jericho] Come on, baby!
-[JR] What's Jericho gonna do here? -[King] There's no telling.
[JR] Jericho gonna take a high-risk move here up on top of…
Shane McMahon.
-That's a difference-maker. -[crowd roaring]
[King] The Acolytes!
The Acolytes want a piece of Shane McMahon!
[JR] They're everywhere!
[King] Shane, get away!
[JR] The Acolytes are running Shane McMahon away from ringside.
And Stephanie just threw the belt,
the WWE title belt into the ring!
[King] Get it, Triple H! Get it!
[JR] Stephanie's trying to get her husband's attention.
There's a weapon in the ring.
The referee's down.
[King] That's not a weapon. That's rightfully his title.
[JR] It is for now.
[King] Get it, Triple H! Right in front of you.
[JR] Shane McMahon has been run out here by The Acolytes.
-[King] Yes. -[JR] Triple H is…
[King] Oh! He lost half his backup. [screams]
[JR] The belt right to the head!
-Triple H is down. -[King] Stephanie!
-[JR] Triple H is down. -[King] Stephanie!
[crowd] …three!
[JR] Jericho's got the cover.
He's got the pin.
But there's no referee.
Oh, wait.
-There's referee Earl Hebner. -[King] What is this?
[crowd] One, two…
[JR] Triple H kicked out.
Senior referee Earl Hebner,
who has been in a firestorm in recent… in recent weeks
with the McMahon-Helmsley regime.
[King] He's on probation! He's not supposed to be here.
[JR] Facebuster by "The Game"
taking down Jericho.
Referee Mike Chioda is still down.
-Jericho-- -[King] Look at this.
Triple H just realized who's in the ring with him.
[JR] Jericho had the championship won there just moments ago.
[crowd roaring]
[JR] And Earl Hebner is not gonna take this physical abuse.
[King] He cannot put his hands on the WWE champ.
-Spinning heel kick by Jericho. -[crowd roaring]
[King] Jericho scores with the moonsault.
[crowd] One, two, three!
-[King] No! -[bell dings]
-[JR] We've got a new champion! -[King] No way!
[JR] My God, can you believe it?
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[King] What?
[Kate] Jericho! Jericho! Jericho!
has just beat "The Game"
for the WWE title!
I can't believe this, JR!
[Garcia] Your winner, and new World Wresting Entertainment Champion,
Chris Jericho!
[King] Don't say that!
[JR] Jericho has done it.
And Triple H is beside himself.
He can't believe it.
And quite frankly, neither can I.
[King] No, this can't really be happening!
This can't be real!
[JR] Chris Jericho has just beat "The Game"
for the WWE title!
[King] This wasn't even supposed to be a title match.
This has turned into a nightmare!
[JR] My God, what a night this is gonna be!
We've got a new WWE Champion.
"The Game" is livid!
[music fades]
[JR] We're back live on Raw.
Absolutely shocked at what happened moments ago.
[King] Oh my God.
[JR] Referee Earl Hebner came in when the other referee got knocked down.
The altercation with his nemesis Triple H.
And then we saw in this WWE title match
the heel kick, the Asai springboard move.
[King] Look! Look at that count!
Come on, JR!
[JR] All I know is that we've got a new WWE Champion.
And the only way to describe Triple H's reaction
is absolute shock.
It's a tragedy!
It's a travesty!
We've got a new WWE Champion.
Come on!
If you wanna follow, you'll get your ass kicked.
-[JR] I don't know… -[Triple H] I don't give a crap…
[JR] Triple H has just commandeered referee Earl Hebner, King.
It would appear they're headed our way. Triple H has just--
[King] I don't blame him.
[JR] He's just lost the WWE title to Chris Jericho.
[King] Yeah, because of that referee Earl Hebner. You know, JR. Come on.
Even you gotta admit that was a fast count.
Have you ever seen a count any faster than that in your life?
[JR] It seemed like a little faster. I'll admit that.
And I don't like the looks of this at all.
[King] Why not?
-[JR] Well, I mean-- -[King] He needs to explain his actions.
[crowd clamoring, chanting]
[JR] Earl Hebner being manhandled here. And that's just not right.
Good call or bad call--
[King] He's being physically restrained, that's all.
[indistinct shouting]
-[JR] He'll try to run out of this arena. -[King] What is this all about?
He's gonna have to explain himself.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[JR] What's the meaning of this?
Triple H lost the title.
He lost it to Chris Jericho.
-[King] He is the former champion. -Earl.
You know you just screwed me.
You just jobbed me out, pal. You know it.
Now, you've been told before, all right?
Now, this is the official,
the assigned official, Mike Chioda.
You were the legal referee in that match, right?
Not this piece of crap right here.
I want you to look at the footage from that match.
I want you to tell me if that wasn't a screw job.
-[King] Yeah, show him. -Kevin Dunn, put that footage up.
[King] You watch this too, JR.
[crowd roaring]
[King] Watch this count. Listen.
-Look at that! -[Triple H] Tell me that wasn't fast.
Tell me that wasn't the fastest count you've ever seen.
I was screwed!
Earl Hebner jobbed me out.
You saw it. The world saw it.
Now, I want your unbiased professional opinion
of what you just saw.
Did I get screwed or not?
He's the official referee for this match.
Earl, that was a fast count.
-[King] Yes, it was! -You screwed Triple H.
-[woman] Say it again! -Got to. You screwed Triple H.
I mean, that was a fast count.
[King] Thank God one of them's right.
-Earl was provoked. -[Triple H] All right, Mike, go.
Thank you very much.
-[King] Now what? -[JR] Doesn't change a thing.
Now, you heard that.
-[JR] Jericho's still the champion. -It was a fast count.
The official referee of that match
said you screwed me.
Now, Earl,
I want you in front of the whole world and in front of these idiots here
to tell everybody that you…
[crowd booing]
Shut the hell up!
…that you
are going to reverse that decision.
[King] Yes, that's what he needs to do.
[crowd clamoring]
That I am the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
That that match with Chris Jericho never took place.
These people didn't see a damn thing.
It will be stricken from the record books.
It never ever happened.
[JR] Never happened? Of course it happened.
Earl, reverse that decision now.
[crowd clamoring]
[King] What's he gonna do, JR? Will he reverse it?
[Triple H] Come on, Earl. You know it's right.
No!
-[King] What? -[JR] There's your answer!
There's your answer!
Jericho's still the WWE Champion.
[King] Uh-oh. This is gonna be bad.
Earl Hebner's gonna get hurt bad. Look, look… look out!
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!
Hold it!
[King] Maybe he's come to his senses.
Say something.
I'll reverse the decision…
[King and JR] He will?
…on one term.
[King] What's that, it's a term?
That is nobody touches me.
-[King] What? -As long as I'm a WWE referee.
As long as my life.
And that goes for you.
You.
And you better never put your damn hands on me again.
[King] Did he say he's gonna reverse the decision though?
Let me get this straight.
You'll reverse the decision as long as…
while you're a World Wrestling Entertainment official,
we never ever harm you or touch you again.
-[King] Don't lay a hand on him. -Right?
-[JR] That's what he said. -[King] Never.
Then you've got a deal.
So I'll tell you what, are you gonna reverse that decision?
Yes, I am.
Then you go back there right now
and you get my World Wrestling Entertainment Championship belt
from around the waist of that sawed-off midget Chris Jericho.
You bring it back out here and give it to me
in the middle of this ring.
And do it now.
-[JR] Man, this is-- -[King] Don't touch him, whatever you do.
-[JR] This is history. -[King] Don't touch him, Stephanie.
[JR] This has never happened before.
[King] What? What do you mean?
A referee reversed--
[Triple H] And as far as you pieces of crap go,
you didn't see a damn thing.
[JR] But nothing of this magnitude has ever transpired.
[Triple H] Everybody here knows,
everybody around the world knows Chris Jericho is not even in my league.
[King] It never even happened, JR.
[JR] Jericho is wearing the WWE title because he just beat Triple H.
Shut the hell up.
[crowd cheering]
So you're telling me, Triple H,
that I have to give up the World Wrestling Entertainment title
because that match never took place?
[King] That's right.
You're telling me I have to give up the World Wrestling Entertainment title
because these Jerichoholics never saw me beat you
in the middle of that ring for this championship?
[King] It didn't happen!
Well, I guess we can all believe that.
[King] I believe it.
And so I guess it's also not true
that your wife, Stephanie, has not slept with half the boys
in that locker room either.
-[crowd roaring] -[King] What?
[JR] My God!
I guess we can't believe that either, huh?
[King] What's he trying to do, commit suicide?
Idiot!
[JR] Jericho has relinquished the WWE title.
Can't stay that about Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
Even though Earl Hebner… Maybe it was a little fast count, but…
[King] There was no count. It never happened.
Never took place.
No, Earl. That's not good enough.
I want you to put it around my waist where it belongs.
[JR] Oh, come on.
[King] Go on, Hebner. Do your job.
[JR] His job it to officiate, not dress the champion.
Don't touch him.
[King] There you go. Finally makes himself useful.
[JR] I can't believe what we're seeing.
[King] I can't believe what we didn't see. I didn't see anything earlier.
Never even happened. And neither did you, JR.
[JR laughs]
[air horn blares]
-[King] All I see is Triple H, the champ. -[Triple H] Now, Earl.
Before you go…
I wanna talk about our little deal we made.
You're right.
Hey, I'm a man of my word, Earl.
And as long as you are a World Wrestling Entertainment official,
nobody, not Shane, not Vince,
not Steph, not even myself will ever lay a hand on you again.
I promise you that. Okay?
Oh yeah. But there's one other thing I forgot to tell you, Earl.
Your ass is fired.
What? Fired?
[JR] Come on!
-He's got a family! -[King] You're fired!
[JR] Shane McMahon assaulting Earl Hebner.
And now look at the double-team!
-[King] He's no longer a WWE official. -[JR] That's not right.
-He's a human being. -[King] He's fair game!
[JR] He doesn't deserve this!
-[King] Uh-oh. -[JR] Stop that!
-[King] Pedigree! -[JR] No!
For the love of God!
Earl Hebner's been fired and assaulted.
[King] What are these guys doing? You wanna get fired too?
[rock music playing]
[JR] This is not right.
This is the most appalling thing I think I've ever seen.
[King] Wait a minute, JR. Finally, the record is straight.
Triple H never lost the WWE title.
[music fades]
"Y2J" was so close to tasting the sweet nectar
of being WWE champ.
But in the end, it was all about "The Game,"
who continued his reign at the top of WWE.
But right when Triple H had all the momentum in the world,
It was suddenly "Game" over
as an unfortunate quadricep injury would sideline "The Cerebral Assassin."
After eight long months of vigorous rehab,
"The King of Kings" made his triumphant return
to Madison Square Garden
in one of the most powerful, emotionally-charged moments
in Raw history.
["The Game" playing]
[King] Oh, JR!
This is it!
♪ Time to play the game… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[sinister laughter]
[crowd roaring]
[crowd continues roaring]
[whooping, whistling]
♪ I am the game, you don't wanna play me ♪
♪ I am control, no way you can change me ♪
♪ I am heavy debt, no way you can pay me ♪
♪ I am the pain And I know you can't take me ♪
♪ Look over your shoulder, ready to run ♪
♪ Like a Cleveland bitch From a smoking gun ♪
♪ I am the game and I make the rules ♪
♪ So move on out here… ♪
[JR] This is as loud as any sustained roar I have ever heard
in Madison Square Garden.
♪ Don't you forget That the price you can pay… ♪
[JR] It has been eight long months of hellacious rehabilitation
to repair that torn quadricep muscle.
But "The Game" has returned
to World Wresting Entertainment.
[King] The question is, I saw a sign in the crowd that said, "It's a new game."
Is it a new "Game"?
Or is this the same Triple H that ran roughshod
over every WWE Superstar he faced?
[JR] As controversial as anybody that's ever been in the WWE.
But you can bet your bottom dollar that every moment of hell
that he went through to rehabilitate that leg
was thinking about this point in time,
this very night in this very arena,
before the WWE world.
[King] He's back!
Triple H is back!
[JR] And, folks, business has picked up.
"The Game" is back in business.
And this sold-out crowd in Madison Square Garden
just can't get enough of him.
Can you imagine the pent-up rage,
the aggression that has built up after eight long months
of hellacious rehabilitation for this man?
Can you imagine what it's gonna be like
when the first man steps in the ring to meet "The Game"?
-[song continues] -[crowd roaring continues]
[JR] Whether you like this man or not, ladies and gentlemen,
this is a… a triumphant return.
As good as it gets.
[King] I don't think I've ever seen anything like it, JR.
I don't think I've ever heard anything like it.
♪ The game and how you play it ♪
♪ All about control and if you can… ♪
[JR] And I have been to the National Championship football games,
to Super Bowls, World Series,
but I've never felt or heard the emotion
as we are experiencing and feeling here tonight
in the world's most famous arena for the world's most famous "Game,"
Triple H.
♪ Look over your shoulder, ready to run ♪
♪ Like a Cleveland bitch From a smoking gun… ♪
[JR] This is an overwhelming show of respect
that is oozing from the hearts of every fan
sitting here at Madison Square Garden.
And I'll reiterate, like him or not,
this man deserves respect.
[King] I wanna hear what he has to say, JR.
You gotta remember, this is the same man who used sledgehammers on people.
JR, this is the same man who broke your arm!
[JR] He's as deadly as they come.
"The Cerebral Assassin."
♪ It's time to play the game… ♪
[JR] He is a… he is a tough, resilient…
WWE Superstar.
As resilient, as tough as anybody that I personally have ever seen.
And he's back.
♪ The game and how you play it ♪
♪ It's all about control and if you… ♪
[King] We're about to find out.
[JR] His agenda.
-[King] Right. In his own words. -[air horn blares]
[crowd roaring]
[King] Let "The Game" begin.
[JR] This crowd don't wanna stop cheering long enough to let the man talk.
He's gotta feel everything
that these fans are feeling for him right now.
What an emotional moment.
Just in case you've forgotten,
let me tell you just who the hell I am.
-[crowd roars] -[air horn blares]
[King] I don't think they've forgotten.
I am "The Game!"
[cheering, whooping]
And you can bet your ass I'm back.
[King] Is that right?
And I am the guy that tonight
officially enters the Royal Rumble.
-[JR] Oh, wow. -[King] What?
[JR] First Austin, then Taker, now "The Game."
[Triple H] And I--
["Medal" playing]
[JR] Now, wait a damn minute.
What the hell is this idiot Kurt Angle…
The audacity to interrupt this man's return.
[King] Wait a minute, JR.
We've been waiting for Kurt's announcement.
No, we haven't.
You got a mouse in your pocket?
Nobody gives a damn about Kurt Angle's announcement tonight.
[King] I've been waiting all night for it with bated breath.
[crowd] You suck! You suck!
[JR] It's gonna be big, I'm sure.
Who the hell do you think you are?
-[crowd] What? -[JR] Uh-oh.
A quad injury kept you out for eight months. Eight months!
I won an Olympic gold medal with a broken freaking neck.
[King] Oh, that's true, you know.
So you come back here for your big return.
Triple H's big return.
[crowd chanting] Asshole! Asshole!
Listen to these Triple H fans all of a sudden.
[crowd] Asshole! Asshole!
[King] We wanna hear the big announcement.
If anyone deserves this time right here, right now,
it's me!
So you're on my time, pal.
-[JR] Oh man. -[King] What?
[JR] Ridiculous.
And I'm glad you're out here to hear my major announcement.
[King] Uh-oh, here it comes.
Because it's even bigger than your big return.
[King] That's big.
It's something that everybody's been waiting for.
[JR] What is it?
And my major announcement is
that I, Kurt Angle,
will also enter the Royal Rumble.
[King] Whoa!
My first-ever Royal Rumble.
[King] That's huge, JR! That's huge.
What an announcement. Earth-shattering.
And you wanna know why
I didn't enter the Rumble last year, Hunter?
I think you know.
Because I was too busy pinning your ass to the mat.
What do you think about that?
[JR] Angle trying to steal the spotlight
from a man that's had eight months of therapy.
[King] Oh, "The Game"!
"The Game" taking down Angle.
Triple H with those big old right hands to the face of that pompous Kurt Angle.
Get out of here, Kurt!
"The Game" now stomping the hell out of Kurt Angle.
They're gonna both be in the Rumble. And they're rumbling right now.
[JR] Wait a minute!
[King] Holy mackerel!
-Look at "The Game"! -[JR] "The Game" is in great shape.
And he's here to fight.
[King] And he's showing no respect for Kurt's major announcement.
[JR] Kurt Angle doesn't deserve respect after interrupting this man.
-[King] Look out! -[JR] And a German suplex.
[King] What about that?
[JR] Man, what a suplex by… by Kurt Angle.
He just drilled "The Game" with that… that German suplex.
[King] Is "The Game" over already? Huh?
[JR] "The Game"'s just getting started.
This "Game" is not over.
-[crowd chanting, clamoring] -Whoo!
[JR] Triple H pulling his way back.
Triple H has got Kurt Angle right by the throat!
He went… "The Game" went right for the throat, King.
[King] I see that.
[crowd roaring]
Look out, Kurt!
-[King] Oh my! -[JR] Could it be? The Pedigree!
Pedigree! Pedigree!
[crowd roaring]
[JR] The Olympic champion just got his ass Pedigreed!
["The Game" playing]
[JR] That's what happens when you steal the spotlight from "The Game"!
[King] Oh my God! Look at this!
[JR] My God, "The Game" looks better than ever!
"The Game" is back. Business has picked up.
Triple H in the Rumble. Kurt Angle in the Rumble.
Austin in the Royal Rumble.
And so is The Undertaker.
♪ From a smoking gun ♪
♪ I am the game… ♪
[King] This is unbelievable.
Kurt Angle came out here to make a major announcement,
the fact that he's gonna be in the Rumble.
And look, he's left laying by "The Game"!
[JR] Kurt Angle had no business… interrupting
"The Game's" first… first announcement
and the first time he's gonna talk and let us know how he was feeling
and… and what was going on in his life.
[King] I know he had all that pent-up frustration.
All of those eight months of being on the injured list.
-[song continues] -[crowd clamoring]
[Big E] I think MSG was literally shaking that night,
definitely one of the most legendary crowd reactions
in WWE history.
A hero's welcome full of nothing but respect and admiration for "The Game."
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
By 2003,
Triple H had become
one of the most calculating and dominant champions
in the history of professional wrestling.
In fact, at that time,
only one man could be considered a class above,
the 16-time World Champion,
"The Nature Boy "Ric Flair
and on this night in Greenville, South Carolina,
Naitch, the aging and wily veteran,
wanted to prove he still had it
by challenging Triple H in a Raw Classic match for the ages.
-[Also Sprach Zarathustra playing] -[crowd cheering]
[JR] The fans are on their feet here in Greenville, South Carolina.
[King] You're getting your wish now.
[JR] You're damn right I am because Flair's got his game face on.
It's time to see exactly how he can… Can he get it done one more time?
-I said he'd walk the aisle, King. -[King] Well, sit down.
-Why are you so excited? Sit down, JR. -[bell dings]
[Garcia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Sit down.
[Garcia] Introducing the challenger, from Charlotte, North Carolina,
weighing in at 234 lbs,
Ric Flair!
[JR] To me, this is like Mickey Mantle getting one more at bat
in Yankee Stadium
in the bottom of the ninth with two outs.
[King] Mickey Mantle's dead.
[JR] Well, Ric Flair's not dead.
And Mickey Mantle's legacy's not dead.
And Ric Flair's legacy's not dead.
And could Ric Flair be, in Mobile, Alabama,
where we're gonna be live next Monday night,
as a 17-time World Heavyweight Champion?
["The Game" playing]
♪ It's time to play the game ♪
♪ Time to play the game… ♪
[sinister laughter]
[Garcia] And from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing in at 265 lbs,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
Triple H!
[JR] Well, there is no doubt that Triple H got his ass whipped
at Judgment Day.
He was beaten, battered, and fried by a 300-pound monster
by the name of Kevin Nash.
And Triple H was gonna scramble Nash's brains with a sledgehammer.
Earl Hebner trying to restrain the champion and paid for it.
[King] Somebody should have restrained Kevin Nash
because this was completely uncalled-for.
Kevin Nash was completely out of control. Watch what he does to the referee.
Look what he did to his own big buddy Shawn Michaels.
-[JR] Nash was in an enraged state. -[King] Shoved him right down!
[King] Look at that!
[JR] Look at Triple H's ribs. Watch his neck, watch his head here
in slow motion. Oh!
Destroying our announce table.
-Triple H destroyed in the match. -[King] Look at that!
That looked like a car accident.
Totally uncalled-for by that man, Kevin Nash.
And now this is totally uncalled-for.
This man, the greatest… the greatest wrestler in the world
and the World Heavyweight Champion,
being forced to defend his championship tonight.
He's so hurt he can't even spit the water out.
[JR] Triple H had the audacity earlier tonight,
after he selected Ric Flair as his opponent,
to have the audacity to tell Ric Flair, "You just lay down."
[JR] You know, to hell with your integrity.
To hell with your character, to hell with your reputation.
You just lay down, and I'll beat your ass here tonight.
And Flair thought about it.
Thank God that Shawn Michaels had something heartfelt to say to Flair.
[song fades]
[JR] And yes, I'm excited.
[crowd cheering]
[King] Would you expect anything else from "The Game"? He is "The Game."
[JR] Look at Flair's eyes.
He may have all the respect in the world for Triple H,
but more respect for himself.
[King] Wait a minute.
Now… okay.
Flair is being given the opportunity to do the right thing.
Lay down, Naitch.
You're taking…
Wait a minute.
-[JR] Oh. -[crowd] Oh!
-[King] What the hell is Naitch thinking? -[JR] Little head game.
-[bell dings] -[JR] Well…
Ric Flair may be in the process of teaching Triple H
all that Triple H knows,
but he hasn't taught all Flair knows, I'll tell you.
[King] Be careful, Triple H!
Remember your back and your ribs from last night.
One! Two!
[JR] Both in the corner.
Referee Nick Patrick trying to step in there and break this hold.
Will it be broken cleanly?
Look at the intensity on the face of Triple H.
[crowd whooping]
[King] Triple H, you may have to… Yeah, there you… Hey!
[JR] A little "whoo" from "The Game." He got slapped in the face.
And there's a knife-edge chop by Flair.
Could it be a special night that we've all been experienced here on Raw
so many times? Another knife-edge. A right hand.
And "The Game," yes, he's battered and bruised.
And he's… It could be Flair's night.
I wanna believe it's Flair's night.
[King] If Flair were to win, you'll have a stroke.
You need to calm down, JR.
Have some… have some faith in our World Heavyweight Champion.
Even battered and bruised as he is,
he is still the best there is in the game.
Oh no.
Oh no, now what?
[JR] Hard shot to the ribs. And Triple H felt that one.
Let me tell you something. One of these days…
Chop. Wow, what a chop.
One of these days, somebody's gonna beat "The Game"
for the World title.
And by God, this might be the night.
And those ribs hammering that security wall.
And Flair, yes, he is the dirtiest player of the game.
And he's out there with "The Game" right now.
-Flair not gonna waste any time. -[King] Look at this!
[JR] Right in the ribs again.
And Flair knows exactly what to do, how to physically dissect an opponent,
how to focus on the injured body part.
[King] I can't believe what I'm seeing after all Triple H has done for Flair.
Look at the way Flair repaid him.
[JR] God, it's…
[King] He suplexed the World Heavyweight Champion
right out on the floor.
Flair at a little north of 50 years of age.
[JR] He may… I think he realizes he may never get a shot
at a World Heavyweight title again.
And look at this vertical suplex.
-A man with bad ribs… -[King] Oh!
[JR] That could do it right there. Flair, he could cover him.
Triple H is hurt and gasping for air.
His chest is heaving.
Hook of the leg.
And somehow, "The Game"…
He's a tough son of a gun, let me tell you that.
Able to kick out.
You call him what you want to call him.
A knife-edge chop by Flair. "The Game" has not been able
to get out of the blocks offensively.
[King] He will. Just give him some time. There you go.
[JR] Spinebuster slam.
And "The Game" holding those ribs, unable to follow up
after the spinebuster slam on Ric Flair.
We're a hundred miles from Ric Flair's hometown of Charlotte,
where we were at Judgment Day.
And Flair's just as big in South Carolina as he is in North Carolina.
Indeed, Ric Flair country.
We're coming to you live from Greenville's Bi-Lo Center.
[King] Yeah, but you talk about Judgment Day,
that's where… that's where Triple H had the hell beat out of him
by Kevin Nash.
You saw the brutality. That was after the match was over.
[JR] I saw Kevin Nash whip Triple H's ass from the get-go in that situation.
And look at "The Game." He is choking away at Ric Flair.
-[King] You like what you see now? Huh? -[JR] Not really.
[King] Is this sort of like Mickey Mantle gets one last at bat?
I'd like to see Mantle get one last at bat against somebody like Roger Clemens.
He'd throw that fastball by Mickey Mantle so fast nowadays.
[JR] What a chop that was.
All I know is that "Stone Cold" came out here
and said that Triple H had to fight for the World title tonight.
He had to fight a former champion.
He gave "The Game" a list of champions,
but omitted Ric Flair's name from that list.
-[King] What are you trying to tell me? -[JR] "Stone Cold" knew what he was doing.
"Stone Cold" knows and respects Ric Flair's World Championship reign.
-I think that Ric… that "Stone Cold"… -[King] Look out!
[JR] …I think he baited Triple H into making this decision.
I think Austin has outsmarted "The Game" here tonight.
[King] Surely "The Rattlesnake" is not that smart.
-I can't give him that much credit. -[JR] This crowd on their feet.
They're loving what they're seeing.
[King] Look at these shots by Flair!
[JR] "The Dirtiest Player in the Game" with rights and lefts.
And the World Champion is down.
The World Champion is down.
And this could be, you gotta believe,
if you got hope,
if you got some passion,
you gotta believe that tonight could be the night
that Ric Flair gets back on top of the mountain.
And there's a chopblock. You know what's coming.
You know what Flair's setting Triple H up for.
[King] Don't tell me Mickey Mantle's gonna hit a home run.
Come back from the grave, hit a home run.
-Get up, Triple H! -[crowd roaring]
[JR] Well, hear the roar from the crowd.
The kiss-stealing, wheeling-dealing,
limousine-riding son of a gun has the figure-4. He's got it locked.
The figure-4 is locked.
"The Game" is a long way from the ropes.
[wailing]
[JR] Flair's got the figure-4.
Triple H has got two chances.
Give up and lose the title,
or get to the ropes.
[King] Triple H is just now realizing without a doubt,
clear as… Flair is stabbing Triple H in the back…
[JR] Oh, the hell he is.
[King] …for the World Championship.
[JR] Triple H has… he's got the rope out of desperation.
-Out of desperation. -[crowd booing]
[JR] You gotta wonder how much damage has been done
to the legs of Triple H,
who's crawling almost in a fetal position into the corner.
Flair right back to the legs as Triple H fights out of desperation.
Hard knife-edge.
Another knife-edge.
Triple H's chest is getting beet red.
He caught Flair walking in with a thunderous right hand.
Big bomb right there. That could do it.
[King] I think Flair's in la-la land now.
[JR] Right hand, the difference-maker. But look at Flair picking himself back up,
as he has done so many times in his illustrious career.
[King] Another right hand, Triple H!
[JR] When I got up this morning, I never thought I would see this match
here tonight.
[King] Oh, there you go!
-This'll do it. -[JR] Sleeper applied, and…
Wait a minute. The referee got squashed in that corner.
The referee's squashed in a corner.
Facebuster by Triple H with the referee down.
Triple H now has the advantage.
[King] Yes, he does.
As it should be.
The hell is Triple H doing?
He's got the World Heavyweight Championship belt.
[King] He's gonna teach Ric Flair a lesson.
You want this title belt? Here it is!
[JR] Triple H going for Flair's head,
and got a thumb to the eye. from "The Dirtiest Player n the Game."
Low blow with the referee down!
[King] The dirtiest move in the game!
He got all up in "The Game" with that one!
[JR] The World Championship testicles just got smashed.
Belt shot to the head.
It's gonna be over!
Flair's gotta get the referee back around.
[King] If Mantle were alive, he'd turn over in his grave.
[JR] Triple H is motionless. It's gonna be over!
-There it is! It's gonna happen! -[King] No!
-[JR and crowd] Two, three… -[King] No!
-[JR] God, how close. -[King] Did he win?
[JR] A half a count. A half a second.
A heartbeat is all that was away
from Flair becoming the Heavyweight Champion.
[King] Does Flair think he won?
[crowd clamoring]
[JR] Flair's got this crowd behind him.
The legendary veteran.
And there he's got a little figure-4. Triple H kicked out of it.
He kicked Flair right into the corner face-first into the top turnbuckle.
-And now Triple H… -[King] Yes!
Yes! Oh no! No!
[crowd cheers]
-[JR] Flair with a back body drop. -[King] Where's Flair getting this from?
[JR] Now the Pedigree. These fans. Ric Flair's desire, his will to win.
Triple H now countered Flair and back dropped him again.
-[King] Come on, Triple H! -[JR] Downstairs goes the champion.
-[JR] He's trying to… -[King] Give it to him. He got him!
[JR] Triple H nailed the Pedigree out of nowhere.
-Out of nowhere. The hook of the leg. -[King] Yes!
-[JR] And "The Game" defeated Ric Flair. -[bell dings]
What a match.
[King] There is no joy in Mudville. [laughs]
["The Game" playing]
[King] "Mighty" Mickey Mantle has struck out.
[Garcia] …Triple H!
-[King] Uh-oh. -[JR] Wait a minute, that's Kevin Nash.
And the look of fear!
The look of absolute fear on the face of "The Game"!
[King] What is Kevin Nash doing out here?
[JR] Triple H is running like a scolded dog out of here.
Triple H wants no part of Kevin Nash.
[music fades]
While Naitch was oh so close to becoming a 17-time World champ,
"The Game" once again proved to the entire world
why he is that damn good.
And while Triple H got a major assist on that night,
when it came time to face his former best friend
and DX member Shawn Michaels,
the dangerous "Cerebral Assassin" was all on his own.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
Well, it's time.
It's showtime, ladies and gentlemen.
And here comes "The Showstopper."
[crowd roaring]
-[JR] They're on their feet! -[bell dings]
[King] Look at this crowd!
[Garcia] …scheduled for one fall, for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
from San Antonio, Texas,
"The Heartbreak Kid"
Shawn Michaels!
[JR] He is a four-time champion.
Shawn Michaels.
Can he become the next heavyweight champion of the world?
And we remember back to the Royal Rumble of 1997
in the Alamodome.
Over 60,000 fans on hand
to see Shawn Michaels regain the championship
on that night.
That was almost seven years ago.
And that was the last time that Shawn Michaels has wrestled
for the World Championship in his hometown
here on television.
[King] And look! Look!
Look at this huge arena, JR.
Every person is on their feet.
I mean, they are standing. And this place is packed to the rafters.
They love Shawn Michaels here in his hometown.
[JR] It is an emotional night.
And it's… Oh, I tell you what, if Shawn Michaels can do it,
if he can become the World Heavyweight Champion tonight,
you're gonna see a celebration.
You're gonna see an eruption and an ovation
the likes I don't think we've ever experienced before
in our lives.
[King] He looks so ready,
physically and mentally.
And that home field advantage has gotta be decisive.
No way he's gonna let these fans down here tonight.
-["The Game" playing] -♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ Time to play the game… ♪
[sinister laughter]
[Garcia] And from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing in at 265 lbs,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
Triple H!
[JR] He is an eight-time World Champion,
including the last one on December 14
at Armageddon in that triple threat match.
♪ You don't want to play me… ♪
And here comes "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
who will be at ringside with "The Game."
Khakis and all.
♪ I know you can't take me Look over your shoulder, ready to run… ♪
-[JR] I can't wait to see this. -[King] This is gonna be so good.
♪ I am the game and I make the rules So move on out here and die like a fool ♪
♪ Try to figure out What my move's gonna be ♪
♪ Come on over sucker Why don't you ask me? ♪
♪ Don't you forget That the price you can pay ♪
♪ 'Cause I am the game And I want to play ♪
[JR] That's gonna be a wild night,
but it's gonna have to push the meter
to top what we're about to see here tonight.
That man, "The Game," knows what's at stake.
His professional life.
Because the World title means more to that man
than anybody I've ever seen in my life,
professionally and personally.
What's it gonna take to get it off of "The Game"'s waist?
Or maybe a little Sweet Chin Music.
[King] That could do it.
That could very well do it.
[JR] Senior referee Earl Hebner has been assigned
this big-time main event.
Shawn Michaels will not be psyched out.
He is confident. He is ready.
As we said earlier, physically and mentally.
And we will have this World Heavyweight Championship matchup
in just one moment.
[music fades]
[JR] We are back live on Monday Night Raw.
A capacity crowd on hand here in San Antonio, Texas.
We are about to see the World's Heavyweight Championship decided.
That man, Shawn Michaels, has come home to meet his former best friend, Triple H,
for the heavyweight championship of the world.
And we are watching it live here on Monday Night Raw.
[King] Boy, there is electricity in this arena, JR.
These fans want Shawn Michaels to become the World Heavyweight Champion
so bad they can taste it.
[JR] Look at this matchup.
These men, as we all know, know each other very well.
They don't need a scouting report.
Nice counter to the hammerlock by Shawn Michaels, inside headlock.
Oh, nice headlock.
Michaels holding on tenaciously.
For Michaels to win,
we know he's got the great home field advantage,
he's gotta utilize his speed and his athleticism,
try to get in some Sweet Chin Music.
And Shawn Michaels, in my view, has to wrestle.
Don't be lured into a brawl in this matchup.
[King] Well, I gotta think that those words earlier on…
-Uh-oh. -[JR] Triple H rolling Michaels over.
[King] Almost instructions, if you will, from Eric Bischoff.
I think they may have an effect on our senior referee Earl Hebner.
I think he may watch this match a little more closely than usual.
[JR] Triple H knocked down. Michaels with motivation and momentum off the ropes.
Reverse elbow by "The Game."
"The Game," to win, he's gotta exploit his strength and power,
dictate a deliberate pace to slow down Shawn Michaels
and turn this into a brawl if he can,
and find a way to hit the Pedigree, but this reverse elbow was--
Speaking of hitting, watch Triple H hit Shawn Michaels with this elbow.
Right in the nose.
[King] High impact move by "The Game." And Michaels firing back up on "The Game."
-Or on… -[King] Look out!
-[JR] Shawn Michaels. -[crowd clamoring]
[JR] Michaels here, what's he gonna do?
Skinning the cat.
-[King] Ah! -[JR] "The Game" locked in head scissors.
[King] Oh my God!
[JR] And Michaels skins the cat back into the ring.
And Michaels, he's a… just took a page out of Ric Flair.
Flair took a right hand.
Flair on the apron and Michaels just nailed the "Nature Boy."
[King] "Nature Boy" took exception to Michaels doing that strut.
Now look out.
-[JR] And Michaels-- -[King] Whoa!
[JR] And Michaels, springboard crossbody taking down Flair and Triple H
like they were the seven-ten split.
[King] And Michaels--
That just shows you what Shawn Michaels… how he feels about this night.
He's ready to risk life and limb to win this World Championship.
[JR] No doubt in my mind that Shawn Michaels is feeling it here.
He's feeling it tonight.
Some nights when you get in that ring,
you told me a million times,
you feel like it's gonna be a special night.
You feel something special in your body,
in your mind.
For Shawn Michaels, it's in his heart, in his soul as well.
[King] I can tell you from personal experience,
there's nothing like wrestling a huge match,
a World Championship match,
in front of your own hometown fans.
The people that have supported you throughout your entire career.
There's nothing like it, JR.
You have that feeling you just know inside.
You can't, you cannot let these people down.
That's what Michaels is feeling tonight.
[JR] Collar-and-elbow tie-up into the arm wringer by "The Game."
And Michaels countered very quickly.
Michaels again using his leverage and technique.
[King] Triple H is… Shawn Michaels has got to be careful about one thing.
You don't wanna make Triple H mad.
Because when you do that, that's when Triple H is dangerous.
[JR] I think he's dangerous all the time. He's dangerous when he sleeps.
And Michaels now barring the arm, trying to put the pressure on that elbow.
Those elbow pads are not there for the aesthetics for "The Game."
He may have an elbow problem we're not aware of.
Michaels certainly knows "The Game" better than anybody.
Former best friends.
[King] Hip toss is blocked. Oh, arm drag.
[JR] That's the quickness and speed of Shawn Michaels
coming to the front here
as Ric Flair with a very--
[King] He looks frustrated.
[JR] A very anxious look to say the least.
[King] He may be having an anxiety attack over there.
[JR] The crown jewel of Evolution
is the heavyweight championship of the world
held by its leader, Triple H.
And back up to his vertical base.
Just think what that would do to Evolution
if Shawn Michaels becomes the World Champion tonight.
Referee calling for the break. A clean break.
[King] See, that's what I'm telling you.
Oh! Oh-ho-ho!
[JR] And Michaels kicked that second rope. And "The Game" was straddling it.
And Michaels with a right hand, frustrating "The Game."
-[King] Watch those fists. -[JR] Michaels again to the arm drag.
Again using his speed and his quickness is the challenger.
Competing before family and friends.
High school buddies and…
[King] Take a look at this one more time.
This is vintage Shawn Michaels. The referee's back's turned, and he…
Just that nice little…
That's just to let you know he's here.
[JR] Triple H back up now,
forcing Michaels, powering Michaels back into the corner.
Triple H has a decided advantage, in my view, in strength and power.
Carrying more body weight as well,
burying that shoulder into the abdomen of Michaels.
And a right hand.
Referee admonishing "The Game" for the blatant abuse of the right hand,
which is illegal.
We saw Ric Flair earlier tonight disqualify the Dudleys
for basically the same thing.
Michaels trying to fight back out of that corner.
And Triple H wants to keep Michaels in the corner.
But Shawn Michaels, the resilient one.
The knife-edge.
And another.
Make it a trifecta.
[King] And the Naitch, he hates to see his patented chops…
Oh my gosh!
[JR] The leverage and momentum of Shawn Michaels
sending "The Game" with the Irish whip up and over the top rope.
[King] You said the key word there, JR. Momentum.
Shawn Michaels has the momentum right now.
If he can sustain this,
he'll be the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Listen.
Wow-ee.
[JR] Another hard shot by Michaels on the outside.
Michaels taking a page out of Ric Flair's playbook
with a little "whoo" action of his own.
Flair hates that too.
[King] Flair… Flair hates that, JR.
[JR] Triple H gotta slow this thing down
and control the offense here.
He has been unable-- And Michaels now with a sleeper.
-Michaels with a sleeper here. -[crowd cheering]
[JR] Triple H turning into the pressure.
Michaels landing on his feet.
[King] What a move, and a roll-up.
[JR] The roll-up! Oh, a near-fall.
Great athleticism by Michaels.
Triple H going downstairs with a gut shot,
side headlock takeover.
And Michaels quickly counters.
"The Game"'s having a hard time… Look at this.
Pinning predicament here.
-And Michaels… -[King] Look at Shawn Michaels!
[JR] …showing great strength to bridge out of thing into the--
-[King] Backslide! -[JR] There it is, the backslide.
Two! Two!
[King] Tell you something.
Shawn Michaels is on his game tonight, isn't he?
[JR] Absolutely. No doubt about that. No doubt about that.
Michaels countering everything "The Game" has thrown at him thus far.
And we say "thus far" because we got a lot of time left,
the way these guys are starting out here.
[grunts]
[JR] Shot by Michaels.
Triple H's massive chest getting…
Oh, Michaels being elevated, back dropped over the top rope
all the way to the floor.
And you gotta wonder how much damage that has done
to Shawn Michaels' injured back.
Michaels is down. Michaels is not moving. Michaels has gotta get…
[JR] We are back live.
The World Heavyweight Championship match still in progress.
Michaels fought back into the ring,
but here's how Shawn Michaels was injured
right before we went to our final commercial break, King.
Check this out.
[King] Shawn Michaels coming in and literally back dropped
high into the air.
He didn't have a chance to save himself, grab a rope or anything.
I couldn't tell if he landed on his ankle, his hip or knee or what.
But he's hurt.
[JR] Shawn Michaels fought his way back in.
The referee almost counted Michaels out.
Triple H has been content with that.
During the commercial break, Michaels fought his way back,
would not die, came back in the ring.
That's when we came back from commercial break. You saw.
And since that time, Triple H using the ropes for an unfair advantage.
The championship advantage as we've called it on Monday Night Raw.
The champion, Triple H in this case,
has gotta be pinned or made to submit
for the championship to change hands tonight.
[King] What a shot from Michaels. Look at this.
[JR] A hard right hand fires back.
Michaels will not quit here. He's in his hometown.
-The World title on the line. -[King] Here he comes.
Here comes HBK.
[JR] Against the man that Michaels has beaten for the World title before.
And Triple H with that backbreaker.
That is a… You don't call him "The Cerebral Assassin" for nothing.
[King] And I think that Triple H feels it now.
[JR] Triple H going for the cover.
Hook of the far leg, and Michaels kicking out.
Shawn Michaels, we thought his career had ended
due to a severe back injury.
Then just a few moments ago, you saw before we went to the break
how Michaels landed on the outside.
And those are blatant fists.
And the referee really in a tough spot here
because no doubt the referee does not want to disqualify Triple H
because then "The Game" would retain the title.
-[King] Triple H, you know, he probably… -[JR] Elbow right to the back.
[King] But believe me, Triple H wants to prove a point here.
He wants to show the world that he is deserving
of that World Heavyweight Championship.
He wants to beat Shawn Michaels as bad as Michaels wants to beat him
in this match.
[JR] Again, the elbows right to the lower back,
right in the kidney area, that lower back,
which has given Shawn Michaels so much problems.
It was surgically repaired. Again, it looked like his career ended.
[King] Talking about those fists, I think the referee is…
Well, he's giving every…
a bit of latitude in this match because it is a championship match.
He's giving a bit to both guys because, as you see,
Triple H using the fist. Shawn Michaels has used the fist.
[JR] You think the referee'd give a piece of his mind.
The cover. And Michaels again kicks out.
Triple H has a hard right hand, a couple of them
knocking down Shawn Michaels.
And as we said earlier,
Triple H wants to dictate a slow, deliberate pace.
[King] And he's doing that right now.
[JR] Using his strength and his power.
He's doing that as well.
Another hard right hand.
That has been Triple H's best offense tonight.
The illegal right hand.
It's all taped up. And Michaels fights back.
Michaels blocks the right. Throws a right of his own.
Over the top. Michaels got a right in.
Triple H walked into another one.
"The Game" is… He's on spaghetti legs here.
Maybe out of desperation.
[King] Desperation is right.
Desperate men do desperate things. And that was pure desperation there
on the part of Triple H.
[JR] And this is not sound strategy by the World Heavyweight Champion.
I would've bought some time there if I'd have been Triple H.
Shawn Michaels, his back, his spine of "HBK"
smacking those steel steps.
And now "The Game" will be more than content to get a count-out.
[King] Has he got a separated shoulder?
Look at that… Uh-oh.
A big knot on his shoulder. He may have
a separated shoulder there.
[JR] His collarbone or something.
[King] Yeah.
[JR] Might have broken his clavicle, which is the collarbone in medical terms
right there, and Triple H could give a damn. He could care less.
Michaels trying to fight back up. And now Michaels…
If Michaels only has one arm against "The Game,"
then he… it's a matter of time.
It's a matter of how bad it will get.
And Michaels…
-[King] Oh! -[JR] Trying a sunset flip here.
[King] Does he have enough spring? Does he have enough?
[JR] "The Game"'s got that wide base. He goes down.
Got the cover. Oh!
Near-fall. And Michaels quickly back up.
And not that much quicker back down.
This could do it here. The hook of the leg.
And Triple H can't… He's getting frustrated.
He wants to pin Michaels. And Shawn Michaels will not die.
He will not lay down for anybody.
And Ric… Ric Flair can't believe it.
Michaels keeps kicking out.
I think as long as Michaels is conscious, he's gonna be fighting in this match.
There he is going right back to the back. The abdominal stretch.
[King] Michaels reaching for those ropes, but they're just about four or five inches
too far away.
[JR] Move created in the 1950s by a man named Wilbur Snyder
that puts a regular torque on the lower back.
-And Michaels's body is-- -[King] Look at that now! Look at that!
[JR] That's it. He should break the hold.
I don't understand why the referee… He should break the hold.
You wanna be champ, huh? Come on!
[crowd roaring]
[King] I love it when we get to actually hear these guys.
[JR] This crowd getting behind Shawn Michaels,
as we knew they would.
Look at Flair!
Hey, come on, ref! That's not fair.
Boy, that is classic vintage Ric Flair and Triple H.
Hell, it's cheating. It's just an unfair advantage.
[King] It's only cheating if you get caught, JR.
[JR] Well, okay.
[King] Don't punch a fan.
[JR] Again, the abdominal stretch.
Continues to torture Shawn Michaels
and wear down the challenger in this matchup
for the heavyweight championship of the world.
The final match on the final Raw of 2003.
And how could we end it any bigger or better?
[King] I'm gonna tell you something. Triple H, "The Game,"
he's got Shawn Michaels right where he wants him.
He's got the "Naitch" right behind him.
Shawn Michaels could have to tap out here.
And that would be the ultimate humiliation,
the worst way he could lose this match, in front of his hometown fans. Hey!
[JR] And Michaels… Oh, Michaels got a hip in.
Hip locked "The Game."
[King] "The Game" got caught by the official, Earl Hebner.
[JR] But how much damage has been done to that back of Shawn Michaels?
And Michaels has gotta… We know one thing he can do
out of anywhere, at any time,
and that's deliver some Sweet Chin Music.
Those right hands are effective.
But nothing is as effective as that superkick of his
that we call Sweet Chin Music.
[King] What a match we're seeing here, JR. This is great.
[JR] Michaels with a gut check here
against a bigger, stronger opponent,
the World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H.
Reverses a whip to the center of the ropes.
Michaels… Oh!
That Harley Race-like knee could do it there.
That knee just… It's like running into a telephone pole.
It's a…
And now "The Game" with a hook of the leg.
And Michaels slipped out the back door.
He made sure the right shoulder was up first.
And then Michaels slid off the porch there.
[King] Wait, I think "The Game" may, with that big Harley Race high knee,
he may have hurt himself!
[JR] The right hand.
And "The Game" limping.
Remember, he had that quadricep muscle torn.
[King] He's had some leg problems in the past.
[JR] He was out the better part of a year.
[King] Could come back to haunt the World Heavyweight Champion
in this match.
[JR] It certainly could.
That could be the case.
If it is, can Michaels exploit it?
-Will Michaels get back into a position-- -[King] Look at this move!
-[JR] And Michaels working on that leg. -[King] Oh yeah!
[JR] Shawn Michaels.
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Figure-4!
[King] Oh my God!
[JR] Michaels has got Ric Flair's figure-4 on Triple H!
[King] Look at the pain etched in the face of "The Game"!
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Ric Flair, the boyhood hero of "The Game,"
is seeing Shawn Michaels use the figure-4.
[King] Look at the pressure being applied by HBK!
[JR] Look at that ankle. Michaels torquing on that ankle.
That leg could be broken in two or three different places here.
Triple H is in… is in disgusting pain.
The pain has gotta be ripping through his huge body.
The referee with a near-fall there.
[King] Ref, you gotta keep your eye on "Naitch."
"Naitch" wants in this ring so bad. Look at him.
[JR] Shoulders are down.
Referee again with a two-count.
Michaels has got that figure-4 locked in.
Flair is pleading with "The Game," try to reach the ropes,
try to save yourself and get to the ropes.
-Triple H is-- -[King] He's dragging him.
[JR] Michaels dragging "The Game" to the center of the ring.
"The Game" is in a seemingly hopeless situation.
Another count!
Triple H now with his hands on the official.
-[King] Look, I told you! -[JR] Wait a minute!
Right in the eyes.
Right in the eyes of Shawn Michaels
went the hand of Ric Flair.
Digging his fingers and thumb into the eyes of Michaels.
[King] That broke the hold.
There was no way that "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
was going to allow Shawn Michaels to win the World Heavyweight Championship
using his patented figure-4 leg lock.
"Naitch" couldn't let that happen.
[JR] The issue now is can Shawn Michaels continue to build some momentum here?
-Michaels' leg's hurting. -[King] Go back! Get it again!
[JR] "The Game" unable to stand.
Michaels tossed outside.
Michaels brought outside. His own momentum carried him there.
[King] That is simply a move, and a smart move by the World Champion.
Trying to buy himself a little recuperation time.
[JR] And Shawn Michaels now pulls himself back up to the apron.
What's Michaels thinking about? Shawn Michaels.
[King] I don't agree with this.
[JR] Shawn Michaels.
It's all… It's for everything.
[King] This is not the time for one of these desperation moves.
[JR] And Michaels took a high risk, and it didn't pay off.
-[King] I told you… -[JR] "The Game"'s gonna capitalize.
Pedigree. No, reversed into the back body drop.
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Michaels took a hell of a chance. It didn't pay off.
"The Game" tried to capitalize, but to no avail.
And Ric Flair is beside himself.
[King] Yes, he is.
The referee is up to a count of four.
[JR] This count is Shawn Michaels' enemy.
"The Game" can retain the World title
via a count-out.
[King] Wait, Shawn Michaels, he's fighting to his feet.
He's up! Shawn Michaels is up!
[JR] And so is "The Game."
[King] Oh, Michaels scores with a chop.
[JR] And "The Game" is somehow standing on that one bad leg.
And Michaels, big overhand right.
And another right by the champion.
[King] I don't know if that's spit or teeth,
but something is flying with every blow.
[JR] And there's a high-impact… Oh, both men colliding.
-And the-- -[King] Oh!
[JR] Inadvertently went downstairs, bouncing off those ropes.
And you see the results.
[King] I don't think that was inadvertent.
I think that should be a disqualification, JR.
Come on, Earl Hebner. Do your job!
[JR] That's gotta be a judgement call.
Flair begging for a disqualification.
But the count-out will still work for the champion.
Five!
[JR] The referee is up to five.
There's a ten-count to utilize.
Shawn Michaels has got to get up
and be recognized as being competitive.
-[King] He's up. He's up again. -[JR] And Michaels is up.
The referee is…
Shawn Michaels's nose.
This could be his last shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.
Michaels, a right hand.
But "The Game" goes downstairs.
It is desperate times.
And they call for desperate measures if you're the World Heavyweight Champion
and you're in the challenger's hometown.
That's exactly what we have here tonight.
[King] Throw wrestling out the window. This is like you said.
-It's… it's boiled down to a brawl. -[crowd whooping]
[JR] And the brawl may favor "The Game." Time will tell.
Hard knife-edge chop, and Michaels with a handful of hair.
-Shawn Michaels, inverted atomic drop. -[King] Oh!
[JR] Remember that headbutt earlier.
And Michaels with another chop.
And "The Game" barely able to stand.
[King] And again. He got him again!
[JR] A second inverted atomic drop.
And "The Game" now may be moments away…
We may be moments away from crowning a new World Champion.
Michaels, flying forearm.
-The momentum, yes! -[King] What?! What?!
-[JR] This crowd, starting to stand. -[crowd roaring]
They're roaring again.
This crowd back into it.
-[King] Can you feel it, JR? -[JR] You're damn right I can feel it.
[King] These thousands of fans can feel it.
-No! -[JR] Shawn Michaels climbing the ladder.
Is he one roll away from becoming the World Champion?
[King] Once again, I don't agree with this.
-Oh, he hit it! -[JR] The elbow! That's gotta do it!
-That's gotta do it! -[crowd cheering]
[JR] Michaels scored with the elbow into the black heart of the champion.
[King] And I think the band is about to tune up, JR!
[JR] The maestro!
The maestro of maestros, Shawn Michaels!
[King] This entire arena is shaking! Listen!
[JR] The fans are standing!
Shawn Michaels has willed his way perhaps to the heavyweight championship!
[King] Don't turn around, "Game"!
[JR] Don't turn around!
-[King] And Flair! -[JR] Flair tried a cheap shot.
-And Michaels saw it-- -[King] No!
-[JR] No! -[King] Oh my God!
[JR] For God's sakes, no.
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Triple H tried to take Michael's head off. Shawn ducked. Referee got it.
Oh no.
Sweet Chin Music blocked into the DDT.
"The Game" blocked Sweet Chin Music.
[King] Look at this! Flair's down on the outside.
And the referee's down.
Wait a minute. Flair's got the championship belt.
What's he doing?
[JR] Flair sliding the World Heavyweight Championship belt
down to the… into "The Game."
And the… the referee is down, in no position to make any kind of call.
[King] Earl Hebner's hurt. Shawn Michaels looks like he's out.
[JR] Michaels got that DDT from the World Heavyweight Champion.
Flair screaming instructions to "The Game,"
who has the World Heavyweight Championship,
that big heavy belt in his possession in more ways than one.
[King] Now this is desperation, JR.
Look out, Shawn! Oh!
[JR] Right in the head.
"The Game" taking the low road.
Taking the cheap shot with the title belt.
Unbeknownst to the referee. Not here.
[King] Look at the smile on the face of Flair.
Kick out, Shawn!
Yes! Oh!
Oh my gosh!
[JR] Shawn Michaels somehow, some way able to kick out.
And Triple H can't believe it.
[King] It is a miracle!
[JR] By the grace of the good Lord, Shawn Michaels had enough in him
to kick out.
But what's left?
What is the sum of the total damage done?
[King] But what is left in the arsenal of "The Game"?
-He's tried everything. This could do it. -[JR] Pedigree time.
The Pedigree.
-[crowd cheering] -[King] Oh! Oh.
[JR] Michaels kicked back into referee Earl Hebner.
And now the referee is in one hell of a bad way.
And so is Shawn Michaels, quite frankly, with no referee in sight.
You can't win the World title without a referee in the ring.
[crowd booing]
[King] Oh, what is this?
[JR] What's Eric Bischoff doing out here?
Bischoff…
-[King] It looks like… -[JR] He's trying to help Earl Hebner.
That's unusual.
As "The Game" tries to remove the top turnbuckle pad.
[crowd clamoring]
[JR] What is…
Triple H taking advantage here. There's no referee in the ring.
-And that exposed turnbuckle… -[King] Wait a minute.
[JR] The turnbuckle's exposed.
Hard shot by Michaels,
as Bischoff continues to check on the referee.
-[King] Look out, oh! -[JR] Oh my God.
Triple H is headfirst right into the turnbuckle.
The exposed turnbuckle.
That metal ring.
And "The Game" may be out.
"The Game" may be unconscious.
[King] Come on! One, two, three… Where's the ref?
[JR, crowd] …four, five, six!
[JR] What's Bischoff doing?
Bischoff's gonna count. Yes!
Oh my God!
[King] I can't believe my eyes!
I think Eric Bischoff was gonna count Triple H down.
[JR] Bischoff apparently has taken over the officiating duties here.
Our referee has been incapacitated, obviously.
[King] What a… This is the most…
I've never seen anything like this match.
[JR] "The Game" is bleeding.
And Michaels now can smell and taste the blood.
He can smell and taste the heavyweight championship of the world.
[King] Well, "The Game"'s head laid open by that exposed turnbuckle.
[JR] We've got 12,000 or 13,000 fans
jammed in the arena here in San Antonio.
And they're on their feet for Shawn Michaels.
I can feel it. We can feel it.
Can you feel it? There's a cover.
[King] Yeah!
Oh my gosh!
[JR] How close was that?
Less than a half a second away
from seeing a new World Champion crowned.
Michaels now with all the momentum in the world.
-[King] And… -[JR] Oh!
As soon as I say that, here comes the champion.
With a facebuster. Hook to the leg.
And Michaels got his shoulder up.
Shawn Michaels came home to win the title tonight.
[King] Look at what we are seeing.
Eric Bischoff is in the ring, refereeing this World Championship match.
-[JR] Well, I gotta give him credit. -[King] Doing a hell of a job.
[JR] He's doing the right thing.
Bischoff, he's had a good night.
He's done the right thing pretty much all night long.
-[King] Oh! -[JR] "The Game" leapt to his feet.
He went to the high-risk route, and he paid a hell of a price for it.
"The Game" deviated from his… from his game plan.
No pun intended.
And Shawn Michaels again with a hard right hand
to the bloody head of the World Heavyweight Champion.
The championship on the line.
The last Raw of the year.
And by God, we're ending it with a bang.
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Oh!
[JR] Michaels upside down.
He came back to his feet.
[King] Yes!
[JR] Sweet Chin Music! It's gonna be over!
Counting down.
-[all cheering] -[bell dings]
[JR] Yes! Yes! Yes!
Shawn Michaels has done it!
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[JR] My God, don't you believe in miracles?
[crowd roaring]
[JR] Look at this crowd!
They're on their feet!
Everybody's standing!
Shawn Michaels' Sweet Chin Music
has brought him the World Heavyweight Championship!
[King] Lightning has struck again, JR!
Right here in San Antonio!
Oh, what a night!
[Eric] Ladies and gentlemen,
your winner,
and still World Heavyweight Champion,
Triple H!
-[JR] What the hell is… -["The Game" playing]
[JR] The audacity!
[King] What's he talking about?
[JR] How in the hell could Bischoff say that?
[King] What does he mean?
[JR] Michaels knocked the champion's head off
and pinned him!
You're right!
I know it!
Triple H's shoulders were down for the three-count.
But so were yours, Shawn.
And you know better than anybody
in the case of a tie in a championship match,
the World Heavyweight title stays with the champion.
[crowd booing]
I know it's hard to believe, but look at the footage.
It speaks for itself.
[King] What is he talking about? Let's see this again.
Shawn…
[JR] Oh.
[bell dings]
[Eric] That's the way it goes.
Tonight was just not your night.
By the way,
you haven't been on much of a roll lately, have you?
I mean,
losing a World title shot here in San Ant--
[King] Uh-oh!
[JR] Oh, Michaels has… has heard all of Bischoff that he wants to hear.
And Ric Flair trying to come from behind and does.
Oh! Flair, the chop. And Michaels fighting back.
Shawn Michaels thought he'd won the World Heavyweight title.
Michaels… Oh, high elevation on the "Nature Boy."
[crowd clamoring]
-[JR] Michaels-- -[King] Look out!
[JR] With Sweet Chin Music on Flair!
And a right hand on the General Manager.
Shawn Michaels just turned out the lights on the General Manager, Eric Bischoff,
with a right hand
on a night when HBK felt in his heart,
and so did we, that he would,
that he did win the World title.
What's the matter?
You never heard that old rule that a tie goes to the winner?
Well, neither did I.
And unfortunately for Shawn Michaels,
he was a little more than heartbroken.
Triple H once again proved that he had the "Pedigree"
to remain WWE's "King of Kings."
But what would happen when "The Game" went head-to-head
with the face of WWE,
John Cena?
[all cheering]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[man trills] ♪ Amadou ♪
[crowd roaring]
♪ 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… ♪
[Justin] This bout is set for one fall.
Entering the ring, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing 240 lbs,
John Cena!
[Cole] Could this be it?
After nearly five years
as the cornerstone of Monday Night Raw,
could this be John Cena's final appearance ever
on this sports entertainment juggernaut?
♪ They gone fishin' with no bait Kid, your boy hold weight… ♪
[Cole] Well, it's almost unthinkable.
But it could be.
♪ 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 ♪
♪ It's gonna be what it's gonna be Five pounds of courage, buddy… ♪
[Cole] And because of stipulations agreed on by John Cena and Randy Orton,
if Cena looses the one-hour anything goes WWE iron man match
on Sunday,
he must leave Monday Night Raw.
[music fades]
[Cole] So this could be Cena's final night.
[crowd cheering]
[King] And this could be Cena's toughest match ever,
prior to Bragging Rights.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd whooping]
["The Game" playing]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ Time to play the game… ♪
[King] Well, they're already standing!
[sinister laughter]
[Justin] And his opponent, from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing 255 lbs,
"The Game" Triple H!
[Cole] Well, King, if you're gonna go out,
go out in style
against Raw's other cornerstone,
the 13-time World Champion, Triple H.
Who, of course, we saw earlier tonight
has his own problems heading into Bragging Rights Sunday.
Perhaps the implosion… well, the disintegration
of Team Raw.
[King] Well, so much to think about for both Triple H and John Cena
when it comes to Bragging Rights.
But somehow both of these Raw Superstars
need to concentrate on now.
♪ Don't you forget… ♪
[King] I mean, this match is huge.
[cheering]
[Cole] It is electric.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Monday Night Raw.
We are live tonight at the Veterans Memorial Arena
in Jacksonville, Florida.
Our guest host Snoop Dogg has made this match
between Triple H and John Cena.
And if John Cena loses to Randy Orton at Bragging Rights Sunday,
he must leave Raw.
So, King, this could possibly be John Cena's final match ever
on Monday night.
[women scream]
[King] Well, as you said it, if you gotta go,
go out against the best.
This… I mean, we're about to witness
a match of… two of the best of the best
that Raw has ever seen.
[Cole] This could be a WrestleMania main event.
And we have it tonight live on Monday Night Raw.
John Cena debuted on Raw nearly five years ago.
While on this program, he's won the Tag Team titles,
the Royal Rumble, six World Championships.
He's competed in Elimination Chambers,
in Hell in a Cells, in last man standings, and I Quit matches.
Yet tonight, he may have his final match ever on Monday night.
Nice takedown by John Cena to start things off.
I guess for John Cena,
it's about trying to… to control those emotions early.
[King] Well, yeah, you could read it on John's face earlier as he…
You know, when he was back in the locker room area.
[Cole] Look at Cena. Going for the win early and Triple H realized it.
[King] You could see it on John's face in the locker room before he came out.
You could see it on his face
as he came out and heard the roar of this crowd.
He realizes that this could be his final appearance,
his final performance on Monday Night Raw.
That's gotta be all sorts of thoughts and… and memories and emotions
flooding into your brain.
[Cole] Triple H realizes this could be Cena's final night here too,
and it's gonna bring out the best and the competitiveness
of not only Triple H, but John Cena as well.
[King] This is bragging rights in itself, this match.
You know, this is only the fourth one-on-one meeting ever
between John Cena and Triple H?
Raw has been a part of your Monday nights for 16 and a half years.
And, I mean, the Raw eras can be defined in so many ways.
Obviously, the last five years really dominated by the two men
you're looking at right now.
[Cole] John Cena. Great counter by Cena. Quickly into the cover.
Hooks the leg on Triple H, and a kick-out.
You know the respect these two men have for each other, each other's abilities.
[inaudible]
[King] You saw Cena go for that cover,
basically following just a hip toss.
He knew he wasn't gonna win with that cover.
But it's just sending a message at what may be coming down the line.
[Cole] It's hard to send a message in there against the man
who's nicknamed "The Cerebral Assassin."
Triple H,
a 13-time World Champion.
The power of Cena.
That's always been John Cena's game ever since the beginning.
The power game.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[Cole] And the WWE Universe knows what's at stake.
[King] You know, we've talked about powerful athletes.
And usually when you talk about power, you gotta talk about Triple H as well.
Right up there with John Cena. But right now, Cena has the leverage.
He has the advantage.
Top armbar. Oh!
That's one way to get out of it.
[Cole] And Triple H regaining control.
"The Game."
-[King] Oh. -[Cole] Great block by Cena.
[King] You can tell by this we're gonna see an aggressive Triple H in this match
and maybe even a more aggressive John Cena.
Look at this!
Here comes Cena! Oh!
[Cole] Triple H exploding out of the corner.
Triple H quickly into the cover on Cena.
Hooks the leg and a kick-out by Cena, who's gotta be careful here tonight, King.
John Cena heading into that one-hour anything goes iron man match
for the WWE Championship Sunday.
[King] Yeah, but I… Michael, I can tell you from experience.
I just don't think John Cena can be thinking about this Sunday
in this match with Triple H.
If he is thinking about this Sunday,
Cena will lose this match, I guarantee it.
[Cole] Triple H, one of the few Superstars
who's actually been in iron man matches, King,
in two in his career.
He explained to me earlier today how difficult and grueling that event is.
[King] Oh man!
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Here's an example of "The Game"'s power.
See how he dragged Cena to the center of the ring?
Oh, and a kick-out at two by Cena yet again.
Be another notch in the great belt of Triple H,
King, if he could knock off John Cena
on what could be John Cena's final night.
[King] And we see Triple H sending a little message to John Cena
as to what may be coming down the line as well.
[Cole] The kidney area.
Triple H sensing a weakness. Going for the win.
Oh, and Cena…
What a whip.
John Cena is rolling
on what may be his final appearance here on Raw.
Can he make it a memorable one when we return live?
[Cole] You're watching the longest-running weekly episodic show in history.
This is Monday Night Raw,
and these two men are two of the reasons why.
John Cena versus Triple H
in what could be John Cena's final appearance on Monday Night Raw. Oh!
And this is how Triple H gained control.
Wait a minute. Cover.
Hook of the leg on Cena, who kicks out.
[King] Oh man.
What a battle this has been during the commercial break.
Watch this, "The Game" blasting John Cena
right into Michael Cole's lap over here almost.
[Cole] Remember, King, John Cena reached that agreement with Randy Orton
that if Cena lost to Orton Sunday at Bragging Rights,
that he would leave Monday Night Raw forever.
Hence the reason this could be Cena's final match.
Our guest host tonight Snoop Dogg still to come.
SmackDown's team captain for Bragging Rights, Chris Jericho,
against Raw's team captain, Shawn Michaels,
one-on-one.
[King] This is a grueling match
both Triple H and John Cena are locked up in right now,
but nothing… well, I didn't say nothing compared,
but I mean, as I said, this is grueling,
but an iron man match is one hour.
One hour of just beating… beating each other like this.
[Cole] Triple H, I mentioned before, has been in two.
He was telling me earlier how grueling and brutal
that one-hour time limit is.
And look at Cena go.
Getting back in it. Here comes Cena.
Missed wildly. And that's vintage Cena.
[King] Here he comes again… Oh no!
[Cole] And Triple H, though,
the polished and canny "Game" had Cena scouted perfectly.
[King] But look at the condition that Triple H is in right now.
And… and I imagine Randy Orton's gotta be thinking,
"What if John Cena just pounds on me for one solid hour this Sunday?" Whoa!
[Cole] Look at… Attitude Adjustment time.
And right to the back of the leg goes Triple H.
The chopblock brings Cena down.
I guess anything goes Sunday. No rules.
Uh-oh, went for it again.
John Cena steps out of the way, Goes for the STF.
Can he lock it in?
-This is a submission maneuver. -[King] Can't get him.
Cena actually suckered Triple H in.
Got one up on "The Cerebral Assassin."
[Cole] Triple H knowing where he is at all times in the ring.
Back to the bottom rope to force the break.
-[wrestlers grunt] -[King] Oh, and Triple H.
[Cole] Almost like he was playing possum there, just like Cena did earlier.
[King] Cena was gonna go for a clothesline there,
but he caught a boot instead.
[Cole] Uh-oh, Cena.
-[King] Oh! -[Cole] Fisherman suplex.
[crowd cheering]
[groans]
[King] Cena with a ton of momentum going right here.
-[Cole] Trying to get on some sort of run. -[King] Oh!
[Cole] Again, thwarted as he went for the bulldog.
Both of these Superstars so evenly matched.
Nineteen World Champions between the two.
[King] I'm gonna tell you something.
These two Superstars, Triple H and Cena, are unloading on each other.
[Cole] Going for the Pedigree. Cena!
[King] He's got him!
[Cole] STF! STF!
[King] It's locked in!
[Cole] Will "The Game" tap out?
Will "The Game" tap out?
Triple H is in trouble.
Cena.
Can Cena do it?
[King] Watch "The Game"'s left hand. Watch his right hand. Here he goes!
[Cole] How much does Triple H have left?
Needs to crawl to the bottom rope.
Can he… All Cena's body there.
[King] Look at him trying to scratch and claw his way to that rope.
[Cole] Fingertips away.
Cena reverses back to the center of the ring!
[King] Now look at "The Game" fight to keep…
And makes it to the ropes.
-[crowd clamoring] -[wrestlers grunt]
[King] Cena… realizes he just lost a golden opportunity there.
[Cole] What a goosebump-filled moment.
[King] Pedigree coming!
-[Cole] Pedigree connecting. -[King] Got him!
[Cole] The Pedigree.
Triple H closing in on a win over John Cena.
[King] It's over.
[Cole] Hooks the leg, and Cena gets his foot on the bottom rope.
And we continue.
Triple H and Cena in the midst of a classic.
-[King] What a battle! -[Cole] We'll be back on Raw.
[Cole] We are back live on Monday Night Raw
in the middle of a classic match between Triple H and John Cena
on what very well may be John Cena's final match here on Monday Night Raw
depending on what happens in the Cena-Orton match Sunday
at Bragging Rights.
During the commercial break, King,
Triple H again took control this match in a vicious way.
[King] And look at the way it happened. Listen to this impact. Oh!
John Cena slammed into those steel steps.
And let me just update you on this.
John Cena,
John Cena and Triple H have been wrestling now for…
-[Cole] Attitude Adjustment -[King] This could be it!
[Cole] Triple H counters.
[crowd cheering]
-Going for the figure-4! -[King] No, look at this!
Oh, Sharpshooter.
[Cole] Sharpshooter.
John Cena, now he's the one in trouble in the middle of the ring.
Will Cena tap out? Will Cena submit?
[King] Oh, the pressure.
[Cole] John Cena,
you can see it in his face, the agony.
Randy Orton, Cena's opponent Sunday at Bragging Rights
in that one-hour anything goes WWE iron man match.
Look at the emotion, the way that Orton is watching,
seeing if there's a weakness in Cena.
Seeing if Cena would tap out, and he does not.
[Cole] Speaking of that iron man match,
John Cena, Triple H, been wrestling now for over 17, almost 18 minutes.
[King] But you gotta realize, look at the damage.
Look at how spent these two athletes are.
And that's… that's a little over only a fourth of what that iron man match
is gonna be like Sunday.
One solid hour of anything goes.
[King] Yeah, anything goes.
[Cole] That's the caveat.
-And look at John Cena. -[King] Oh!
[Cole] And again takes out Triple H.
And I hope Randy Orton is watching this closely.
[King] Oh, he is.
[Cole] Because John Cena, this is what Orton has to face Sunday.
The guts, the determination, the resolve,
the never-say-die attitude of John Cena.
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Uh-oh, I think…
Cena feels it!
[crowd] You can't see me.
[King] You can't see me.
How about a little Five-Knuckle Shuffle for "The Game"? Yes!
[Cole] You may not be able to see him next week on Monday night.
Now look at John Cena.
Measuring Triple H. Going for the Attitude Adjustment.
John Cena looking to put "The Game" away. And "The Game," again "The Game" counters.
-[King] What a matchup. -[Cole] Oh, back and forth.
-Oh, high knee! -[King] Oh, high knee right to the face.
[Cole] Vintage Triple H.
And you can almost feel the momentum shift suddenly.
Oh, what a clothesline.
He almost took John's head off.
You could hear that echo through the arena here in Jacksonville.
Oh, spinebuster.
[King] Oh my.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] The leader of Team Raw
at Bragging Rights, Triple H,
looking for bragging rights in this match here tonight.
[Cole and King] Pedigree!
[Cole] Pedigree to Cena.
Triple H closing in on the victory. Hooks the leg.
And Cena kicks out.
[King] Oh my gosh!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Almost a look of disbelief on the face of Triple H.
[King] Who kicks out of the Pedigree?
[Cole] Cena just did.
Remember earlier, he got his foot on the bottom rope after it.
[King] We told you.
[crowd] Cena! Cena!
[Cole] Oh, Attitude Adjustment!
Connecting!
John Cena is gonna take out "The Game"!
-And "The Game" kicks out! -[King] What?
Look at the eyes, the face, the exasperated look
of John Cena.
[King] We told you, when this match started,
you were gonna see two of the best of the best ever on Raw.
[crowd] Cena! Cena!
[King] What a classic match.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena!
[King] Where's John going?
[Cole] John Cena rarely goes to the top rope.
But when he does, it's usually to deliver that patented leg drop.
And if Cena can connect here, lights out for Triple H.
[King] This match is 20 minutes in…
-Oh! Nobody home! -[Cole] He missed.
Triple H looks to take advantage.
Cena's leg, which was injured earlier by Triple H in the matchup,
took the brunt of that fall.
-Triple H, center of the ring. -[King] Here we go!
[Cole] Cena center of the ring. Triple H counters again.
Hooks up for the Pedigree!
-[King] Another! -[Cole] Pedigree to Cena.
-A third Pedigree. Hooks the leg. -[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[Cole] And Triple H has pinned Cena. -[bell dings]
["The Game" playing]
[Justin] The winner of this match, "The Game" Triple H.
[Cole] Triple H winning a classic between two of the best
in the WWE.
A classic where, beginning next Monday night on Raw,
we may never have the privilege of witnessing again.
♪ Ready to run… ♪
[King] He's…
What… what a great competitive effort
on the part of Triple H and John Cena here.
And just think, this… this matchup that we just witnessed
went a little over 20 minutes.
This wouldn't be even the halfway point of that iron man match
that John Cena is gonna have to go into.
[Cole] It's almost… it's almost like it's sinking in to Triple H now
what had just transpired here.
-♪ It's time to play the game ♪ -[Cole] Ah.
An historic night.
[sinister laughter]
[King] Mutual respect, man.
This is what Raw is all about right here.
That picture is worth a thousand words.
[Cole] But Raw may not be all about John Cena come next Monday night,
depending on the result of the iron man match Sunday.
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ It's all about control And if you can take it… ♪
[King] You know, Michael, I think that realization is sinking in for John now.
And I think that now
John Cena is thinking about this Sunday.
[Cole] If John Cena loses Sunday at Bragging Rights…
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] …it's Cena's last night tonight here on Raw.
[King] That is something to sink in.
I mean, we… he will have just already wrestled his last match.
And look at…
[Cole] Cena's opponent Sunday, Randy Orton, the WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Wow.
[crowd cheering, whooping]
[man] Cena! Cena!
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Thanks, John.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[crowd cheering]
Impressive win by "The King of Kings" over the GOAT of WWE, John Cena.
Well, that's all for this edition of Raw Classics.
We hope you enjoyed this look at Triple H's journey to the top
as much as I have.
Till next time, I'm Big E.
It's now "Game" over.
[exhales sharply]
[chuckles]
Just like "The Game." Just like "The Game."
[exhales sharply]
[upbeat music playing] ust like "The Game."