[dramatic music playing]
[Ross] Thirty men in all, 15 from Raw, 15 from SmackDown.
The winner of the Royal Rumble will meet his champion,
his brand's champion in the main event at WrestleMania.
[announcer] The Road to WrestleMania begins tonight.
[Edge] Tonight, if I can win the Royal Rumble,
that means I go and have a title shot at WrestleMania.
[Chris Benoit] Tonight is so important to me because it gives me the opportunity
to headline WrestleMania as the WWE Champion.
[Big Show] To be a part of WrestleMania, to me, is the reason I'm in this business.
[Kurt] WrestleMania is the greatest sporting event of all time.
[Chris Benoit] The Super Bowl of the WWE.
[Edge] It's what I wake up thinking about. It's what I go to bed thinking about.
[Chris Benoit] Once a superstar from the WWE
is in the main event of WrestleMania,
you want it over and over and over again.
[Triple H] That's the ultimate dream, is that bell rings
and you're standing across the ring looking at another guy,
and you guys are the main event at the biggest event that there is.
It couldn't mean any more.
[Freakzilla] Tonight at the Royal Rumble, Big Poppa Pump, Freakzilla,
gets a chance to prove that he belongs in the main event at WrestleMania.
[Booker T] That's my all-time ultimate dream,
-to headline WrestleMania. -[Shawn] If you win the Royal Rumble,
-you're in the main event at WrestleMania. -[Big Show] Tonight, I'm carving my spot
at WrestleMania and I will not be denied.
-[Brock] The Road to WrestleMania… -[Edge] The Road to WrestleMania…
[Shawn] The Road to WrestleMania starts tonight.
[music concludes]
["Falling Apart" playing]
[narrator] And now, Raw and SmackDown present
WWE Royal Rumble, sponsored by PlayStation 2.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I slipped away further from you ♪
♪ Trying to find what is real… ♪
[Michael] The Road to WrestleMania begins right now!
You are looking live at a sold-out FleetCenter
in Boston, Massachusetts!
Over 15,000 fans as we welcome you to the Royal Rumble.
♪ …Is this what it takes To keep me alive? ♪
[music concludes]
["Crank It Up" playing]
♪ Well, it's the Big Show! ♪
♪ Yes, it’s a big bad show tonight… ♪
-[bell ringing] -[Chimel] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall, and the winner will be entered
into tonight's Royal Rumble match.
Making his way to the ring, being accompanied by his agent,
Paul Heyman, weighing in at 500 pounds, the Big Show!
[Michael] Hello again, everybody, and welcome to the Royal Rumble.
A joint production of both SmackDown and Raw.
I'm Michael Cole, along with Tazz at ringside.
And right now, Tazz,
twenty-nine men have been entered into the Royal Rumble match.
The winner of this matchup here tonight
will be the thirtieth man entered into that matchup.
And the Big Show, the very angry giant, looks pumped and focused.
This will be a rocket buster.
♪ …Big bad show tonight ♪
-[music concludes] -[crowd cheering]
-["Next Big Thing" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Well, here comes the pain.
[Chimel] And from Minneapolis, Minnesota, weighing in at 295 pounds,
Brock Lesnar!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Brock Lesnar is pacing like a caged animal.
Brock Lesnar has waited since Survivor Series
for this night because the man in the ring,
the Big Show, along with Paul Heyman,
cost Lesnar the WWE title back at Survivor Series.
[Tazz] Soon as Brock Lesnar choked out and aproned Paul Heyman,
got his keister outta that ring,
Paul Heyman… [chuckles]
…and he would do anything in his power, Heyman would,
to keep Lesnar out of getting a win against his man, the Big Show,
and for Lesnar to advance to the Royal Rumble match.
[Michael] How important is this matchup, Tazz?
-Either the Big Show or Brock Lesnar… -[bell ringing]
…will advance into the Royal Rumble matchup later tonight with a shot
at the main event at WrestleMania hanging in the balance.
And there is the power of the seven-foot, 500-pound Big Show.
[crowd] Let's go, Lesnar! Let's go, Lesnar!
[Tazz] With Beantown solidly behind Brock Lesnar,
and Brock Lesnar and Big Show are feeling each other out.
And they're not strangers to each other, Cole.
[Michael] Fifteen thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight chanting,
-"Let's go, Lesnar." -[Big Show grunts]
[Michael] And Brock Lesnar barrels the Big Show into the corner.
And drives those shoulders into the-- Oh, but Big Show with one hand,
and Brock Lesnar again driving Show back into the corner.
[Tazz] Well, Cole, right now for both men, for both Superstars,
this is a career-altering event. You've got to…
you've got to give it everything you got. Going for that big belly-to-belly.
[Michael] But Big Show with a headbutt counter.
And keep in mind, Big Show's agent, Paul Heyman,
-knows Brock Lesnar better than anybody! -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[Michael] And what a belly-to-belly suplex from Lesnar, absolutely unbelievable!
[Tazz] Brock Lesnar trying to set the tone right away in this matchup,
trying to get the Big Show off his feet and he did it.
[Michael] Well, Paul Heyman surprised, keep in mind--
As Brock Lesnar delivers another, another belly-to-belly!
[Tazz] Unreal man, amazing!
That's a 500-pound man getting thrown by Lesnar.
[Michael] Did you see what almost looked like a smirk
on the face of Brock Lesnar? Paul Heyman pleading at ringside.
[Tazz] Another one, no-- Another one!
Uh-oh, he's got a huge one right now on Lesnar's neck, Big Show!
-[Brock grunts] -[Michael] Big Show trying to battle
out of this waistlock that Brock Lesnar had applied.
[Tazz] Size of Big Show's hands.
-Oh, my God! -[Michael] Wow!
Over the top rope dropped on the apron, Brock Lesnar manhandled.
[Tazz] I have never seen Brock Lesnar giant-handled like that ever before.
[Michael] Remember the focus of Big Show and Paul Heyman tonight,
to keep Brock Lesnar from winning this Rumble,
or from winning this matchup and getting into the Rumble match
And another look, power!
[Tazz] That's a 295-pound monster, and Lesnar, and the Big Show, shocking!
Brock Lesnar over the top rope, wicked launch.
[Michael] Paul Heyman putting all his eggs in the Big Show's basket,
hoping the Big Show can prevent Brock Lesnar from making it
to the Rumble matchup,
which means Brock Lesnar would not have a title shot at WrestleMania.
-[Tazz] Big Show is just-- -[grunts]
[Tazz] Just handling Brock Lesnar like he's a child.
Get him back, let's go!
[Michael] He's seven feet tall, he weighs 500 pounds,
and he's driving that size 16, 5E boot into the face of Lesnar.
[Michael] Don't forget, Cole, Big Show also beat Brock Lesnar
-for the title… Wow, in the gut. -[Brock grunts]
[Michael] Maybe Paul Heyman's right, Tazz.
Maybe Brock Lesnar can't beat the Big Show.
[Tazz] That's why we're all here right now, we want to see…
-[Brock grunts] -[Tazz] Everybody heard it,
and we got to see it.
Let's see if Big Show can get it done and advance into the Royal Rumble matchup.
[Michael] Imagine what those chops feel like.
Here's a man who can break the neck off a beer bottle
with his bare hands, and he's manhandling Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar's the youngest champion in WWE history,
but the Big Show, a two-time champion in his own right--
Oh, there's the speed of Lesnar. Look out!
-[Tazz] Wow! -[Michael] Wow, what a suplex!
[Tazz] Lesnar got all of that German suplex,
Big Show landed high and tight on his head.
[Michael] Here's Brock Lesnar into the cover!
-Big Show just gets his shoulder up. -No way!
[Tazz] That's the first cover of the matchup. Whoa!
Oh, damn, I wish he would've gotten… Look at Heyman!
[Michael] Heyman grabbing the leg of Brock Lesnar,
and Big Show capitalizes with a boot to the face.
-[Tazz] What size is his foot, Cole? -[Michael] Sixteen, 5E.
[Tazz] Well, it just fit right in Lesnar's face.
[Michael] Well, keep in mind, Tazz, it was interference by Paul Heyman.
And the traitor, Paul Heyman,
that cost Lesnar the title at Survivor Series.
[Tazz] Check out this boot.
-[Michael] Oh! -[Tazz] Man,
ain't nothing pretty about that.
-[Michael] Oh! -[Tazz] Big side slam by the Big Show.
[Michael] Nothing pretty about that either.
Again, the winner of this matchup
advances to the Royal Rumble match later tonight.
[Tazz] There's the signal, that's it, that might be chokeslam time for Lesnar.
[Michael] Brock Lesnar trying desperately to make it to his feet,
and Big Show just stalking Lesnar.
[Tazz] Heyman feelin' cocky or happy 'cause Lesnar's hurtin'.
-[Michael] Big Show-- This should be it! -[Tazz] There it is!
-[Michael] Big hand around the neck-- -[Tazz] No, switch!
[Michael] Lesnar! With a great counter!
Hooks the leg! And Big Show just got his shoulder up.
[Tazz] Brock Lesnar went for an arm drag into a roll!
Almost caught the Big Show by surprise… And the belly-to-belly!
[Michael] Again, a belly-to-belly to Big Show.
[Tazz] But how much of that is taken out of Brock Lesnar?
How much energy is Lesnar pushing out of his body?
[Michael] Uh-oh. Paul Heyman…
-[Tazz] He got him! -[Michael] …up over the top rope!
Lesnar has his hands on that traitor Heyman!
[Tazz] Look at that slime bag, Heyman. [chuckles] Come on, Brock!
I know I'm not supposed to be biased, I love seeing Heyman get his ass kicked.
[Michael] Well, Heyman brought Brock into the WWE,
but Brock Lesnar's gonna deliver Paul Heyman!
-An F-5 on the way! -[Tazz] F-5! Come on, Brock!
-Oh, man! -[Michael] Oh, no.
Lesnar spun right into the big hands
-of the Big Show. -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[Michael] Lesnar made a major mistake.
-A chokeslam! -[Tazz] That's it!
[Michael] And Big Show's gonna head to the Rumble match!
-[Tazz] That's it, Cole. One, two, three. -[crowd] One, two…
[Michael] Lesnar just got the shoulder up
-and Big Show cannot believe it! -[crowd cheering]
-[Tazz] Nobody kicks out of that, nobody. -Throw him again! Throw him again!
[Tazz] You gotta get on it, Big Show. Paul Heyman's right, get out, it's time.
-[Michael] Oh, man. -[screams]
[Michael] The Big Show is an angry giant.
[Tazz] Well, Big Show's embarrassed, he's embarrassed.
-Nobody kicked out of a chokeslam. -[Heyman] Throw him again!
[Michael] Lesnar struggling, struggling to make it to his feet.
-[Tazz] And here comes another one. -[Michael] And Big Show--
[Tazz] Brock's in trouble, Brock's in trouble!
[Michael] Locking that big hand around the throat of Lesnar again,
-and Brock Lesnar countered. -[Tazz] Counter!
[Michael] Big Show knocks Heyman off the apron.
-Kick to the midsection! -[Tazz] He's got him up.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] F-5, here comes the pain!
[Michael] An F-5 to the 500-pound Big Show!
-Hooks the leg! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Michael] Lesnar's in the Rumble match. -[Tazz] Brock did it!
-["Next Big Thing" playing] -[Chimel] Here is your winner,
Brock Lesnar!
[Michael] Brock Lesnar keeps his championship dreams alive!
Brock Lesnar is heading to the Rumble match.
[Tazz] Poetic justice goes to Heyman. Heyman tried to interfere.
He's back by the pole. The question is this, now what?
Now, Brock, later on tonight,
he's gotta get in the ring with 29 Superstars.
I mean, how much is Brock worn out? Is Brock spent?
That's the question I ask.
[Michael] Five hundred pounds of the Big Show
-on the shoulders of Brock Lesnar. -[Tazz] And now what?
[Michael] Lesnar delivered the F-5, but the question's a good one, Tazz.
How much does Brock Lesnar have left as he heads into a match
with 29 other Superstars?
Can Brock Lesnar get it done in the Rumble match?
[Tazz] I wonder what number Brock Lesnar will be,
and I wonder, you know, like you said,
how much does Brock have after being in a battle
with a giant named the Big Show?
[Michael] While Brock Lesnar heads to the Rumble match,
Terri's standing by with a man who's already entered
in the Rumble match.
Well, Chris Jericho, we just saw Brock Lesnar,
he is now officially entered into the Royal Rumble match.
Speaking of the Royal Rumble,
you know, on Raw last week, you were given the opportunity
to choose any number you so desired, and you chose number two. Why?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Au contraire, Terri,
I was not given the option to choose any number I wanted
because Mr. McMahon made Shawn Michaels the first entrant in the Rumble match.
He just gave it to him, but you know what?
Despite the obvious favoritism here in the WWE,
I'm still something that HBK never has been
and never will be.
And that is the very first undisputed champion in history.
And not only that, but I had to beat The Rock
and Steve Austin back-to-back in the same night to do it.
So, just like I rose to the occasion then, I'm gonna rise to the occasion tonight,
and one by one throw 29 other Superstars right over the top rope,
win the Royal Rumble, and fulfill my destiny
of regaining my championship at WrestleMania.
Well, certainly, King, uh, Jericho has no lack of confidence
in his opportunity tonight
to earn his way to a main event at WrestleMania.
Be careful when you're talking about Jericho,
because you're talking about the man he loves.
I mean, let's face it, he thinks he's the king of the world.
And certainly, the king of the world should be able to beat
all the other 29 Superstars tonight and win that Royal Rumble.
Jericho'll come out number two. Shawn Michaels, as we all know,
is the first entrant in the Royal Rumble tonight,
just like he was back in 1995 when he went the distance
and won the Royal Rumble. Now momentarily,
the World Tag Team titles are gonna be on the line,
and there's no doubt about it that the inanimate object,
those darn brass knucks of William Regal,
may play a big part in this match if Regal has his way.
Without a doubt, you know, Regal-- Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
-["We're Coming Down" playing] -[Jerry] We got some incoming, J.R. Whoa!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Incoming Dudleys.
♪ That's right! We puttin' it down ♪
♪ It's like a family in here Just a little disabled ♪
♪ Putting it down We lay 'em out on the table… ♪
[Howard] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the World Tag Team Championship!
Approaching the ring are the challengers, at a combined weight of 546 pounds,
D-Von, Bubba Ray, the Dudley Boyz!
[Ross] The Dudley Boyz are 15-time former Tag Team Champions,
in, uh, three different organizations, going for 16 tonight, King.
[Jerry] Well, let me just say that PlayStation 2 presents WWE Royal Rumble,
and Royal Rumble's coming to you live from the sold-out FleetCenter,
in Boston, Mass.
PlayStation 2. "Live in your world. Play in ours."
[Ross] The Dudleys reunited in November at the Survivor Series.
And let's not forget Mr. McMahon's
-mandate Monday night. -["We Salute" playing]
-Mr. McMahon says, "Get the tables." -[Howard] At a combined weight
of 470 pounds, the World Tag Team Champions,
-Lance Storm and William Regal. -[Jerry] What are you looking at? Hey!
I got something for you, come on over here. [chuckles] Come on.
Come on.
[Ross] Regal outsmarted by the King last week on Raw.
I tell you what, the Dudleys are looking to be in this match,
they were on the verge of being suspended
after assaulting Chief of Staff Morley last week on Raw.
Mr. McMahon came to Raw and gave the Dudleys an…
[Jerry] Look at this, look at this.
Referee-- Referee Nick Patrick wants to give these guys a going over.
You gotta-- No, you gotta check every inch of their body,
'cause they will have those knucks anywhere.
[arguing]
[Ross] I ain't gonna cavity search Regal for no amount of money.
I know that they were thoroughly searched before the match
and I was told by head referee, Earl Hebner,
both these men, Storm and Regal, have been thoroughly searched.
They've been searched again, and that's all because of--
[Jerry] You just can't trust these guys. They lie, they cheat…
You couldn't believe 'em, if their tongue was notarized,
and they'll hide those brass knucks anywhere they can.
[Ross] So, they will arrive at Raw tomorrow night,
just down the road in Providence, Rhode Island,
-at one of our favorite facilities. -[Jerry] The Dunkin' Donuts and…
[Ross] Gotta stay away from too many Dunkin' Donuts tomorrow,
but who's gonna get into Providence as the Tag Team Champions?
That's what we'd like to find out here.
As, uh, Bubba Ray Dudley and Lance Storm starting it out here.
World Tag Team titles on the line.
[Jerry] I gotta agree, for the past week I thought that we'd seen the last
of Bubba Ray and D-Von for quite a while,
When they attacked-- When they attacked Chief Morley, I thought that,
well, their careers were on the line. I thought they were done.
Chief of Staff Morley was, uh… He was hurting there.
[Ross] I thought they had done number two on the back porch
-and chucked it in the house. -[Jerry chuckles] Exactly.
But thanks to good ol' Mr. McMahon, they're back with us.
[Ross] Nice high hip lock takeover by Bubba Dudley on the very talented,
-very accomplished, Lance Storm. -Get out of the corner.
[Jerry] Not only are the Dudleys back with us,
they have a chance to be the World Tag Team Champions here tonight.
[Ross] For the 16th time. That's an amazing feat, I'll tell you.
[Lance grunts]
[Ross] And Bubba Dudley, he and D-Von really are brawlers
-if you wanted my opinion on it. -[Lance groans]
[Ross] Storm and Regal are-- are a more skilled, pure wrestling team,
but the Dudleys just find ways to win.
-They just-- They beat you up, they're… -[Jerry] Oh, look out!
[Ross] The smashmouth guys are Bubba and D-Von.
-[screams] -[Jerry] Bubba and D-Von,
I mean, they went from suspension
to reinstatement to World Tag Team Championship opportunity here tonight.
[Ross] Regal tried a cheap shot there to no avail, tag made.
Bubba will go out and D-Von, his half-brother, coming in.
[Jerry] One thing they gotta keep in mind, and I'm talking about Bubba Ray and D-Von,
-is the fact that… -[D-Von] Bite me!
[Jerry] Oh, yeah. No, thanks. You know what Vince McMahon said to them?
-[Ross] I do. -[Jerry] He said he wanted to hear
these words come out of their mouth,
-"D-Von, get the table." -[groans]
[Ross] That was Mr. McMahon's mandate last week on Raw.
[Jerry] They're gonna realize if those words come out of their mouth,
and they get the table, they could be disqualified.
[Ross] That's fair too.
-That's a good point. -[screams]
[Ross] Nice scoop slam by D-Von Dudley, beating Regal to the punch here.
-Cover him, cover him, cover him! -[Ross] Might as well face
-the elbow, the cover! -Two!
Bubba shouting at his half-brother, D-Von, to make--
make the cover, D-Von did.
More right hands from these brawlers who earned their rings in ECW,
as multiple-time Tag Team Champions.
[Jerry] Boy, would Chief of Staff Morley be upset to see the Dudleys
become the World Tag Team Champions here tonight.
[Ross] Well, the Dudleys have not endeared themselves
to our general manager Eric Bischoff's administration,
-that's for sure, assaulting-- -[Jerry] Well, Eric Bischoff,
he's got himself now less than 30 days to shake things up around here on Raw.
He's gotta grab Raw by the throat. What was that Vince said?
Choke out a phlegm ball or something like it. Wow!
[Ross] Spit out the phlegm, and there's a cover!
And D-Von able to kick out.
Now you'll see this teamwork of Regal and Storm kick in,
isolating, uh, D-Von Dudley, in the champions half of the ring.
That's-- That strategy has been around
as long as-- as we've seen Tag Team wrestling.
And the great teams are masters at cutting off that ring.
The reverse elbow, and yet another opportunity,
another attempt at a pinning combination.
-Whoa, watch your punches now. -[Lance grunts]
[Jerry] You know, the thing about-- the thing about Regal and Storm,
is these guys are excellent wrestlers.
These guys can-- These guys can hang with anybody when it comes to wrestling.
They don't really-- They don't really need to resort to the brass knucks,
but somehow it's like a crutch for 'em. If…
I know just last week, when all of a…
When suddenly, the referee had found not one set,
but two sets of brass knucks.
I mean, it like blew Regal's mind, he he didn't know what to do.
[Ross] Then the referee caught you with that chain,
and got yourself disqualified. But in any event,
Regal got a little taste of his own medicine.
[Jerry] Referee was a little too on the ball there last week.
[Ross] Our officials are trying to do a good job.
They're reasserting themselves in this contest.
And there's another more blatant choke there by Lance Storm,
and you see referee Nick Patrick admonishing Storm for his, uh, techniques.
A neck vise by Storm, taking D-Von back down to a knee.
You're gonna see great wrestling technique by Regal and Storm.
-Storm learned in-- in Calgary. -[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
[Ross] And a great teacher since Stu Hart and the Hart family,
and Storm learned his lessons well.
Regal on the other hands…
-Other hand. Underhand. -[Jerry] You got it right. You were right.
[Ross] …learned his skills in Blackpool, England.
Starting at 15 years of age, fighting men for money.
-Come on, D-Von. -[D-Von screams]
-[Ross] Sleeper applied by Storm… -What's your boy doing now, huh?
-[Ross] …slowing down D-Von. -He's done!
[Ross] D-Von and Bubba got a size and power advantage.
[Jerry] The Dudleys on the other hand just been fighting, all their lives.
[Ross] Let me say hello to all of our great fans
enjoying the Royal Rumble tonight in the WWE's home
in Times Square, New York City at the World…
Trish Stratus is there, Hurricane Helms is there,
and a lot of great folks enjoying the Rumble and we thank you.
D-Von trying to fight his way back up.
Snapmare right to the corner and Bubba got a cheap shot in.
-D-Von! -[Ross] D-Von got a clear shot now
-to make that tag and he does. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Bubba Dudley, a 300-pounder with a full head of steam,
and Tag Team gold on his mind.
[Jerry] The momentum has certainly turned now.
-[Bubba groans] -There you go!
[Ross] Oh, wow.
Nice back body drop on Storm that almost bounced to Alberta.
[wrestlers grunting]
-[Ross] Oh, they're negotiating-- Uh-oh. -Drive your body right up!
Regal got more than he wanted.
And a double team on the Tag Champions,
who have yet to get on the blocks here really.
Side slam by Bubba.
-That near leg is hooked! -One, two!
[Ross] And he's got it-- No! That's how close it was.
Referee Nick Patrick's hand coming down for three
in this World Tag Team title match.
[Jerry] You hear some of these fans out there starting to echo the…
oh, the sentiments of Mr. McMahon last week, they want table.
[Ross] The suplex! Here it is! And again,
Nick Patrick in a perfect position and Regal trying to come in,
but not… No advantage for Regal.
[Jerry] Quite frankly somehow, the Dudleys need to win this match
without any table.
-They'll be disq-- Oh! -Suck it!
[grunts]
[Ross] Bubba Dudley pulling out the bionic elbow.
-[Jerry] Look out! -[Ross] And a Bubba slam!
-[Jerry] That should do it. -[Ross] That oughta do it right there.
-…two… Get outta here! -[Ross] Regal there at two.
Regal knew it as well, probably better than we did,
that the three was going down at that Bubba bomb.
Break this up.
[Ross] D-Von tagged. D-Von got the tag.
Don't know if Regal's aware of it, but he's about to be
-reminded momentarily. -[Jerry] Listen to this phrase.
-[crowd cheering] -Go! Go!
[Jerry] I don't know about what's up, but I know what's coming down.
Wait a minute, is this it? Look at the looks on their faces, J.R.!
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And the Dudley flapjack!
And that expressive old flapjack pulled out of the closet.
-One, two… -[Ross] And it's gonna be over here.
Oh, no, it's not!
Credit to Lance Storm for having the resilience
and the fortitude to kick out before that three-count.
[Jerry] Speaking of three, they want a 3D. Whoa, wait a minute.
[Ross] There's our Chief of Staff Morley,
I don't know if the Dudley's setting that 3D.
-No, sir! -[Jerry] What's he doing down here?
-Hey, hey, hey! -[Ross] Wait a minute.
-[Jerry] Where'd those come from? -[Ross] Regal's got those knucks!
-Where did they come from? -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] A 3D on Regal! And now… And Bubba's…
There goes Morley!
And there's a knockout shot on Lance Storm!
-Bubba used Regal's knucks on Lance Storm! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Ross] And the Dudleys have done it! -["We're Coming Down" playing]
[Ross] The Dudleys are the new World Tag Team Champions!
[Howard] The winners of this bout, and new World Tag Team Champions,
the Dudley Boyz!
[Jerry] I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar.
-Who hit who with the knucks? -[Ross] I think it was D-Von
that hit Lance Storm with-- with Regal's knucks.
[Jerry] But who had the knucks first?
[Ross] I don't know where Regal got the knucks, he'd been searched.
I have no idea where he had stashed those-- those brass knucks,
but I know this,
I know that Bubba and D-Von Dudley, for the 16th time,
-are the Tag Champs. -[Jerry] There are the knucks.
They were first on the fist.
The power of the punch was coming from Steve Regal,
-but no, he got the 3D! -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And where'd the knucks go, let's see. Oh, there go the knucks,
onto the hand of D-Von, and onto the head of Lance Storm.
[Ross] D-Von puttin' those knucks away.
As he did, Lance Storm… Regal got the 3D,
and the Dudleys are the World Tag Team Champions.
The 16th time, this awesome team have been the best team in the world.
[Jerry] I knew this night was gonna be special, J.R.
And what about these two matches to start things off?
New World Tag Team Champs!
♪ Okay, you know ♪
[music concludes]
[announcer] Feel the attitude. Feel the intensity.
Nothing beats World Wrestling Entertainment live.
Tomorrow night, Providence hosts Raw.
One week from tomorrow, it's Raw in Chicago.
One week from Friday, we head to Minneapolis.
And one week from Saturday, the Superstars come to New York City.
There's nothing like World Wrestling Entertainment live.
He decided to quote that I was pretty fed up
with, uh, the breaches in security and the deliberate sabotage
-of the prison system. -[reporter 1] Witnessing the breakdown
of law and order in the Queensland prison system.
More prisoners than ever are escaping.
Nathan Jones, known as "The Colossus of Boggo Road."
The Colossus of Boggo Road.
The Colossus of Boggo Road, where he was serving time
-for armed robbery. -[reporter 2] The tables turned
for young Nathan when he was transferred to Brisbane prison from Tasmania
-for security reasons. -Premier has responded
by ordering a review of all security procedures in the state's jails.
[reporter 3] Let's isolate them and deal with them appropriately.
["Boggo Road" playing]
[Nathan] I am Nathan Jones. G'day.
[Michael] He spent ten years of hard time in an Australian prison,
-Nathan Jones on his way to the WWE. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] But tonight, we're in the cradle of the American Revolution,
the sold-out FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts,
for the Royal Rumble.
And, Tazz, the next we're on pay-per-view, February 23rd.
Tickets on sale Saturday. Well, we're heading to Montreal,
north of the border for No Way Out.
I wonder if it's colder here in Boston, it's like four degrees out there,
or colder over there in Montreal, it's cold everywhere.
Are they gonna let you out of Red Hook to go up to Montreal?
Yeah, Red Hook, they let me go. Don't worry about it, it's good.
Tickets are on sale next Saturday.
But, folks, coming up in a matchup that is truly emotional.
For the first time ever, a stepmother and a stepdaughter
will go one-on-one.
The recent widow, Dawn Marie, takes on Torrie Wilson.
[Tazz] Yeah, you know, it's kind of a tough situation here,
and kind of pulling for Torrie in this one, Cole.
[Michael] Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson battle it out next.
-[dramatic music playing] -[Dawn] A week ago,
I was the happiest woman in the world.
I married my sweetheart, Al Wilson.
And despite all the jealousy and all the interference
of some of his family members,
Al and I, we still fell in love.
I want you to be happy, but you're being used.
Dawn Marie is making you look ridiculous. Why can't you see it?
We were on our honeymoon, everything was so perfect.
Al, are you ready?
-Again? -[Dawn] Come in here.
-Yes. Again, Al, come on. -[Al Wilson] Oh.
-[Dawn chuckles] -[Al Wilson] Oh, my God.
Al, honey.
I'm feeling frisky.
Al?
And Al… Al has passed.
-Please, someone help him! -[defibrillator beeping]
[Dawn] Please, he can't… He's not breathing, please! [sobs]
Please, help him!
He's gone.
I loved Al Wilson so much,
and that's why I will respect his wishes,
and I will present to you the public viewing of Al Wilson.
[sobs] You said you would take care of me forever.
Torrie, the longer you stand here doing this,
the more these people are gonna see straight through you.
I can't believe you actually think you're gonna make these people believe
-that you loved your father. -[Torrie sobs]
You didn't give a damn about your father.
You didn't want your father to marry me! You didn't want your father to be happy.
All you cared about was yourself.
-You killed your father. -[breathes deeply]
-You did. -[guests exclaiming]
[gasps]
[guests screaming]
I hate you! I hate you!
[sobs] Daddy, I'm so sorry.
-I didn't mean to… -[guests screaming]
[Dawn, echoing] You killed your father. You didn't give a damn about your father.
[music concludes]
["Phat Props" playing]
[Michael] Tazz, I have to admit, this is the most uncomfortable
I've ever been, uh, calling a matchup.
-[Tazz] Oh, look at Dawn. -[sighs]
-[Michael] She's wearing a veil. -[Tazz] What's that?
-[Michael] A veil over her head. -[Tazz] Veil. Oh, a veil.
-[Michael] It's three days before-- -[Tazz] The black veil, right?
-[Michael] Black veil. For, uh… -[Tazz] Right.
-[Michael] …her husband who passed away-- -[Tazz] Cole, enough about…
This is horrible for Dawn. Because, you know, Dawn,
she was supposed to be set for life, you know what I mean?
I mean, come on, Dawn Marie, she's in her, you know, early twenties.
-[Michael coughs] -[Tazz] You know what I mean?
And she's a widow already.
-[bell ringing] -The following contest
is a, uh, stepmother versus stepdaughter match scheduled for one fall.
In the ring, Dawn Marie Wilson!
[Michael] Well, Dawn Marie is a recent widow.
She was married just over two weeks ago to Al Wilson
and, well, the public wake this past Thursday on SmackDown.
[Tazz] Dawn-- Dawn's very distraught. I mean, look at her.
[Michael] She blames Torrie Wilson for the death of her husband, Al.
[Tazz] She's angry, she's angry. She wants revenge over Torrie.
And she's gonna get her opportunity right now.
-["Need A Little Time" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And making her way to the ring, Torrie Wilson.
[Michael] Can you imagine the mixed bag of emotions
that Torrie Wilson must be feeling here tonight, Tazz? I mean,
she buried her father, and yet, tonight she has to go into the ring
to try to seek revenge on Dawn Marie.
[Tazz] What about the embarrassment at the funeral parlor?
That was a lotta, you know, shenanigans there, that was a horrible scene.
[Michael] An incredibly tough week,
extremely hard for Torrie to mourn the loss of her father, Al.
[Tazz] It's been tough for me too, Cole.
I mean, I-- You know, I feel for Dawn losing her husband, Al.
I liked them.
-♪ I just need some satisfaction… ♪ -♪ Just me… ♪
[Tazz] Looks like the referee's… Whoa!
[Michael] Referee Mike Sparks showing some sympathy,
asking if Torrie wanted to go through with this
and Dawn Marie showing absolutely no sympathy at all.
[Tazz] This is gonna be an ugly matchup, and what I mean is, I mean,
we got two beautiful women in there, but there's a lot of emotions
flying around that ring right now.
-[grunts] -[Michael] We heard Dawn Marie
last week on SmackDown, Tazz,
Dawn Marie blaming Torrie Wilson for the death of Al.
And here's Torrie!
The frustration, the emotion,
pouring out of Torrie Wilson as she takes it to Dawn Marie.
[Tazz] Yeah, I mean, that-- that's Torrie's stepmother.
I mean, this is like what we said earlier, first time ever,
stepmom versus stepdaughter.
And recently widow, Dawn Marie. Oh!
[Michael] Torrie Wilson, uh, taking revenge here tonight on Dawn Marie.
-on Dawn Marie. -[Dawn screams]
[Michael] This is the Royal Rumble live from Boston, Massachusetts.
Tazz, we are live in over 34 countries and territories worldwide tonight,
including the United Kingdom, Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas,
and I can guarantee our fans in all those places
-have never seen anything quite like this. -[Dawn grunts]
-[Torrie grunts] -[Tazz] Torrie went for a suplex.
Wow! Whoa, look at the armbar. Armbar almost took, uh, Torrie's arm off.
That armbar locked in real tight.
[Michael] You say this is how the matchup started.
Again, we said referee Mike Sparks was trying to make sure
that Torrie really wanted to go through with this matchup.
And here is the total lack of sympathy from Dawn Marie.
[Tazz] Like you said, tons of emotions going through Torrie's mind,
but now she's in a fight with her stepmom.
Can you believe-- And here's the cover by Dawn Marie on Torrie, who kicks out.
Can you believe the audacity of Dawn Marie, however,
at that public wake last week?
She had the audacity to ask Torrie Wilson, "Why are you here?"
"Why did you show up here tonight?" For God sakes,
Al Wilson was Torrie Wilson's father. She had every right to be there.
That's for your father!
[Tazz] Dawn Marie actually seeing the tears coming out of Torrie's face
and thought that Torrie was performing, not sincere.
[Michael] Shoulders are down and Torrie kicks out.
Dawn Marie seems hell-bent tonight, Tazz,
on inflicting a hell of a lot of punishment on Torrie Wilson.
I understand this is a matchup, but-- here in the Royal Rumble…
But there's so much more at stake here, the emotions, the emotional…
The emotions of this matchup are off the chart.
[Tazz] Well, she's beating the hell out of her stepdaughter.
Sometimes you gotta reprimand your kids, Cole.
-[Michael] Well, Torrie Wilson… -[Torrie shrieks]
off the ropes and Dawn Marie…
Face first goes Torrie Wilson.
Look at the evil look on the face of Dawn Marie.
[Tazz] Again, I'm looking at the abdominals on Torrie to push up.
[Michael] Torrie Wilson… Dawn knocked down, both women.
[Tazz] A little collision there.
[Michael] It's got to be hard for Torrie to concentrate on this matchup,
everything that she's been through this week.
[Tazz] You gotta, you get in the ring, you're in a fight.
She's in a fight with someone she hates, Torrie is,
she's gotta focus and Dawn Marie--
[Michael] She just buried her father, Tazz.
[Tazz] But she's still in a match, y'know what I mean? She gotta focus.
[Michael] Torrie trying to focus here. Here's the backslide on Dawn Marie,
-who just gets the shoulder up. -[Tazz] Dawn's on her back there.
I don't know how much more of that'll be happening, you never know.
[Michael] Arm drag by Torrie to Dawn Marie.
-Torrie trying to regain some focus here. -[Dawn shrieks, grunts]
[Michael] And you're right, Torrie Wilson is in a fight.
Torrie Wilson has to try to focus a bit on what's going on in the ring here.
Dawn Marie up the second rope, knocks Torrie down with the clothesline.
[Tazz] Springboard into that clothesline off the second rope.
-Very athletic move. -That was for your father!
-[Michael] And you hear Dawn Marie… -[Torrie grunts]
[crowd chanting] Torrie! Torrie! Torrie!
[Tazz] What do you say here? It's uncomfortable to watch.
[Michael] It's uncomfortable for all the fans here at the FleetCenter,
I'm sure you at home, to watch as well. And Torrie with a shot.
[Tazz] Almost as uncomfortable watching that wake.
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
[Michae] Here's the swinging neckbreaker. Torrie, cover!
-Hooks the leg into it. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] And Torrie Wilson picks up the win.
[Chimel] Here is your winner, Torrie Wilson.
[Tazz] I guess Torrie got some revenge.
[Michael] Mixed emotion from Torrie Wilson and you got to question, Tazz,
what this victory actually means to Torrie here tonight.
[Tazz] I don't know. Not in bad taste, but she got the win.
[Michael] She picked up the win, but she can't bring her father back.
[Tazz] Yeah, but she got the win.
[Michael] Is that all you're thinking about--
[Tazz] No, I understand. You know, I feel like I'm forced to say it, man.
-[Michael] Torrie wins this matchup… -It's not over!
[Michael] …in the memory of her father, Al Wilson.
And I have to admit, one thing I did see here tonight,
it seemed to me Torrie was screaming a hell of a lot more than Dawn Marie was.
[Tazz] Just a moment ago, I don't know if you heard Dawn,
she said, "It's not over." "It's not over," she's telling Torrie.
-["Need A Little Time" playing] -[Michael] Torrie picks up the victory,
but with all that's transpired over the past few weeks
for this young woman, what does that victory mean?
-[music concludes] -[crowd cheering]
-You look like you're 194. Shit. -[Stephanie chuckles]
-Hi, Randy, how you doing? -Very good, Stephanie. How are you?
-Excuse me? Excuse me? -I'm good. You're looking well.
-Shoulder's healing? -Let me break this up, if I may?
-We'll talk to you, uh, later on. -Okay, Eric.
Take care.
Eric… I just came to say goodbye.
[scoffs] Where you going?
Well, I'm not going anywhere, but, uh, it seems like
Vince said he was gonna fire you in 30 days and,
you know, it's-- it's been fun.
But, you know, speaking of 30 days,
a desperate man calls for desperate measures,
so I'm just wondering what your, uh, bombshell might be.
[breathes deeply] Well, Stephanie, it's not just a bombshell.
-It's an atomic bombshell. -[clicks tongue] Oh.
And if I were you, I'd wipe that smirk off your face.
I mean, what makes you think your job is so secure?
[chuckles] Well, first of all,
since I am the more successful GM and before my job gets threatened,
I've got a bombshell of my own
that I'm gonna drop this Thursday night on SmackDown.
-Oh, really? -Mm-hmm. That's right.
And in case, you know, in case you were wondering…
[clicks tongue] …I am a McMahon.
And in terms of my job security, blood is thicker than…
Well, in your case, blood is thicker than urine.
[scoffs]
-Steph, Steph, Steph, so crass. -Well, I call it like I see it.
But maybe what you're really trying to say is blood is thicker than water.
But let re-- let me remind you of another saying,
that being that money is much thicker than blood.
-We'll see. -Oh, yes, we will.
-[Ross] Battling GMs, King. -[Jerry] Well, you got that right.
[dramatic music playing]
Stop the prayers, hit the snooze, you'll go next week.
Hell, don't even go at all.
If God is everywhere, why should we even go to church
if he's sitting right next to you on the couch?
Who even knows if there is a God anyway?
The church is nothing but a farce, a way to judge you.
You have to take control of your own life. You are your only judge.
Save yourself the headache. Do something more valuable with your time.
And if there is a God, he'll forgive you.
Hey, I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know.
[music concludes]
Very interesting outlook on life from a very big impressive young athlete.
I don't know if "Interesting" is exactly the right word for that.
What kind of, uh, what kind of train of thought was he on there?
-Certainly, an interesting-- -Man upstairs might derail
that train of thought if he's not careful.
Interesting ride of the shuttle here. Going forward, ladies and gentlemen,
we're just a heartbeat or two away from what, no doubt,
-will be a slobberknocker, King. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Ross] The World Heavyweight title is on the line,
and you got to wonder, does Scott Steiner have Triple H's number?
Does Scott Steiner have a psychological advantage?
[Jerry] I think, J.R., that that's exactly what we're gonna see here tonight.
I've never seen Triple H intimidated.
I've never seen him actually afraid of anyone.
But I believe in my heart that Triple H is scared.
[dramatic music playing]
[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you
the new World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H!
[Jerry] This is a ceremony that is so richly and rightfully deserved.
[Triple H] Maybe I should try to be a little more humble,
but God knows it's hard to be humble when you're Triple H.
You see, you can name anyone in this industry,
and I've beaten them all.
And whether anybody likes it, or doesn't like it,
I am that damn good.
["Holla If Ya Hear Me" playing]
♪ Holla if ya hear me ♪
[Jerry] And I want Big Poppa Pump to come and sign with Raw
as bad as anybody, but I just don't think this is a good idea
to interrupt this ceremony.
You've beaten a lot of guys, but you can't beat me.
This contract says I get a World title shot.
If not, I'm out of here.
I'll tell you what, Eric.
You give Scott Steiner his World title match.
I said World title shot, he said Royal Rumble.
I say tonight!
-[Jerry] Oh, boy. -[Ross] Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[tense music playing]
[Triple H] I did not back down from Scott Steiner.
I am not afraid of Scott Steiner.
[Scott Steiner] You know, week after week, Triple H has been coming up with games.
First, he wants to have an arm-wrestle match.
[Jerry] Look at Triple H! He's gonna put down Freakzilla!
Wait a minute. Oh, no! Look out, he'll break your arm!
-[Scott Steiner] And I beat him at that! -[Jerry] What has gotta be going through
the head of Triple H right now?
[Scott Steiner] Then he wants to have a posedown.
-[Ross] Wow. Damn right it is. -[Jerry] That's pretty impressive.
But not as impressive as Big Poppa Pump.
-[chuckles] Look at that! -[Scott Steiner] And I beat him at that!
[Ross] Arm-wrestling and now posedown, and now push-ups,
all leading to the Royal Rumble.
-[Jerry] Hey! What's this? -[Ross] Wait a minute, what the hell?
[Ross] What the hell? The judges are attacking Scott Steiner!
-[Jerry] Oh, it was a set-up. -[Ross] I'll be damned.
[Jerry] Look at Triple H smiling, he's laughing.
-Hey. Oh, look out! -[Ross] Oh, look out!
Scott Steiner, to hell with six men.
This is what's gonna happen to The Game at the Royal Rumble.
-[Jerry] Triple H, look at that. -["Falling Apart" playing]
[Triple H] Let me explain something to you, Steiner.
I don't give a crap about arm-wrestling. I don't care about posedowns.
What I care about is sitting right on my shoulder.
It's the World Heavyweight Championship.
And this Sunday, I will prove to you that I am the man.
And that I am that damn good.
Well, if you're that damn good, why wait until Sunday night?
[Ross] I think the talking has ended.
♪ Spread, spread out ♪
♪ So you take me and you break me ♪
♪ And you see I'm falling apart ♪
♪ There's no more feeling There's no more feeling ♪
♪ There's no more feeling ♪
[music concludes]
-["The Game" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ All about control… ♪
-[bell ringing] -[Howard] The following contest
scheduled for one fall is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Introducing first, accompanied by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
from Greenwich, Connecticut, weighing 272 pounds,
the World Heavyweight Champion,
Triple H!
♪ …The game and I make the rules… ♪
[Ross] Well, it is game time.
It is time to determine the World Heavyweight Championship.
And I'll tell you one thing,
of all the great men that Triple H has defeated
in his illustrious career here in the WWE,
I don't think any of them have ever really intimidated The Game
like I perceive that Scott Steiner has intimidated our World Champion.
[Jerry] I agree with you, J.R. I think that's what's behind these…
Well, the arm-wrestling match, the-- all that phony posedown,
that thing was more rigged than-- than an American Idol show.
And then the-- the weightlifting contest, all of these things
were brought on by intimidation.
And I think that…
Well, you've heard the-- the phrase, "Desperate men do desperate things."
And I think those were desperate measures done by Triple H
because he's desperately afraid of Big Poppa Pump.
[Ross] Sixteen thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight fans here tonight,
has sold-out the FleetCenter here in Boston.
Tickets selling out almost immediately after going on sale.
It is a frigid night outside here in the northeast part of the United States.
But, boy, it is-- it is hot in here now
because I think there's a… a capacity full of…
full of folks here that really believe
that Scott Steiner is going to overpower The Game tonight,
-and leave here as the new World Champion. -[music concludes]
-["Holla If Ya Hear Me" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Holla if ya hear me ♪
[Howard] Introducing the challenger,
from Detroit, Michigan, weighing 275 pounds,
Big Poppa Pump, Scott Steiner!
[Ross] Scott Steiner grew up in Bay City, Michigan.
A two-time wrestling all-American at the University of Michigan.
Has not made a Rumble event appearance in nine years.
[Jerry] Oh, oh. Look at that. Look at that. [chuckles]
That's unbelievable. Freakzilla.
Oh, my gosh. They-- They're gonna have to pull out
all the stops tonight.
You are gonna have to be the dirtiest player in the game
if you're gonna save Triple H's title,
'cause I think it's gonna take more than what Triple H is bringing
-to the table tonight. -[Ross] That's why we have the match.
But you're right, the dirtiest player in the game,
Ric Flair, knows what it means for The Game to keep
that World title around The Game's chiseled waist.
-It means prestige and money. -[Jerry] You got that right.
And don't get me wrong when I said earlier that-- that
Triple H is desperately afraid of Scott Steiner.
I don't think he fears the man in the-- that sense of the word.
I don't think he fears Scott Steiner personally.
But I think that Triple H is… he's unsure of himself
for the first time when he faces Freakzilla,
because I don't think even Triple H knows
what that man, Scott Steiner, is capable of.
With those huge arms. How strong are those arms, J.R.?
-[Ross] That's a… I don't know. -[Jerry] I don't know
and I don't think Triple H knows. And that's what's got him worried.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Scott Steiner, as we think, as we surmise,
has a psychological advantage going into this match.
[blows]
[crowd cheering]
Okay, guys. This match is for the World title.
I know how you are and I know how you are.
I'm not putting up with any crap from you, you, or you.
Mr. McMahon says that I'm the law in here.
That's why I'm calling it right down the middle.
Let's act professionally and good luck to both of you guys.
Do you understand? Okay.
[Jerry] Can't make it any plainer than that.
[Ross] Referee, uh, Earl Hebner setting us up here early.
He'll have his hands full without a doubt. This is a very emotional challenger.
An even perhaps more emotional champion
for the fact that his World title is on the line.
[Jerry] Look at The Game. You know, he is the Cerebral Assassin.
The-- The gum-chewing, the smirk on his face,
all that is part of his attempt at intimidation.
-Hey! -[Jerry] But it ain't working.
[Ross] The Game threw the first right hand,
and now, he's paying for it from the challenger.
The Game's gotta turn up…
-Come on! Damn it! -[Jerry] There you go.
Trying to say-- trying to maneuver Scott Steiner
off that-- that powerful base but since I said that,
-The Game's just knocked down. -[crowd exclaims]
[Jerry] First man knocked off his feet, keep that in mind, was Triple H.
[both grunt]
[Ross] Exchanging right hands, Steiner comes with those knife edge chops.
[grunts]
-[Triple H grunts] -[Ross] A little bit more by Steiner.
Steiner, as we said, he had a great amateur background,
but he has a very short fuse as well. And Steiner's gotta be very much aware…
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Ross] Dominating, is Scott Steiner.
[Jerry] Dominating.
[Ross] He's gotta be made very aware to not get too emotionally caught up
in this match.
[Scott Steiner] I'm the man!
[Jerry] Freakzilla says he's the man.
So far, I don't think anybody can doubt him.
[Ross] And they're saying a little early. Scott Steiner now coming--
-[Jerry] Look at this! -[Ross] Look at this power.
[Ross] It's gotta be very intimidating for anyone,
especially when your World title's at stake.
And Triple H rolling out of bounds here
to stop this offensive onslaught of Scott Steiner.
[Jerry] I don't know if this is a good move by…
Well, it may be a good move, I don't know. Don't give Triple H any time to recuperate
or recover.
[Ross] Let us also remember that Steiner cannot win this match
via disqualification or count-out.
The challenger must pin or make the champion submit
to get what he wants.
[Jerry] Look at those big right hands. Those are just clubbing blows, J.R.,
and the way Freakzilla was clubbing Triple H earlier on the back,
and then those chops to the chest, and then a hard club to the back.
[Ross] Steiner rolled back in to break the referee's ten-count.
Steiner certainly does not wanna be counted out here.
Get so wrapped up in punishing the World Champion
that he-- that he allows that to happen.
[Jerry] Referee's up to the count of five.
[Ross] Again, Steiner working that lower back of The Game.
Steiner has that submission maneuver he calls the "Steiner Recliner,"
-that we may see in this contest. -[Jerry] Look at this.
[Ross] Power! Connecting suplex outside, back in.
A cover by Steiner, a hook to the leg,
and Steiner could not really get the leg cinched up
like I think he probably wanted it, and The Game was able to kick out.
[Jerry] As I said, you know, Triple H, he is The Cerebral Assassin.
-And there's the Nature Boy… -Come on, he's waiting!
…dirtiest player in the game.
It was obvious early on when Triple H came out here
chewing the gum, the smirk, he was trying to intimidate Big Poppa Pump
but it has not worked.
[Ross] Steiner focusing on that back moments ago.
He has really dominated the game here in this early going.
Another hard, hard Irish whip,
again, putting more pressure on the lower back
of the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Jerry] I'm amazed that when I'm seeing this, let's face it,
Steiner is…
-He's taking Triple H apart here. -He's messed up!
[Ross] Scott Steiner is a load of concrete, let me tell you.
He is a powerhouse.
You got to wonder how this will go
if it goes into the latter part of this matchup,
in the late rounds, if you will.
Steiner now, looking to step back on Triple H.
-Sitting back in that… -[Jerry] He could have him.
…that Boston crab. The Game powering out.
That's taking a lot of strength out of The Game
just to keep his back straight, and nowhere to get arched.
He's in the ropes now.
-Steiner's gotta break, and does. -Hold the ropes!
[both grunt]
-[Ross] Steiner with those elbows. -[Triple H grunts]
[Ross] Hard elbows right in the… right to the neck,
-to the ear… -[Scott Steiner] Shut up!
…of The Game, and Ric Flair has gotta be having
-some very anxious moments right now. -[Jerry] He's gotta be wondering
what's it gonna take to turn this thing around.
Something needs happen quick to… to change the momentum.
But I don't see anything in the future happening.
-Wait a minute. Oh, that could do it. -[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Look at this! -[Ross] Steiner blocked that facebuster.
-It really had no effect on him. -[Jerry] I think it had no effect.
-I don't think he clocked it. -[Ross] Bear hug by Steiner.
Again, squeezing that lower back of Triple H.
-of Triple H. -[screams]
[Ross] Steiner not wasting any motion here now,
focusing on that lower back,
and punishing the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Jerry] With those python-like arms just squeezing the breath
-and maybe the life out of Triple H. -[Ross] Triple H red in the eyes.
[Jerry] Desperate move, desperate man. And right again, he gotta be…
[Ross] My God, a belly-to-belly overhead suplex.
Steiner looking for the cover. Steiner got a near fall!
I just don't think Steiner is in a… is in a position,
either of those covers. They really cinch out
-like I've never really seen. -[Jerry] Hey, hey! Look at that.
[Ross] Ric Flair pulling The Game out of the ring
before Steiner can get to that Steiner Recliner.
[Jerry] He denied it. I'd deny it too, if I were you.
Freakzilla's after you.
Scott Steiner's gotta stay focused on his opponent, not Ric Flair.
[Jerry] You're right. I think he's got it back under control now.
Not a good move for Steiner to even be out on the floor.
He needs to stay in the ring if he wants to win
-this World Championship. -[Ross] Bottom line, Steiner can't…
He cannot win the… the World title outside the ring.
-It's that simple. -[Jerry] Right. Oh, my God.
[Ross] Steiner's own momentum took him right in that big right boot
-of the… of the champion. -[Jerry] What a move.
That, J.R., was a momentum changer. That may have broken Steiner's nose.
[Ross] At least Triple H bought himself a little bit of time
from having his back assaulted.
[Jerry] That would have knocked any human being completely out.
Steiner… Even Freakzilla's groggy after that move.
[Ross] Triple H now finally has the, uh, momentum here.
[Jerry] Watch this again.
-[Steiner grunts] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Steiner got his headlights dimmed, for sure.
And now The Game with the advantage,
throwing Steiner on the outside.
-Two! -[Jerry] Again… Come on.
Watch it! Look out.
[Ross] Steiner's right shoulder smashing into those steel steps.
-[Jerry] We're gonna need some new steps. -You just got your ass…
[Ross] Triple H, again, it's almost… That was a desperate move there
just to allow Triple H to buy himself some more time.
And Triple H will be very happy to win this match by count-out.
[Jerry] Speaking of happy, all of a sudden,
Nature Boy's beside himself.
He's a big cheerleader now, he's got a big smile on his face.
[Ross] Let's see if The Cerebral Assassin can capitalize
after Steiner tasted the steel steps.
If the-- if The Game now can build on his momentum,
and we're also gonna see just how resilient Scott Steiner is.
-[Jerry] Neckbreaker. -[Ross] Beautiful neckbreaker.
A hook to the leg. He's got him secured but Steiner,
with all that amazing upper body strength, able to kick out.
-[Jerry] I'm gonna tell you something. -[grunts]
[Jerry] The momentum certainly did change.
I didn't-- I didn't know if it was possible.
But that big boot to the face was a…
-Three! -[Jerry] That may have been a title-saver
-for Triple H. -Four!
[Ross] May be exactly right, and The Game…
-[Jerry] Look at the title-saver! -[Ross] That's Flair. That's Flair!
[Jerry] He's got the 3,000-dollar Armani jacket on!
[Ross] I don't care how much it costs. He got it at Men's Wearhouse.
It was against the rules, and Triple H and Flair working in concert.
The referee can't call what he doesn't see.
[Jerry] That jacket didn't come from Men's Wearhouse, I guarantee you.
-Missed. -[Scott Steiner grunts]
-[Jerry] Look out. -[Ross] And once again,
aborted that clothesline. Got another neckbreaker on Steiner.
Got the cover again!
And Steiner shoots that right shoulder off the canvas.
Flair really getting into this match.
-He's hurt, baby, give it to him! -[Ross] And Flair, you know…
Anyone here knows what the World title means.
[Jerry] You hear Flair? You hear Flair?
He's telling Triple H that Steiner's hurt. He senses it, and I think he's right.
I think Steiner is hurt. I didn't think it was possible,
but I think Steiner's hurt.
[Scott Steiner groans]
[Ross] Triple H now, again,
-robbing Steiner of that oxygen… -One! Two!
[Ross] …right on that bottom rope.
-And there's Flair. -[Jerry] Oh, look at that!
[Ross] And Flair's gonna make sure he gets a little extra there.
And again, the referee being detained, for a lack of a better term,
by the World Champion.
Triple H could see what was going on, but the referee could not.
[Jerry] Referee Earl Hebner said he's gonna call this thing
right down the middle.
-He needs to keep his eyes on the action. -[both grunt]
[Ross] Another Irish whip. Here we go now!
-[Jerry] Oh, boy. -[Ross] Triple H won't go down. Pedigree!
Here comes that Pedigree, but Steiner…
My God, that upper body, he just… he just broke the-- the grip of The Game.
[Jerry] And may break The Game's face. Yes!
[Ross] Triple H catapulted face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Steiner with a… a modified slam, that was, almost into a suplex.
[Jerry] Look, I told you. Steiner is hurt.
Both these guys are hurt now.
[Ross] Firing a lot of heavy artillery, being, uh, laid out by both men.
Lotta high-impact stuff by two powerhouses.
-Steiner just muscled up The Game. -[Jerry] He's still got that strength.
-Incredible strength. -[Ross] What the hell is…
-Wait a minute, look at The Game. Wow! -[Jerry] Speaking of strength…
[Ross] That's a scary strength there.
And The Game with another neckbreaker, almost a Diamond Cutter there.
Hook to the leg, and this time, again, Steiner rolls off that right shoulder.
[Jerry] Look at Flair.
He's about to… He's going ballistic over there.
[Ross] And Triple H's having a little bit of, I think, dis--
I don't wanna say disgust, but a little bit of impatience,
and maybe frustration, is the word I'm searching for.
[Jerry] I think frustration is right. Flair screaming out instructions,
telling Triple H what to do, but he's trying,
-believe me, he's trying, H. -[Ross] Suplex by The Game again.
Both men have… have decided to focus on the lower back of their adversaries.
[Jerry] Look at this. They want everybody to stand up? Why?
He's, like, the biggest cheerleader.
[Ross] Triple H now sitting on that top turnbuckle.
What's he gonna do next?
Trying to make his way back… Oh, and The Game just got suplexed!
He may have been suplexed right out of the World title without…
[Jerry] He went on a ride, Triple H, boy.
[Ross] That is not what Flair… Flair's like a-- a coach.
-[Jerry chuckles] He can't believe it. -H, up!
[Jerry] But still, Big Poppa Pump is… So much has been taken out of him.
If he just somehow mounts his offensive here…
[Ross] Both men now trading blows like this, uh, this match started.
And Steiner got the better of the situation then.
He did on this occasion as well.
[Jerry] That's not a match that Triple H is gonna win.
Great, big right hand for Big Poppa Pump.
[Ross] You're not gonna beat Steiner in a power match.
That's what Triple H is trying to wrestle thus far.
It has not worked.
[Jerry] Steiner seems like he's getting pumped up now.
[Ross] Oh, my… Again!
How many suplexes is Scott Steiner gonna deliver
on the World Champion?
[Jerry] Steiner tossed Triple H around like a rag doll.
-[Ross] And Steiner, those… -Get up!
[Ross] Those eyes are the eyes of a… of a future World Champion.
[Triple H grunts]
[Ross] Steiner again with a belly-to-belly overhead.
[Jerry] Three in a row.
Holler if you hear him.
[Ross] I know Triple H is as tough as a three-dollar steak,
but when Steiner suplexes,
there's not a single human being that can withstand that
for very much longer.
Steiner using that hair,
banging The Game's head into the turnbuckle.
-[Jerry] Good grief. -[Ross] Now belly-to-belly suplex.
Another suplex, this could be all. It's got to be… No, it's not!
-Two, two. -[Ross] The Game did not kick out.
He just… He lifted his shoulder off the canvas and that was it.
[Jerry] I'm gonna tell you something, it seems like sometimes,
I just noticed a couple of times in this match,
that Steiner, the Genetic Freak, is more intent-- Uh-oh.
[Ross] He might get him here.
Triple H tried to block that underhook and he got most of the block.
[Jerry] Sometimes I think Steiner is more intent on just delivering pain
than he is on-- on beating Triple H.
[Ross] Irish whip there. Again, The Game countered Steiner.
A few moments ago with the foot, this time, the reverse elbow,
and The Game now, maybe out of desperation,
going up top for a high-risk move.
And that, obviously, may not prove to be very productive.
-[Jerry] You got to be kidding me. -[Ross] Another suplex!
A superplex off the top turnbuckle.
The Game's lower back, the cover, and he's got… No!
-[Earl] Two. -Huh?
[Ross] I can't believe The Game kicked out, but he certainly did,
and that put him in a great position.
And now, The Game is wanting to get as far from his challenger as he can.
The Game buying himself some significant time here.
-One! Two! -[Ross] Wait a minute.
-What the hell? -[crowd boos]
[Ross] Flair's got the World title belt and he and the champion are leaving.
[Jerry] Now, Big Poppa Pump's out and hot on the trail. Oh, yeah.
[Ross] Steiner knocking down both Flair and the champion.
And Flair was getting Triple H out of here.
Come on! You wanna…
[Jerry] I guess Flair wants some of the Genetic Freak.
[Ross] Referee trying to restrain Flair.
[Jerry] Watch your back, Big Poppa Pump. Watch your back!
-Look out! -[Ross] Triple H trying to…
A cheap shot with his World Title Championship belt
that was blocked by Steiner. Steiner's absolutely livid.
[Jerry] Flair's gonna get his head knocked off if he's not careful.
The Championship belt opened Triple H's head
-like an envelope, look at this. -[Ross] Triple H is bleeding profusely
at the hands of his own Championship belt.
And that's not gonna do him any favors either.
-[Jerry] Oh, my gosh. -[Ross] Good God Almighty.
Scott Steiner has busted Triple H wide open here.
[Jerry] Now, look at Flair going the other way.
He sees Triple H's face. You don't want any of that, do you, Flair?
[Ross] You gotta hand it to the official.
He's trying to keep this match in the ring, and keep it…
And another belly-to-belly overhead suplex.
I don't think I've ever seen so many suplexes in my life.
And The Game has again tried to distance himself.
[Jerry] You know what I think he's trying to do, J.R.,
I think that something he's trying to do…
I think he's intentionally trying to get counted-out.
[Ross] My gosh, I think you're right, and Scott Steiner--
[Jerry] He's trying to leave the arena!
[Ross] Pretty much now trying to go through the fans here
to make an exit.
Restrained again and caught by Scott Steiner.
[Jerry] I think Earl Hebner realizes
that that's exactly what Triple H is trying to do.
He's not counting him out.
Uh-oh. This is not a good idea.
[Ross] Scott Steiner, he's gonna get disqualified here.
Look at that chair alone.
Hard shot.
The Game's head bouncing off the announce table down there.
First, Triple H tries to leave the ring on one side
and go back to the locker room, get counted-out.
He tried it again on the other side of the ring now.
[Jerry] And then, the referee intentionally didn't count
because there's obviously an attempt at an intentional count-out.
-Look at this now. -[Ross] That's gotta be intimidating.
-[Jerry] That's insulting. He's reeling. -[Ross] That's got to be intimidating.
The Champion is bloody, he's been battered,
he's been suplexed to death.
And now, Steiner is trying to open that cut up some more,
-those hard right hands. -[Jerry] Did you hear some of these fans?
I mean, let's face it. Triple H is from Greenwich, Connecticut.
-[Ross] Flair wants the match stopped! -[Jerry] What?
[Ross] Flair wants the match stopped because of the cut.
-No! -[Jerry] They are desperate now.
[Ross] Flair's imploring referee Earl Hebner
to stop this match due to that laceration.
[Jerry] That's because if the referee stops the match now,
that saves the title for Triple H.
-[Ross] Absolutely, it does. -[Jerry] Just like a count-out would.
[Ross] Triple H's backpedaling now.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Ross] Triple H just…
He intentionally threw the referee out of the ring!
That was absolutely intentional.
And referee Earl Hebner--
[Jerry] That's gotta be a disqualification.
[Ross] Gotta be.
There he is. He's gonna ring the bell, it's gonna be over.
[Jerry] Look at this! No, he's not gonna do it!
-You wrestle… -[Ross] The referees have set the bars.
He says, "No, I'm not gonna disqualify you."
-"I want you to wrestle." -[Jerry] He's on to you, Triple H.
The referee knows what you're doing.
[Ross] And Scott Steiner blocking The Game. Belly-to-belly suplex!
The Game has tried to the end of this match.
-It's gonna be it… No! No, it's not. -Two!
[Ross] Scott Steiner was a half a second away
-from becoming the World Champion. -[Jerry] I can't believe what I'm seeing.
Triple H's trying to get counted-out.
He tried to get disqualified intentionally.
He's trying to get the match stopped on account of blood.
He's doing anything within his power. Now, look at Flair.
[Ross] And Triple H must know in his heart,
that on this night he cannot beat Scott Steiner.
And that's a low blow.
[Jerry] Desperate man, desperate measures.
And Triple H now with a roll up.
He's gonna get it right here! He's gonna-- No, he's not!
-Steiner powered out. -[Earl] Two!
[Ross] Low blow or not,
Scott Steiner wants this world title so badly.
He's gonna suck it up and that's exactly what The Game's gotta do.
The Game's gotta suck it up, but where's he going now?
[Jerry] There's no… Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
[Ross] Oh, my God, you gotta be kidding. Not the damn sledgehammer.
-[crowd screaming] -[Jerry] Referee!
[Ross] Triple H is bringing that weapon, that sledgehammer, into the ring.
[Jerry] Something's gonna have to be done now.
No, damn it! No! No! Why--
[Ross] The referee is saying no!
-Right on the gut with a sledgehammer. -That's it! No more!
-[Ross] Triple H is using that weapon. -Ring that bell!
[Ross] And now, the referee's calling for the bell.
-[crowd boos] -[Ross] What else could he do?
You overwent your power! I'll tell you, you overwent your power!
[Ross] The referee finally left with no alternative
but to disqualify The Game.
Come on, not now. Don't do it!
-You're gonna crack his head open. -[Jerry] Look out! Look at Earl Hebner!
[Ross] Hebner trying to save Steiner from getting his skull cracked.
[Jerry] Or his spine smashed. Look out, there he goes!
[Ross] Triple H has been disqualified,
and now they're fighting over the sledgehammer!
And Steiner's got it! Steiner goes downstairs on The Game.
-[Jerry] Yikes! -[Ross] And Flair got it as well.
[Jerry] Break a rib or two!
[Ross] Scott Steiner!
My God, Scott Steiner with a sledgehammer as a weapon,
but The Game's gotta retain his World Heavyweight Championship
due to disqualification.
[Jerry] Yeah, but Triple H has paid a price tonight that he'll never forget!
[Ross] I guarantee you one thing.
If there is ever a rematch between these two,
I think we know who's gonna be favored.
-It's gonna be Scott Steiner. -[Jerry] And Steiner now.
-He's not finished yet! -[Ross] The Steiner Recliner!
With blood flowing down the face of the disqualified
World Heavyweight Champion
and there's no way out of this Steiner Recliner.
[Jerry] I think Triple H is out. He is out cold.
[Ross] These four referees, four grown men,
trying to pull Scott Steiner off of The Game.
[Jerry] Look at that vice-like grip. You're not gonna pull those pythons apart!
-[Ross] Wait a minute. -[Jerry] What is this?
[Ross] General Manager, Eric Bischoff.
Let him go! Let go! Let him go! Let him go!
-[Jerry] Bischoff's imploring-- -It's over! It's over!
-It's over! -["Holla If Ya Hear Me" playing]
[Ross] Bischoff begging Steiner to release the Steiner Recliner
from the bloody World Heavyweight Champion.
I'll tell you what, we…
we said that Steiner had a psychological advantage
in this slobberknocker, coming in. He had a physical advantage as well.
[Jerry] Boy, and as I said a moment ago,
you can look at it, you can tell, Triple H has paid a price tonight
like he has never paid in any match he's ever had.
Will he ever be the same?
[Ross] That's a great question. And will there ever be a rematch?
And if there is, right there's a man that will be favored in it.
[Jerry] Big Poppa Pump.
[Ross] I have never seen the Cerebral Assassin manhandled,
and overpowered on almost every situation in this match.
[Jerry] Ric Flair laid out at ringside, maybe broken ribs.
Triple H's bloody, beaten, and flat on his back.
[Ross] The Game tried to get disqualified. The Game tried to get counted-out.
They tried to stop the match on the blood.
And finally, Triple H has been disqualified.
Tazz, I'll tell you, I agree with J.R. and the King.
If there ever is a rematch, I'm gonna bet,
-I know who my money would be on. -I have a bet, man.
I know who my money would be on too, The Game.
I'm looking at his face right now, he's hurting right now.
And Big Poppa Pump, Freakzilla, he came, he saw, he kicked some ass.
But coming up next, I cannot wait, ladies and gentlemen,
the WWE title is on the line. The Champion, Kurt Angle
against the man who I believe has his number,
"The Rabid Wolverine," Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Cole, Chris Benoit's determination to be WWE Champion
has reached an all-time high.
And tonight, The Rabid Wolverine gets his shot.
[Michael] The Big Show is going to the shelf off the chokeslam.
-Wait a minute, it's Brock Lesnar! -[Tazz] Lesnar!
-F-5! F-5! -[Michael] An F-5
to 500 pounds, the Big Show!
Lesnar now… Watch Heyman.
[Tazz] Heyman, move your ass and get out of dodge!
[Michael] Kurt Angle is crawling toward the Champion.
Kurt Angle with the cover, the hook to the leg!
[Tazz] One, two, three!
-[Michael] Angle is the new WWE Champion! -["Medal" playing]
[Michael] For the third time,
Kurt Angle has climbed to the top of the mountain.
[Kurt] A week before Armageddon, I hired myself a management team
to look out for my best interest. And what I'd like to do right now
is introduce the head of my management team. Paul Heyman.
-[Michael] What? -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] I'm gonna be sick.
[Heyman] I want to publicly declare my client wants to pursue
any challenger but Brock Lesnar.
[Kurt] Brock, you know that deep down in your heart
that you could never be the champion that I am.
I mean, that's… that's why you tore every freaking cartilage
and ligament in my knee!
[Heyman] Brock Lesnar will never have the opportunity to do this to you again
because I have what they call a "contingency plan."
This concept is called Team Angle.
[Michael] This matchup to determine the number one contender,
to beat Kurt Angle at the Royal Rumble for the WWE title.
Benoit countered!
He rolls through, hooks the leg! Benoit wins!
-Benoit beats Kurt Angle at the Rumble! -[Tazz] This is dangerous for Benoit!
[Michael] Hey, look at Benoit! A counter! The crossface!
-Wait a minute. -[Tazz] Here comes Shelton Benjamin,
Charlie Haas, Team Angle.
[Michael] Team Angle now assaulting Chris Benoit.
What in the hell is Team Angle gonna do to Chris Benoit?
-Look at this, the Captain. -[Chris Benoit screams]
[Kurt] How does it feel?
The name of the game is wrestling and that's what we do best.
If I were Chris Benoit, I'd be worried sick.
Tick tock, tick tock.
There's only so much time left until I am crowned
the new WWE Champion.
[Kurt] I will take you down like the punk that you are.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle let Chris Benoit know,
"You wanna take this Championship, good luck."
[Chris Benoit] Kurt Angle may be a protected champion,
but if there is one thing that I believe in,
is that I am better than Kurt Angle.
[Michael] Will Chris Benoit realize his life's dream at the Rumble?
It's Angle and Benoit for the WWE title.
-["Medal" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
You suck!
You suck! You suck! You suck!
You suck!
-[bell ringing] -[Chimel] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall and it is for the WWE Championship.
Making his way to the ring, being accompanied by Team Angle,
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 237 pounds,
the WWE Champion, Kurt Angle!
[Michael] Angle won the WWE title
from the Big Show last month at Armageddon.
Another ingenious coup by Paul Heyman.
Tonight marks Kurt Angle's first title defense.
[Tazz] And it's well-documented, Cole,
that Kurt Angle right there is a big match athlete
and don't make no mistake about it.
Tonight at the Rumble is a big match with Benoit.
[Michael] And you know, the wildcards in this matchup
could indeed be Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, Team Angle.
-["Whatever" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And the challenger, from Edmonton, Alberta,
weighing in at 229 pounds, Chris Benoit!
[Michael] The Road to WrestleMania is underway.
Chris Benoit, determined, intense, and focused.
There is Team Angle, exerting itself early on.
-[Tazz] And not really even, I'd say. -[Michael] It's three on one, I'd say.
[Tazz] One, two, three. Yeah, you're right, three-on-one.
[Michael] Referee Mike Chioda bringing some more officials down to the ring and…
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that Team Angle has been ejected
-from this contest! -[Tazz] Wait a minute, that ain't…
If that's true, that ain't cool. That ain't right.
[Michael] What do you mean it's not right?
[Tazz] Well, maybe it is right. I don't know.
I thought Team Angle is out here to learn and observe from Kurt Angle.
[Michael] Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit will be a classic matchup.
There is no need for Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas to be involved.
I believe Kurt Angle, Tazz, deep down inside realizes
that he cannot beat Chris Benoit.
He brought Benjamin and Haas in here as an insurance policy.
That insurance policy has been sent to the back.
[Tazz] Team Angle wasn't there when Kurt won the gold medal, were they?
-[Michael] Not at all. -[Tazz] Then what're you tryna say?
Chris Benoit's 2-0 against Kurt Angle
in the past couple of months. Chris Benoit has Kurt Angle's number.
[Tazz] You're right, Cole, I agree. I told you that.
[Michael] Side headlock as this matchup is underway.
WWE title on the line.
Chris Benoit quickly on top of Kurt Angle, and Angle sliding out of bounds.
Looks to regroup in the early going of the matchup.
[Tazz] Looked like Benoit was going for a Boston crab there,
or maybe a Sharpshooter with that shady knee injury
-that Kurt's got, Cole. Shady. -[Michael] Yeah, shady knee injury.
It was Brock Lesnar a few weeks ago
who put the hurting on that knee of Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle telling everyone that he needed knee surgery
after that attack,
but the scuttlebutt that I'm hearing around the locker room
is that Angle has been actually milking that knee injury.
[Tazz] I ain't got a clue what the hell a scuttlebutt is
-but the rumor in the locker room… -[Michael] Talk.
[Tazz] Right, got you. Check. The rumor in the locker room is…
is you're right. That he's milking the knee injury.
[Michael] Chris Benoit with a side headlock.
Kurt Angle, Benoit off the ropes, stepped on to the top off the Champion.
-Angle… Nice block by Benoit. -[Tazz] Nice.
Picking that ankle right there.
[Michael] What a shot to the chest by Chris Benoit,
by The Rabid Wolverine. It has been well-documented,
the intensity that Chris Benoit will bring into this Championship matchup.
[Tazz] Right there, sleeper, trying to choke out Benoit.
Counter from right there with an arm drag. Nice.
[Michael] Nice leg takedown by Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Leg drag, dragon screw, whatever you wanna call it.
Here we go, going for the Sharpshooter, singling out that knee.
[Michael] Look at Chris Benoit.
Kurt Angle going immediately to the ropes as Benoit goes to work on that knee
that is protected by the brace.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's got great mat instincts,
you know, mat sense as we call it, and he knows where he is at all times
when he's in the middle of that ring. Both these men have such a…
such a similar style, similar in size, age, everything.
[Michael] Kurt Angle… And Chris Benoit, shoulder into the steel post.
This night means so much for Chris Benoit.
It is the first opportunity for the WWE title
Chris Benoit has had since he returned from that neck injury back in July.
And Kurt Angle, clubbing blows to the back of that neck.
[Tazz] The upper back, the borderline neck area,
as you just pointed out the neck injury, I mean, and Kurt Angle knows that.
-[Michael] Kurt Angle-- -[Tazz] Both these guys, Cole,
former Tag Team Champions back in the day.
[Michael] Look at this now. The snap suplex by Kurt Angle on Benoit.
Quickly into the cover, hook to the leg on Benoit,
and a kick out. Great point, Tazz.
-[Tazz] They were partners. -[Michael] Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit
won the first ever WWE Tag Team Championship.
They won a tournament that was set up by Stephanie McMahon
back in October at No Mercy.
They were a great team but they never got along.
It was an ego problem between the two.
An ego problem could be solved in this matchup here tonight.
[Tazz] Yeah, I don't know if you wanna exchange chops with Chris Benoit.
You hear that, like a gunshot.
[Michael] There is no athlete in sports entertainment today
as intense as Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Man, I think that Benoit
is more intense than Kurt Angle and that's one of the three I's,
intensity, one of them.
[Michael] Benoit whipped into the corner. Boot to the face of Kurt Angle.
What a blow to the back of the head.
[Tazz] Blindside shot to Angle's chrome dome.
[Michael] Once again, knee to the midsection by Chris Benoit.
Cover, title is on the line. and Angle gets the shoulder up.
You heard Chris Benoit talk about his 16 years in this business,
how he has sacrificed every bit.
He sacrificed his family, he sacrificed his own life.
Missed a year of time with the neck injury
only to battle back to have this moment in the spotlight,
an opportunity to win the WWE Championship.
[Tazz] Chris Benoit has never been WWE Champion,
and now is Benoit's opportunity, and my man,
I think he's making the best of the opportunity.
[Michael] He's in there against the 1996 Olympic gold medalist,
Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle is a three-time WWE Champion and he shows you why right there.
[Tazz] Both these men are at the top of their game,
both athletes in their prime and it shows.
It shows by their conditioning and a desire to go out there
and beat the holy hell out of each other to become Champion.
[Michael] And the only place you can see these two athletes is on SmackDown.
As Kurt Angle, the WWE Champion, exchanges blows with Benoit.
-Benoit now with the upper hand! -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Wow! Angle maybe out cold.
Blood trickles from the nose of the Champion.
[Tazz] Definitely. Kurt Angle's gotta have a busted nose.
But I mean, Chris Benoit cannot win the Championship that way,
I'll tell you what, you can wear down your opponent pretty good.
DDT on the apron skirt. Wow.
[Michael] You can win the championship that way.
Benoit may win it right here. He rolls angle over!
Here is the cover, hook to the leg! And Angle!
Angle got just his shoulder up.
[Tazz] Let's take a look at this DDT on the apron.
-Man, face first. -[Michael] And not for nothing, Tazz,
but that DDT rang the bell of Kurt Angle.
Angle almost didn't his shoulder up there. I thought Benoit had the title won.
[Tazz] But before likely… The Wolverine's gonna fly, Cole!
[Michael] It hit, but as Angle rolls out of the way.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle had Chris Benoit scouted,
get his body out of the way, but Kurt Angle still hurting
from that DDT on the apron.
[Michael] You saw the flying headbutt. These two athletes are so similar.
They could beat you with submission moves, whether it be the ankle lock or this!
-[Tazz] Angle Slam. -[Michael] The Angle Slam! Look out.
-Benoit reversed the tables. -[Tazz] Here comes that Sharpshooter.
Here it is. It's locked in!
The Sharpshooter, shades of Bret Hart from Calgary.
[Tazz] That's right.
Stu Hart trained in the dungeon in Calgary.
Chris Benoit, and that Sharpshooter is in, my man.
[Michael] Kurt Angle,
you could see the pain as he crawls desperately.
His WWE title is on the line!
-And Angle makes it to the ropes. -[Tazz] You love him or hate,
you gotta give it up for Kurt Angle's determination
and desire to get his body to the bottom rope
while he was in an excruciating submission hold.
-Excruciating, did I say it? Exactly. -[Michael] Excruciating.
Suplex by The Rabid Wolverine.
Chris Benoit crawls into the cover again. Hook! And Angle just gets the shoulder up.
The WWE title is on the line.
One of these men may very well face the winner
of the Royal Rumble matchup later tonight, at WrestleMania.
-What a throw by Kurt Angle. -[Tazz] Beautiful belly-to-belly.
Kurt Angle's-- you're right, his nose, maybe his mouth's bleeding too.
But right here, over 15,000 people in Bean Town are loving this.
[Michael] We'd like to thank all of you for inviting us into your homes tonight
for the Royal Rumble.
What action between the Champion, Angle, and the challenger Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Kurt's trying to catch a breather… Wow, look at that suplex.
Kurt Angle probably trying to catch a breather
by chucking Benoit on the outside.
[Michael] And Kurt Angle looks now to take advantage of the fallen Wolverine.
[Tazz] He's hurt. Kurt Angle's legs are like spaghetti,
he could hardly stand up there.
-Face first! -[Michael] Benoit off the barricade.
But the determination by these two men…
Angle rolls into the ring to break the count.
This is what the WWE Championship means.
This is what the rivalry between Angle and Benoit means.
The intensity that's being left on the floor here tonight.
[Tazz] Moment ago, before Kurt Angle started stomping on Benoit,
Kurt tried to pick Benoit up by the hair,
and Benoit just pulling his hand out of the way,
-fighting from the ground. -[Michael] Benoit back into the ring.
Kurt Angle realizes he is now in control.
And a thunderous clothesline!
Hook to the leg. Benoit just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Ever the technician, I don't think there's ever a time
Kurt Angle won't top a guy with a pin cover
and not hook his leg with determination.
[Michael] Kurt Angle is a member of the Grand Slam club,
holding all WWE singles titles.
[Tazz] Right there, snapmare to a rear chin lock,
great find on the body. Kurt's got the legs in
which just completely shuts your whole body down.
Keeps your lower body at bay, keeps your head controlled.
[Michael] It doesn't let you breathe.
[Tazz] I was just gonna say that but you said it.
[Michael chuckles]
[Michael] Chris Benoit desperately trying to fight out of this
as Benoit realizes every second that Angle has this hold on him,
his chances of winning the title go rapidly away.
[Tazz] Chris Benoit needs to try and break the hand, the grip.
Those strong hands and fingers from all those years of wrestling amateur,
that Kurt's got that grip. Right there, you see.
Benoit needs to break it to get the choke released,
and then worry about the body scissors.
[Michael] Angle's a 1996 Olympic Champion. He's a six-time National Champion.
He's an inductee in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame,
and he's putting on a clinic, or he was. Benoit has broken the hold!
[Tazz] That strong conditioning background of Chris Benoit,
but right there, Kurt regrouping, resetting himself
with that rear chin lock.
And I don't think it's borderline choke as a lot of announcers say,
I think it's a legal rear chin lock.
Nothing wrong with choking a guy either.
[Michael] Benoit with an arm drag to rip out of it.
Off the ropes comes Benoit, and he walks in into a belly-to-belly.
And again, Angle capitalizes on the slightest mistake by Benoit.
You have to believe Benoit didn't quite know where he was at,
and he walked into the belly-to-belly.
[Tazz] When a guy has a rear chin lock locked in on you that tight,
you lose some oxygen to your brain. And there's a back suplex.
[Michael] Wow. And here's Kurt Angle, off the suplex, hooks the leg.
And Benoit gets the shoulder up.
But you see Angle beginning now, Tazz, to build in confidence.
The question coming into this matchup was could Angle beat Benoit?
Did Angle have… Did Benoit have Angle's number?
Now as this match rolls along,
Angle is becoming more confident that he can beat Benoit here tonight.
[Tazz] And a guy like Kurt Angle, a superstar, an athlete,
a world-class athlete like Kurt… I'm sorry.
Well, Kurt, Benoit, what the hell am I drinking?
A man, an athlete like Kurt Angle,
when he's got you on the mat and he's got you locked up,
it's tough to get out.
But if there's anybody that could exchange mat skills,
besides a guy like Brock Lesnar or anybody from Team Angle,
maybe it's a guy like Chris Benoit.
[Michael] The crowd has been in Chris Benoit's corner
since this match started.
Over 15,000 at the sold-out FleetCenter in Boston.
Benoit to his feet, elbows to the guts of the champion!
[Tazz] That's smart by Benoit, creating separation from that chin lock.
[Michael] But that's smart by Angle to wear his challenger down.
[Tazz] Absolutely. Ducked.
[Michael] Here's the number one contender…
And both men knocked down, center of the ring.
[Tazz] I heard that from here. That was some muscle hitting muscle.
Wow, what a shot.
[Michael] The superstar to his feet first could pick up the momentum
-that'll swing this match. -Three!
-[Tazz] Mike Chioda counting. -[Michael] Unless there's a count of ten,
-and then it'll be a draw. -[Tazz] Five's next.
-Five! -[Tazz] There you go.
Right now, turning point in the match, as we pointed out, I mean,
Chris Benoit needs to try and get his head together here,
or this might be a double count-out.
[Michael] Kurt Angle would like that. He'd keep his title.
-[Tazz] That's true. -[Michael] Angle slowly to his feet.
He's up first. Now, comes Benoit. Benoit blocks the right hand.
And another right from Benoit, and here comes the Wolverine!
[Tazz] Benoit shifted into fourth gear.
[Michael] Benoit knocking Angle down.
And for those of you who doubt Chris Benoit, remember,
he defeated the Big Show to become number one contender.
[Tazz] Chris Benoit, and there's a big German--
[Michael] German suplex to Kurt Angle.
And the hands are still locked around the waist.
[Tazz] There's two. Ain't no sign of the Wolverine letting go.
-[Michael] Angle breaks it though. -[Tazz] Breaks the grip, switch, German.
[Michael] Into his own German suplex!
[Tazz] Both these guys will trade throws, they will trade suplexes.
Nice switch, there's a German!
Oh, man, this is awesome. Awesome!
Two men trying to outwrestle each other,
straight up, no outside interference, no shenanigans, tomfoolery,
two guys going at it.
[Michael] But you remember the creed for Team Angle,
"The name of the game is wrestling, it's what we do best."
But right now, ladies and gentlemen,
Chris Benoit may be outwrestling Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Talk about unloading. Wow, that was a… [laughs]
[Michael] And Benoit going up high. The WWE title's on the line.
-Angle to his feet! Look at this! -[Tazz] Kurt's up.
-[Michael] God, a suplex by Kurt Angle! -[Tazz] Unreal. No, it's not unreal.
Kurt Angle is an outstanding, amazing athlete,
-the speed to climb those ropes and-- -[Michael] Into the cover,
-he hooks that leg, and Benoit… -[Tazz] One, two, got him!
…just gets his shoulder up.
The resolve in Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] How tough is Benoit to kick out of that big throw off the second rope?
That shows the determination that Chris Benoit's got
-to be the champion. -[Michael] For God's sa-- Oh, look out.
Angle going for the Angle Slam. Benoit countered.
[Tazz] Wolverine, here it is. He's got it.
[Michael] The crossface!
Will Angle tap? Will Angle tap? Will Benoit realize his dream?
[Tazz] Kurt's in trouble! Angle's in trouble, Cole!
Angle's in trouble! He's gonna tap!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Listen to this crowd as Angle crawling desperately.
Can he get there? He's a finger away from the bottom rope!
Benoit has it locked in! And Angle gets to the ropes.
[Tazz] Look at Benoit trying to pull Kurt…
-Ankle lock? -[Michael] Look at this!
That's Kurt Angle's move! This is the ankle lock!
[Tazz] Wow!
[Michael] Benoit has turned the tables on the champion!
[Tazz] That's Kurt's own hold. Locked in!
Counter. There it is!
[Michael] Angle counters into the ankle lock.
Will Benoit tap?
[Tazz] Both men exchanging holds, hold for hold.
But right now in an ankle lock.
[Michael] A counter by Benoit. Into the crossface!
[Tazz] Unreal. Great wrestling by Chris Benoit.
[Michael] This is what the WWE title is all about,
two men leaving it all in the center of the ring!
[Tazz] Look at the determination on Chris Benoit's face.
-He knows… Look at that! -[Michael] What a counter by Angle!
Shoulders down, and Benoit kicked out.
[Tazz] That's called the banana split pinfall.
[Michael] And again, Benoit into the crossface.
[Tazz] How much is Kurt getting worn out from these crossfaces?
[Michael] Referee Mike Chioda said, "Have you had enough, Kurt?"
Angle said, "No, no!"
But how much more can the Champion take?
-He may tap! -[Tazz] He's tapping, Cole!
He's gonna tap! Almost!
-[Michael] Benoit… Look at Angle! -[Tazz] Roll through pin…
[Michael] He rolled through but Benoit didn't release the hold.
Tried the Peterson roll.
-That's the Angle Slam, Benoit! -[Michael] The Angle Slam!
What a counter! But can the Champion capitalize?
[Tazz] How much gas is left in Kurt Angle's tank
from all those crossfaces?
[Michael] Angle crawling into the cover. Hooks the leg!
-and Benoit gets the shoulder up again. -[Tazz] What a match!
I'm getting goosebumps. [chuckles]
This is an outstanding athletic contest for our Championship.
[Michael] Angle to his feet.
The Champion seemingly in control. The straps come down.
The Olympic Champion, the WWE Champion… And he locks!
[Tazz] Benoit's right in the middle of the ring, Cole!
Benoit's in trouble!
[Michael] Benoit has suffered an extreme amount of punishment.
-[Tazz] Roll through! -[Michael] What a counter!
-Angle off the second turnbuckle. -[Tazz] Wow, what a back elbow.
-[Michael] Oh, my gosh! -[Tazz] One, two, and he's got him… No!
[Michael] Angle kicked out!
[Tazz] Whoa! Man. [chuckles]
[Michael] Kurt Angle misses right hand. A German suplex by Benoit.
Now the challenger's in control.
-Angle, switch… -[Tazz] Switch, another--
[Michael] Another German suplex.
Who the hell has got the momentum right now?
[Tazz] I ain't got a clue, I'm just loving this.
[Michael] Oh, my God!
Angle may be out cold. This is Benoit's opportunity!
-Come on, Chris! Get up, Chris! -[Tazz] Release German suplex,
Kurt Angle getting turned inside out.
The Champion is in trouble. Look at this reverse German.
Right on the gut and the chest.
[Michael] Is that the move that will bring Benoit the coveted title?
[Tazz] Benoit, you gotta get it now! You got Angle hurt.
[Michael] Suck it up, Benoit!
[Tazz] Boston feels it, this is Benoit's time!
[Michael] I think Angle's out cold.
-The challenger… -[Tazz] He's far away!
[Michael] The top rope! Wolverine flies! Connects to the back of the head.
-[Tazz] Holy cow! Oh, my God. -[Michael] Benoit connects!
[Michael] Benoit flew three quarters of the way across the ring.
[Tazz] About 13, 14 feet!
[Michael] But Benoit may have hurt himself.
And look at this, the cover.
-Hook to the leg. -[Tazz] Here we go. Two, three!
-[Michael] Angle kicked out. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Let's take another look at the headbutt, Tazz.
[Tazz] Look at the distance. Gotta be 12, 13 feet.
[Michael] And look at Benoit.
-[Tazz] Crossface again. -[Michael] Going with the crossface.
[Tazz] Kurt's up, Kurt's up.
[Michael] Rolls through, kick to the midsection.
Kurt Angle setting Benoit up…
-Top rope, Benoit face first. -[Tazz] Man.
The neck, you gotta worry about the neck. Benoit, Angle Slam!
[Michael] A second Angle Slam from the Champion.
-[Tazz] This might be it, Cole. -[Michael] Here's the cover.
-Hook to the leg! -[Tazz] Kurt's still Champ!
-[Michael] No! Benoit kicked out again! -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Oh, my God. Let me tell you something,
I've been in some matches in my day,
some battles, and I've witnessed a lot of them.
I don't remember one this good.
[Michael] Talk about the Road to WrestleMania.
Tazz, this match could headline WrestleMania.
-The show of respect from over 15,000. -[Tazz] Crossface!
[Michael] Crossface again! Benoit has it locked in!
In the middle of the ring!
[Tazz] Ain't no sign of Benoit letting go!
[Michael] Is Angle gonna tap? Is Angle, the Champion, gonna tap out?
And Angle somehow won't tap out.
Reverses into an ankle lock. I can't believe it!
[Tazz] Benoit is in trouble!
[Michael] And Benoit reverses, or tried to.
But Angle still has the ankle locked in.
[Tazz] Like a pit bull, Kurt Angle will not let go.
And you can see Kurt twist Benoit's ankle. It's twisted.
[Michael] Benoit needs to make it to the ropes.
The challenger looks to reverse again, and he does. The challenger…
But Angle is like that pit bull, he's still tenacious!
-Locks in the ankle lock. -[Tazz] Relentless.
That's what makes Kurt Angle so damn good. He's a great athlete.
-He's gonna counter! -[Michael] He didn't counter.
Angle will not let go of that boot. The ankle lock is still locked in.
[Tazz] Come on, Benoit! Hang in there! Try and counter it.
[Michael] Benoit trying to make it to the bottom rope.
Look at the position of Benoit's ankle.
Angle brings Benoit back to the middle of the ring.
And he twists the ankle even more.
[Tazz] Completely let down all the way with the ankle lock.
And that ankle lock, along with the leg scissor around it.
[Michael] Benoit is in no man's land. And Benoit tapped out.
-[bell ringing] -["Medal" playing]
[Chimel] Here is your winner and still WWE Champion,
Kurt Angle!
[Michael] As Team Angle comes out to celebrate,
Kurt Angle knows that he went through a war.
Chris Benoit proved to the world that he indeed could be Champion.
[Tazz] Hey, look, man. Sometimes you get caught,
there ain't no shame in tapping out, live to fight another day. Look at this!
Kurt Angle on top of the world!
[Michael] The celebration by Team Angle for its champion.
As we take another look.
[Tazz] You can see the pain right here on Benoit's face.
He knows he's caught, Cole. And there's no way out.
You gotta live to fight another day, and that's what Chris Benoit did.
Ain't no shame in tapping out.
A phenomenal five-star match, in my opinion.
Hats off to both athletes.
[Michael] We say a lot of things about Kurt Angle.
Sometimes we judge Kurt Angle.
But there is no doubt that Kurt Angle proved tonight
that he is a world-class athlete, and so did that man, Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Right now, man, this is the Road to WrestleMania,
and that man right there, Kurt Angle, is gonna hang on to the Championship.
He will still be WWE Champion at WrestleMania.
[Michael] Will Angle defend that title at WrestleMania?
[music concludes]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What a truly amazing feeling.
Fifteen thousand-plus on their feet,
what a show of respect for Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] And he deserves every ounce of it, big-time big up to Chris Benoit.
-Outstanding contest… -["Whatever" playing]
…throughout the course.
[Michael] Chris Benoit proved to the world tonight
that he indeed can be Champion.
[Tazz] Standing ovation and well-deserved.
Unreal, man, what an athlete. What an athlete. Gotta respect him.
[Michael] He'll be back. Chris Benoit will be back in the game,
-there is no doubt about that. -[Tazz] No doubt.
-[music concludes] -[chuckles]
[grunts] Hey. What's up, Kane?
Rob, you are one hell of a tag team partner.
-[chuckles] Well. -But tonight,
-it's both of us in the Royal Rumble. -All right.
Now, two years ago, I was in the Rumble for an hour,
and I came this close, one man short, of winning the whole thing,
so make no mistake about it. Tonight, if you're the one man
that stands between me and winning Royal Rumble,
I will not hesitate to eliminate you.
[chuckles] Hey, that's cool, man. Totally understandable, I got it.
Every man for himself, right?
In fact, you should do whatever you feel is necessary
to ensure your victory, dude,
'cause you can be damn sure I'm gonna do what it takes
to make sure the winner of tonight's Royal Rumble is
-Rob Van Dam. -[crowd] Rob Van Dam. [cheering]
[Howard] Ladies and gentlemen,
it is now time for the Royal Rumble match.
And here are the rules, in just a few moments,
the individuals who are numbers one and two respectively
will enter this ring and the Rumble match will begin.
Then, every minute and a half thereafter another superstar enters the ring
and the match continues.
Elimination occurs
when an individual is thrown over the top rope,
but both feet must touch the floor.
The last superstar remaining in this ring after all 30 individuals have entered
will not only win the Rumble match,
but will get a title shot at WrestleMania!
-["Sexy Boy" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ I think I'm cute, I know I'm sexy ♪
♪ I've got the looks That drive the girls wild ♪
♪ I've got the moves… ♪
-[bell ringing] -[Howard] Ladies and gentlemen,
introducing the individual who is the number one entrant
in the Royal Rumble match, from San Antonio, Texas,
The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!
[Ross] The 15th Royal Rumble match in WWE history
kicks off our journey to WrestleMania.
And the first man entered is The Heartbreak Kid,
The Showstopper, King, Shawn Michaels,
who in 1995, the first man entered…
and he went wire-to-wire to win it all.
[Jerry] And Shawn Michaels is undoubtedly hoping
that lightning will strike twice, well, right here tonight.
[Ross] Can he do it again is the question. Hope that Dustin has warned him.
After the first two men starts the match here,
-the Royal Rumble match… -[Jerry] This is huge.
-…we will have a… -[Jerry] Ninety seconds.
[Ross] Every 90 seconds, another competitor, about two minutes.
Every 90 seconds if you're scoring at home.
["Break Down the Walls" playing]
♪ Come on, you know I got ya… ♪
[Howard] And now, the number two participant
in the Royal Rumble match, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing 227 pounds, Chris Jericho!
-[Ross] Wait a minute, that's not… -[Jerry] What's up with this?
-[Ross] Not Chris Jericho. -[Jerry] It's Christian.
[Ross] That's his tag team partner, Chris… Wait a minute, from behind!
[Ross] Shawn Michaels! And a low blow by Jericho coming in.
Christian was a distraction, and Michaels is the victim of a low blow.
At least this Royal Rumble match, there are no pinfalls, no submissions,
no count-outs, and no disqualifications.
[Jerry] We were all victims of that distraction.
Christian shows up out of the entrance way,
but where the hell did Jericho come from?
[Ross] Jericho apparently came through the crowd, as best I can tell.
And Jericho trying to make himself famous here,
the first ever undisputed Champion has got 90…
[Jerry] Look at this.
[Ross] Ninety seconds to do whatever he wants to Shawn Michaels.
And again, no disqualifications,
only one way to be eliminated in the Royal Rumble
and that's to go over the top rope with both feet touching the floor.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh!
Jericho admitted that he's always admired and emulated Shawn Michaels,
but you'd never know it from that vile chair shot.
[Ross] I don't know if Jericho respects anybody or anything.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Ross] Shawn Michaels is busted open.
That's steel on the cranium, and guess who won that exchange.
Shawn Michaels has not even been able to get out the blocks here.
First the low blow and then that, as you described it, King,
-that vile chair shot. -[crowd] …eight, seven, six…
[Jerry] Now we're five seconds away from our next entrant
into the Royal Rumble.
-[buzzer blaring] -["El Capitán" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Hey. -[Ross] Here comes Christopher Nowinski,
the young man from Harvard, in Cambridge, Mass,
-just down the road from Boston here. -[Jerry] Look at this.
He's not in any hurry to get in the Royal Rumble.
Matter of fact, I think he just told Jericho,
"Go ahead, you got some unfinished business to take care of."
[Ross] Nowinski is pretty darn smart, with that Harvard degree under his belt,
making his Royal Rumble debut, he hasn't made it yet.
But in any event, Shawn Michaels, with the heart of a gladiator,
entering the Royal Rumble at number one and he's all busted up here,
trying to fight back.
Jericho is having his way with the man that Jericho says
that at one time, that Jericho emulated.
[Jerry] But poor HBK caught off guard right from the get-go here,
with the help of course of Christian with that phony entrance there.
Jericho shows up from behind, low blow, and now this is getting… Shawn Michaels!
[Ross] And Shawn Michaels eliminated by Chris Jericho.
Shawn Michaels battered and bloody,
the low blow, the chair shot, the distraction,
all combining to eliminate Shawn Michaels and I'll tell you what,
I would not have called that in a million years.
[Jerry] I can't believe my eyes.
Jericho has accomplished… Well, he's done the first part,
but now, can he do what else he said he was gonna do?
Can he go through 28 other superstars?
[Ross] Shawn Michaels is… Michaels is a bloody mess,
thanks to Chris Jericho and that chair shot.
-And Nowinski hasn't got in the ring yet. -[buzzer blaring]
["619" playing]
♪ Who's that jumpin' out the sky R-E-Y Mysterio… ♪
[Ross] There is our fourth entrant into the Royal Rumble,
making his Rumble debut, Rey Mysterio.
And Rey Mysterio from SmackDown.
[Jerry] You got that right, straight from SmackDown, Rey Mysterio,
with a rude welcome to Chris Jericho.
[Ross] And Nowinski now slithering into the ring for the first time.
-Jericho… Oh, my Lord. -[Jerry] Look out!
[Ross] What a shot to the face of Jericho by Rey Mysterio,
one of the great young superstars in the business today,
no doubt about that.
[Jerry] Has Nowinski actually gotten into the ring yet or what?
[Ross] He got about half his body in there a moment ago.
[Jerry] I'm telling you, this kid's smart. They taught him well at Harvard.
[Ross] Raw's Jericho against SmackDown's Rey Mysterio,
with a main event opportunity at WrestleMania
awaiting the winner of this Royal Rumble match.
Mysterio, look at that great balance, but to no avail as…
-[Jerry] Whoa, watch your feet. -[Ross] Rey holding on.
-Rey Mysterio holding on. -[Jerry] Look out!
[Ross] A springboard dropkick takes Jericho down.
And now Nowinski looks like he's got enough courage
to make his way into the ring.
-[crowd] …three, two, one. -[buzzer blaring]
["On The Edge" playing]
-[Jerry] Another SmackDown star, J.R. -[Ross] It's Edge!
The young man from Toronto!
[Jerry] This'll even up the odds. Look out!
[Jerry] Jericho and Nowinski, both going down.
-[Jerry] A spear. -[Ross] And SmackDown's Edge
-taking it to Nowinski and Jericho. -[Jerry] Another spear.
[Ross] Rey Mysterio up on the top turnbuckle,
to the right of your screen.
Mysterio with a hurricanrana taking down Jericho.
Jericho.
He went through the ropes, not over the top.
[Jerry] If they had sailed Jericho over the top rope
instead of through the top and middle rope,
Jericho would have been eliminated. Look at this now!
[Ross] But Jericho is not eliminated.
Now Rey Mysterio and Edge, former tag team partners, multiple times,
tag team partners to this very day.
And Edge looking for the spear, his lightning quick tag team partner--
[Jerry] You know what's coming. He missed it!
[Ross] Rey looking for that 619, couldn't connect.
-Mysterio balancing on the top rope! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And Edge, did he…
[Jerry] I think one foot hit, one foot did hit.
[Ross] SmackDown referee and the Raw referee agreeing
only one foot hit, so Edge is still in the competition.
[Jerry] That was mighty close. Edge is a lucky man right now
to still be in the Royal Rumble. Look at Rey Mysterio!
[Ross] The hurricanrana blocked into the powerbomb by Edge.
As these two SmackDown stars…
Folks, this match is truly every man for himself.
There can only be one winner,
but that one winner has the opportunity of a lifetime
awaiting him at WrestleMania.
[Jerry] I think Chris Jericho may be…
I'd say he had his lights certainly dimmed
when he went through the middle and top rope.
[Ross] Nowinski trying to come on back to the ring.
-[crowd] …one. -[buzzer blaring]
["At Last" playing]
[Jerry] I wonder if this is the real entrance for Christian.
-I think so. -[Ross] Christian entering at number six.
And Christian going right… What is this? He's hugging his brother, Edge.
That's got to be… That can't be sincere.
[Jerry] Why not? They're brothers, they're siblings.
He's trying to hook up with a partner here.
-[Ross] Partner up all right. -[Jerry] What?
[Ross] Edge just taking down his brother, Christian…
-[Jerry] What kind of brother does that? -…with a spear.
It is every man for himself.
[Jerry] But not brother against brother,
-come on. -[Ross] Oh, yeah, it is. And look out!
Nowinski! Did he…
[Jerry] Uh-oh! No, you didn't get either one of them, Chris!
[Ross] Nowinski thought he had eliminated both,
Edge and Rey Mysterio.
[Jerry] This Harvard graduate's not so smart.
Turn around, you idiot. [yells indistinctly]
-Oh, my God. -[Ross] The dropkick,
and then Edge landed right on Nowinski's face.
-[Jerry] Yeah! -[Ross] Well, magna-cum-laude that.
[Jerry] I could do with some of those brain cells.
Are you all right, Chris?
[Ross] Rey Mysterio now, peel off on Nowinski, and…
-Nowinski likes to stay after school here. -Let's go!
Bronco buster by Rey Mysterio on the Harvard graduate.
It's now ten seconds to the seventh entrant
-in the Royal Rumble match. -[crowd] …four, three, two, one.
-[buzzer blaring] -["Latino World Order" playing]
[Jerry] Poor Nowinski's got a migraine headache, I can assure.
[Ross] Another SmackDown superstar,
one half of the WWE Tag Champions, Chavo Guerrero.
[Jerry] Look at that entrance.
[Ross] And Chavo, going right for Rey Mysterio.
Again, no pinfalls, no submissions, no count-outs or disqualifications.
Only one way to be eliminated, over the top rope,
-and both feet touching the floor. -[Jerry] What about this 619?
Got him. Here we go.
Rey Mysterio, from San Diego, with that 619 calling home.
Six-one-nine!
-[Ross] And here comes another one. -[Jerry] What?
[Ross] He just made another call.
Rey Mysterio with another 619, this time on Christian,
Mysterio caught in midair by Nowinski.
Rey is trying to fight out of this thing, and… Nowinski's eliminated,
but Mysterio's feet did not touch the floor.
Rey is still on the apron. He's still alive.
[Jerry] So much for Nowinski. Well, he was alive.
[Ross] Jericho just eliminated Rey Mysterio.
Nowinski's gone and thanks to Jericho, so is SmackDown's Rey Mysterio.
[Jerry] It took a while. I was wondering where Jericho was,
but he's finally… He looks like he's recuperated,
came right back in, and he eliminated Rey Mysterio,
-rather unceremoniously. -[crowd] …six, five, four, three…
-[Jerry] Three seconds. -[Ross] Who's number eight?
-[buzzer blaring] -["Green Mist" playing]
[Ross] And it is Tajiri, the Japanese buzzsaw.
[Jerry chuckles] Look at the look on his face.
He can't wait to get in the Royal Rumble.
[Ross] Tajiri's an awesome competitor, with some dangerous kicks.
And you're seeing those kicks right here and now.
He first took down Jericho. What a shot there on Christian.
[Jerry] Tajiri, he's one of my favorite announcers on SmackDown.
-[Ross] I thought that was Funaki. -[Jerry] Well, you're right.
I get these two mixed up.
[Ross] You should watch that program. It's very good.
[Jerry] I know.
-[Ross] Chavo Guerrero now… -[Jerry] Look at this.
[Ross] A modified airplane spin from that octopus position.
I'm sure it's got a name. Somebody'll correct me later.
Head scissors by Tajiri, and…
But it's Christian trying to put Tajiri over the top to the floor.
[Jerry] I don't think he's gonna get Tajiri out that way.
[Ross] Another competitor will be here in less than 90 seconds.
And look at Jericho, Jericho and Chavo Guerrero,
very unlikely allies and that's about… The alliance is over.
-[Jerry] That's right. -[Ross] Every man for himself here.
[Jerry] Now Christian is perched up there on top of that top rope.
-He may go any minute. -[crowd] …seven, six…
[Ross] Christian teetering on that top rope.
-[crowd] …three, two, one. -[buzzer blaring]
-["No More Laughing" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Here comes a very disturbed and dangerous human being,
Bill DeMott.
And Bill DeMott knocking down Tajiri, what a big, rugged individual.
[Jerry] Very powerful, maybe one of the most powerful men
that's gonna be in this entire Royal Rumble.
[Ross] You know what, Tough Enough 3 has changed DeMott's life,
and I'm not gonna say for the better. DeMott is a rugged, nasty individual.
Big athletic, 280 pounder.
Just overpowering and hammering anything that's breathing and moving
in the ring.
[Jerry] Yeah, but leave it to the king of the world.
If he's gonna go through these other 28 superstars,
Bill DeMott's gonna have to be on that list. Come on, Jericho.
[Ross] DeMott making his Royal Rumble debut here.
-And… Jericho. -[Jerry] No, no, he's still in.
-[Ross] Jericho landed right on the apron. -[Jerry] Did you see with what ease
DeMott just threw Jericho over that top rope?
[Ross] That DeMott's a big stud, let me tell you.
He was a 340 pound fullback in college.
Run a sub 5.0 flat of 40.
He's a stallion, but he's just… Something's happened to Bill DeMott.
Now what would it mean to Bill DeMott's life?
Not just his career, but his life.
Just like every man in this Royal Rumble, to be in the main event at WrestleMania,
and that's what's at stake here. One spot, one slot,
and one only, and it only goes to the winner.
-[buzzer blaring] -["Takedown" playing]
[Jerry] Next entrant.
Oh, boy. Are your ready for this, J.R.?
[Ross] Tommy Dreamer, the ECW alumnus, is bringing some…
well, some toys with him.
[Jerry] This Royal Rumble is about to get hardcore, isn't it?
-Look out! -[Ross] What a shot there!
And again, there's no disqualifications here,
can't be counted-out, can't be disqualified.
-Dreamer's got that kendo stick. -[Jerry] Take that, Bill DeMott.
Take that, Chavo, and one for you, Christian.
[Ross] Raw's Tommy Dreamer hitting SmackDown and Raw superstars.
Jericho got hit right in the face, and Tajiri tried to go for the kick,
but missed.
[Jerry] Are you sure that's not Funaki? Oh, man, that didn't miss!
[Ross] Man, look at this. My God. He's a 280 pound piñata, is Bill DeMott.
And DeMott beaten out of the ring by Edge and Dreamer.
[Jerry] That's a perfect way to put it, beaten out of the ring.
-Look out! -[Ross] Con-chair-to, so to speak,
with those trashcan lids from Jericho and Christian.
Jericho is just…
Tommy Dreamer, assaulted and then eliminated.
[Jerry] I see something maybe developing there.
That alliance between Christian and Jericho.
[Ross] Tajiri! Springboarding off the ropes.
I'll tell you what, stranger things has happened
in the Royal Rumble.
Mr. McMahon entered one year at number two,
only eliminated one guy all night, that was Stone Cold,
and won the Royal Rumble. Tajiri can win this thing.
He has the ability, in my view.
[Jerry] Look at this!
-[Ross] A tarantula attempt and… -[Jerry] Oh, no!
[Ross] Jericho blocked the tarantula and eliminates Tajiri.
[buzzer blaring]
[Jerry] And you were saying Tajiri can win this thing.
-[Ross] Well, I was wrong. -[Jerry] What's new?
[Ross] And here comes B², former running buddy of John Cena.
A little dinged from his last SmackDown encounter
with… with John Cena.
Cena's… Cena's buddy, I guess.
[Jerry] Boy, here's a guy that reminds you sort of that Bill DeMott.
I mean, just a big, powerful, rawboned, rugged individual.
Actually, when you look at these Royal Rumbles,
in fact, you don't have to be the best wrestler to win.
[Ross] And a nice showing, he just didn't make it very long.
[Jerry] You could be a brawler,
whatever kind of fighter to win this thing.
-[Ross] Chavo holding on. -[Jerry] I think only one foot hit.
[Ross] And a spear!
Edge has eliminated his fellow teammate from SmackDown, Chavo Guerrero.
-And Jericho will be… -[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Jericho, shades of Shawn Michaels, 1995, and Jericho stays alive!
[Jerry] Hey!
[Ross] And Jericho just eliminated both, Edge and Christian.
[Jerry] So much for the Jericho-Christian alliance
-that I saw developing. -[Ross] So much for the unity.
Jericho with a big knot on his head from Tommy Dreamer's kendo stick shot.
-Look at that knot right between his eyes. -[Jerry] He looks like a unicorn.
[Ross] So much for the Canadian unity.
The young man from Winnipeg eliminates two from Toronto.
-[crowd] …three, two, one. -[Ross] And who's next?
-[buzzer blaring] -["One of a Kind" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] God, they're on their feet!
[Jerry] It's him, it's Rob Van Dam!
[Ross] Fifteen thousand, 338 just came out of their seats
when they heard that music.
And now Van Dam and Jericho. Two Raw superstars.
Van Dam going upstairs, going downstairs. Misses the roundhouse kick.
Straight kick caught Jericho right in the face.
[Jerry] Right on that big busted open knob on his forehead.
It's gonna get bigger as this night goes on.
[Ross] This ain't ballet here in the Royal Rumble.
The 15th Royal Rumble well underway, the Road to WrestleMania has begun.
The reverse elbow by RVD, high risk offense taking down Jericho.
Again, no pinfalls, and no submissions here.
[Jerry] I know things don't look good for Jericho right now,
but you gotta give the devil his due, he said he's gonna beat Shawn Michaels
-and he did. -[Ross] Rolling thunder.
[Jerry] Jericho's beaten everybody else so far.
Can he take care of Rob Van Dam?
[Ross] Van Dam making his second Royal Rumble appearance,
-and what a knockout shot. -[Jerry] You're not kidding.
[Ross] Almost a modified version of Shining Wizard
that Hurricane Helms is launching down as the world views this.
[Jerry] How did that not put Jericho's lights out?
[Ross] How badly does Jericho wanna be in the main event at WrestleMania?
I think we saw how desperate he was when he assaulted Shawn Michaels
with a low blow and a steel chair shot.
[Jerry] The truth of the matter is-- Oh, there you go.
[Ross] And he's gone. No, he's not.
[Jerry] What Jericho wants to do is follow in the footsteps of Shawn Michaels.
-[crowd] …two, one! -[buzzer blaring]
[Ross] And Van Dam almost eliminated Jericho.
-["Live For The Moment" playing] -[Jerry] Uh-oh!
-Are you ready for some Mattitude? -[Ross] Version One.
Matt Hardy with his disciple there, or whatever you call him, his follower,
Shannon Moore, who's not in the Royal Rumble,
as best I know.
[Jerry] And Matt strongly dislikes mustard
and he's not too crazy about Rob Van Dam either.
[Ross] Matt Hardy from SmackDown, taking down Rob Van Dam.
[Jerry] Well, I think he just told Chris Jericho, "Come on, let's get Rob."
[Ross] Well, double-team here.
Jericho and Matt Hardy, at least for the moment, on the same page,
neither can be trusted.
[Jerry] I know it's every man for himself, but if you get a chance,
this is the smartest thing to do.
If you can't get a two-on-one situation, you gotta try to get everybody eliminated
but yourself and if somebody will help you eliminate somebody, more power to him.
[Ross] Jericho told Matt, just said, "Let's double-team him."
And that's exactly what's happening here, a double-team effort…
And Van Dam avoided contact, but Matt Hardy does not.
Another roundhouse heel kick knocking down Jericho,
abrupt face shot by Van Dam,
and Van Dam having to fight off two men here.
[Jerry] Van Dam, I know, you're right. He's gotta fight off two men,
but look at king of the world there, he's got to be exhausted.
Jericho's been in there from the opening bell.
-[Ross] Matt Hardy was our 13th entrant. -[Jerry] Look out!
[Ross] Jericho, nobody home. Jericho, enter number two.
Spinning heel kick by Rob Van Dam, knocking down Chris Jericho.
Jericho's battered and wounded. And now Van Dam's going up top.
Van Dam, the master of the Five-Star Frog Splash.
[Jerry] He hit all five of it.
[Ross] He hit all of it, hit Van Dam on Jericho.
And Matt Hardy now tryna take advantage,
but Van Dam, with that amazing agility, able to hook that top rope.
[Jerry] Those educated feet, I think some of his toes grabbed that top rope.
-["Latino Heat" playing] -[Jerry] Hey! "Latino Heat."
-[chuckles] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Eddie Guerrero.
Another SmackDown superstar and one half of the WWE Tag Champions
had just entered the fray, hammering on Rob Van Dam,
who has been beaten down by Jericho and Matt Hardy.
Jericho is wounded,
that huge golf ball size knob on his head from the kendo stick.
Eddie Guerrero and Matt Hardy getting it on,
every man for himself.
[Jerry] Look at Eddie Guerrero go. I've missed him since he left Raw.
I miss saying, "Latino heat."
-[groans] -[Jerry] And he's still hot.
[Ross] Guerrero set for the ride
-and Van Dam tryna load up-- -[Jerry] Rob Van Dam.
[Ross] And Van Dam monkey flipping Uncle Eddie halfway across the ring.
Eddie Guerrero…
And look at Van Dam muscling away right back to that top turnbuckle.
Guerrero now is almost out of here, and Matt Hardy hammers Van Dam.
[Jerry] Boy, lucky for Guerrero that his foot hooked that second rope
-or he would've been gone. -[Ross] Matt Hardy, I don't know
if it's a smart move or not, or maybe it was. Eddie Guerrero…
[Jerry] Here comes the real Five-Star Frog Splash.
[Ross] Right on the face of Van Dam. Eddie Guerrero got more face than chest.
-[Jerry] What? -[Ross] Now, Matt Hardy…
The Twist of Fate on Eddie Guerrero.
[Jerry] Can nobody be trusted?
-[Ross] Every hombre for himself, Eddie. -[Jerry] It's all about the Mattitude.
[Ross] It's no time to parade around the ring.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Ross] Version One.
-["No More Words" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] It's another Hardy. -[Jerry] Look at this.
-[Ross] It's Matt's brother, Jeff. -[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, wait.
-[indistinct dialogue] -[Jerry] Matt's right.
It shouldn't be brother against brother.
-[Ross] Team up-- -[Jerry] What? Come on, Jeff, team up.
[Ross] We are halfway home to Royal Rumble.
Jeff Hardy, the 15th entrant
singled out his brother, Matt, the two young men,
from the state of North Carolina, getting it on. A jawbreaker by Jeff.
[Jerry] It's like Christian and Edge all over again, brother against brother.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] These two men have-- Oh, look out.
-[Jerry] No, no, no. -[Ross] Oh, look at that. Shannon Moore.
-He's trying to help Matt… -[Jerry] Yeah.
-…stay in this match. That's not fair. -[Jerry] That's a smart move.
-You said anything goes in this match. -[Ross] Well, it is, but it's not fair.
Jeff Hardy, the 15th entrant in the Royal Rumble.
And Jeff got a Twist of Fate, from Jeff to his brother, Matt.
Both these men had eliminated each other in previous Rumbles.
[Jerry] You know what's coming-- Wait a minute.
[Ross] And Shannon Moore trying-- Get out of the way!
-You're not even in this match. -[Jerry] This may not be fair.
He's gonna sacrifice himself and he did!
[Ross] Swanton right on Shannon Moore,
right through to brother Matt Hardy from Jeff Hardy.
Eddie Guerrero with a dropkick on Jeff.
-[Jerry] We got another contestant. -[buzzer blaring]
-["3-Minute Warning" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Ross] Well, here comes about 400 pounds, 3-Minute Warning's Rosey.
[Jerry] I want you to tell me. I want you look in the ring.
I want you to look at all of those superstars in the Royal Rumble
and tell me one of them is gonna be able to throw this guy over the top rope.
[Ross] I'm not gonna make any predictions on that.
-It's gonna take more than one. -[Jerry] You're right there.
[Ross] Matt Hardy about to be eliminated.
And Rosey, that's 400 pounds.
He is an animal, there's no doubt about that.
And Rosey from Raw.
Squaring off with Rob Van Dam,
and Van Dam using those kicks to goes downstairs.
[Jerry] You know what's great about this Royal Rumble, J.R.?
[Ross] What's that?
[Jerry] It's one of the times that to see the Raw superstars
-go against SmackDown superstars. -[Ross] Oh, man!
What a kick, what flexibility from a 400 pounder.
[Jerry] That was a Raw on Raw right there.
-[Ross] That was a Raw kick to the face. -[Jerry] Hey, hey, there you goes! No.
[Ross] Matt Hardy hanging on.
And we have had a lot of near falls, if you will, on these men hanging on
and hanging on for dear life.
[Jerry] Speaking of hanging on for dear life, look.
The king of the world, Jericho, still in the Royal Rumble.
He started this thing and he's still hanging in there.
[crowd] Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
-[Ross] Our 17th competitor. -[buzzer blaring]
-["This Is a Test" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, baby.
[Ross] And the Testicles are on their feet, those fans of Test.
[Jerry] Testicles have feet?
-I know what you mean. -[Ross] The fans of Test.
You're looking at Stacy again, like you…
[Jerry] She's got feet and she's got legs that go all the way up to make a-- Well…
[Ross] All right, we got it. We know about the anatomy.
And look at this, Test, 6'7", 280, with his work director, Stacy at ringside,
looking on approvingly.
And Test has come in and has had nothing but business.
[Jerry] He's fired up.
You hang out with Stacy Keibler, that'd keep you fired up, wouldn't it?
[Ross] Test stayed the longest in the 2000 Royal Rumble
before it was won by The Rock.
[Jerry] Oh, look out. Look out there.
Test almost passed Chris Jericho right out of the ring,
but Jericho has got his leg hooked onto that bottom rope.
[Ross] Test coming in at number 17.
And now you're getting in those promise land of entrants
when you get around that 20 mark.
From 20 on, you got a hell of a chance of winning this thing
and earning a main event spot at WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Well, you know, I'm predicting that…
He's made a believer out of me.
I'm predicting that Jericho is gonna win this thing.
[Ross] Well, he may do it. He may do it.
He's hung in there this far. He's got a long, long way to go.
[Jerry] He's been emulating HBK tonight. He's been emulating Vince McMahon.
♪ Yo, yo, yo, thugonomic style Now, now, put down your tea party ♪
♪ Get away from your John Hancock Because I'm rocking it thugonomic style ♪
♪ Yo ♪
♪ Besides open mic One thing that gets me boiled ♪
♪ Is an old school 30-man battle Royal ♪
♪ I'm gonna win this I'm gonna make my impression ♪
♪ Show Vinnie Mac That I got ruthless aggression ♪
♪ The odds were even Until you chose me ♪
♪ Now it's 29 dudes And one ruthless MC ♪
♪ Yo, it doesn't matter, kid Because I'll rip your nose off ♪
♪ I can battle you naked With no clothes on, kid ♪
♪ What are you talking about? Three reasons I'm gonna win this ♪
♪ Reason number one I'll cut you up like cucumbers ♪
♪ Reason number two As you can't approach this ♪
♪ I'll be choking you Like Sprewell be choking coaches ♪
♪ Reason number three Is hard for me to explain to you ♪
♪ But I'm gonna win tonight And go on to WrestleMania ♪
♪ The Royal Rumble Is just another test that I gotta pass ♪
♪ Y'all dudes are like "Keep it one leg'd, you half assed"♪
♪ Yo, what are you talking about, kid You can't touch this ♪
♪ Throw the double clutches If you down with untouches ♪
♪ Yo, it's my year I suggest you take the year off ♪
♪ I'm sick like Tyson was When he bit Holyfield's ear off ♪
♪ It doesn't matter, kid Yo, you should stop defeat me ♪
♪ My style's like a swollen penis You can't beat me ♪
[Jerry chuckles] Do you like the rap, J.R.?
[Ross] Ninety seconds of-- What the hell did he say?
Word your mother…
[Jerry] I'm not gonna repeat that last part.
[Ross] And Van Dam going out after John Cena.
Cena is an amazing, young athletic prospect on SmackDown.
He's a future main event player and you're in the main event
at WrestleMania if you can win the Royal Rumble match.
Cena has got his whole career ahead of him, a great young prospect,
-but he rapped for 90 seconds. -[buzzer blaring]
[Jerry] What's wrong with that? He's still in the Royal Rumble.
["Medal" playing]
[Ross] Here comes a proud member of Team Angle, Charlie Haas,
from Edmond, Oklahoma, a graduate of Seton Hall.
Another amateur all-American, and he's hammering away
on his SmackDown brethren, Matt Hardy.
[Jerry] I'm gonna tell you something, Charlie Haas is special. Anybody--
I just know it because Kurt Angle picked him out.
Kurt Angle recognized the same quality and ability
that Kurt Angle possesses in Charlie Haas.
[Ross] Charlie is a Haas. No doubt about it.
Again, a great amateur from Oklahoma, the Seton Hall degree.
Academic All-American, but I'll tell you what,
this ain't about academics here. If you exchange right hands
-with a 400 pounder-- -[Jerry] Wait. Hold up.
-Did you say he's from Oklahoma? -[Ross] Yes.
-[Jerry] He's an Academic All-American? -[Ross] What're you trying to get to?
-[Jerry] Just asking. -[Ross] Yeah.
[Ross] He went to Seton Hall.
Van Dam and Jeff Hardy exchanging those right hands.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Test is in trouble over there.
[Ross] Matt Hardy is tryna put Test out.
-[Jerry] Jeff Hardy over-- There you go. -[Ross] Oh, there goes Jeff.
-[Jerry] Crashed and burned. -[Ross] Jeff Hardy, the daredevil,
from Cameron, North Carolina, has been eliminated. Jeff came in at 15.
[Jerry] Those high flying maneuvers sometimes-- Oh.
[Ross] Van Dam pushing Jeff Hardy off that top turnbuckle.
Every man for himself here.
Eddie Guerrero walking the turnbuckle into the hurricanrana,
-taking down Chris Jericho. -[Jerry] Latino heat!
[Ross] Jericho has gotta have a throbbing headache.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Ross] Maybe a concussion.
-["You Look Fly 2 Day" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Speaking of throbbing.
[Ross] Here comes a man that has been in more Royal Rumbles
-than any athlete in WWE history. -[Jerry] Really?
[Ross] Rikishi has been in eight.
-[Jerry] But you know what? -[Ross] What?
-[Jerry] He's never won one. -[Ross] He has not.
Rikishi eliminated more men in the 2000 Royal Rumble than anybody.
He eliminated seven men by himself.
[Jerry] He'd like nothing better than to change his luck here
in the 2003 Royal Rumble. And, so far he's…
He'd like to be on that Road to WrestleMania.
-[Ross] And, look at this. -[Rosey] What's up, dog?
[Ross] The kinship of Rikishi and Rosey.
[Jerry] No love lost in this… What the hell is Shannon Moore doing here?
[crowd exclaims]
[Ross] Shannon Moore just got real close to some Mattitude.
And a little bit of teamwork there from Rosey and Rikishi.
Wait a minute. Don't tell me. Well, Rosey and Rikishi working together.
-Oh! -[Jerry] For a second!
[Ross] Rosey turned Rikishi inside-out with that clothesline.
And it looked like Shannon Moore and Matt Hardy were gonna get a face-full.
And, now look at John Cena. Cena and Rikishi.
[Jerry] Rikishi can't touch this or that.
[Ross] In SmackDown, they have developed quite the rivalry, Cena and Rikishi.
-[crowd] Four, three, two, one. -[buzzer blaring]
["3 Minute Warning" playing]
[Jerry] And now business is about to pick up.
These two guys, they will get along.
[Ross] Here is the second member of the 3-Minute Warning, Jamal,
coming in at number 21 in his Royal Rumble debut here tonight.
[Jerry] Jamal and Rosey they could dominate this Royal Rumble
-from this point on. -[Ross] And Jamal…
-[Jerry] That had him. -…going right to his brother
in there, Rikishi. And Rikishi got the first shot in on Jamal.
[Jerry] Watch it.
-[Ross] Beef-on-beef there. -[Jerry] I think I saw a tooth fly.
-[Ross] Back side to belly. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Hey. No. No, don't do it. No, don't do it.
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross chuckles] No.
[Ross] I wonder what Rikishi had for lunch today.
-Probably Jamal could tell us. -[Jerry] Please.
[Ross] Royal Rumble is live in 34 countries tonight.
Officially in a 150 countries on tape delay.
And wherever you are, we wanna thank you so much
for inviting us into your home here tonight at the Royal Rumble.
But, folks, we got a long way to go.
How about let's go over every year to the Royal Rumble?
It's like Christmas almost. It only comes once a year.
[wrestlers grunt]
[Ross] And Jamal laying it in on Rikishi with those big right hands
and now Rosey over to get him some as well.
-[Jerry] He'll pay the price for that-- -[Ross] And Van Dam-- Oh, Van Dam
put the brakes on at the very last moment.
Van Dam now, going back up to the top.
-[buzzer blaring] -["Slow Chemical" playing]
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Ross] And now, King, I can tell you, without a doubt
that business has picked up because the Big Red Machine
has walked through this hellfire. He will bring the brimstone.
And, Kane, the man that has eliminated more people
in the Royal Rumble than any competitor in history, 11 in 2001.
No one has ever come close to that record.
[Jerry] That big, fat freak is about to heat up the Royal Rumble.
You're right. Look at this.
[Ross] Kane lasted-- Eliminated 11 men in 2001.
[Jerry] If we look at this Rumble right now,
there're probably more men left in there right at the moment--
-Hey, wait a minute, not Rico. -[Ross] Rico, the…
[Jerry] He's not even in this thing.
…the mentor of the 3-Minute Warning.
Kane lasted to the very end at 2001 before he was beaten
-by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin… -[Jerry] Whoa.
…the Rumble's only three-time winner.
[Jerry] Talk about… Who's gonna be…
-either Rosey or Jamal out of this thing. -[Ross] Well, the-- Oh, look at this.
Kane now, after eliminating Jamal, double chokeslam.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] The Big Red Machine…
-[Jerry] There goes Y2J. -…is looking to be in the main event.
And Jericho-- Oh! Jericho is gone! Is he gone? I can't see it.
No!
-[Jerry] Game on, Jericho. -[Ross] I think Jericho made it.
He is still in.
Our referee signaled Jericho is still alive.
-[crowd] …one! -[buzzer blaring]
["Medal" playing]
[Ross] And here comes the second member of Team Angle,
Shelton Benjamin, another All-American, from the University of Minnesota.
[Jerry] And look at these guys go right to work together.
[Ross] Shelton Benjamin, national champion in wrestling,
a national champion in track and field.
[Jerry] They're part of Team Angle and they are a true team.
[Ross] I've never heard of an athlete being an outstanding wrestler
and being the fastest man in his division, Shelton Benjamin, an All-American,
wining a 100-yard dash, after being an All-American wrestler.
[Jerry] He got world-class feet and that may come in handy
-in this Royal Rumble. -[Ross] He's a world-class athlete.
Kurt Angle has picked some good ones here. And Shelton Benjamin holding on.
-Look out, look out, look out. -[Jerry] Matt? Is that Matt?
[Ross] Matt Hardy holding on.
And you're seeing these men hold on with every ounce of strength
in their body tonight, knowing what awaits them
if they win this match, a big "If," King.
[Jerry] Which of these men, if one of these men in the ring
right now, J.R., is gonna win this Royal Rumble?
Who's gonna start hitting down that Road to WrestleMania?
[Ross] You can't count out Jericho because he's a survivor,
but the Big Red Machine has come in and asserted himself.
[Jerry] Earlier on, I said, Jericho, I'm gonna stick with him.
-My second choice would be Kane. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Seven, six, five…
[Ross] How about Guerrero?
And Eddie Guerrero holding on for dear life.
[buzzer blaring]
-["Can You Dig It Sucka!" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Hey. Wait a minute. I may change my choice.
[Jerry] He's a former five-time WCW Champion.
And an 11-time Tag Champion,
but Booker T has never headlined the main event at WrestleMania,
-in the Huston native-- Oh, my… -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, look at this.
[Ross] Booker T with a scissor kick.
Oh, Booker feels it. Booker felt that right hand of Matt Hardy.
Booker T entrant number 24 in the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. Booker T is feeling it.
Not a Royal Rumble Spinaroonie. Yes, we're gonna see it right here.
[Ross] Booker T Spinaroonie in the Rumble.
And Booker T-- Oh, Booker T eliminated Eddie Guerrero.
Eddie Guerrero may have hurt his knee going out.
And, now Booker T is gonna build some momentum on Rikishi.
Rikishi knocked down by Booker T.
[Jerry] Team Angle is still hanging in there.
Kane is still in, Rikishi, Booker T just arrived,
Matt Hardy is still there.
[Ross] Jericho is amazing, came in at number two…
-[Jerry] I don't know. -…and Booker T was number 24.
[Jerry] I don't have to tell you Jericho's in there. He's my pick.
He ain't going nowhere.
And Rob Van Dam's still alive.
[Ross] Van Dam came in at number 12, he is still alive.
Clear away our 25th entrant into the 2003 Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] John Cena is there as well, looking good.
-[buzzer blaring] -["Derailer" playing]
-[bell ringing] -[Jerry] Hey… all aboard.
[Ross] Oh, here's a big horse, let me tell you.
Menswear or not, over eight and three-eighths.
-The A-Train… -[Jerry exclaims]
…with that A-Train bomb.
Six feet-eight, 350.
Backbreaker on the All-American Benjamin of Team Angle.
-[Jerry] Rob Van Dam… -[A-Train screams]
-[Ross exclaims] -[Jerry] Good grief.
[Ross] The A-Train is…
There's that kick from the back side.
A thunderous kick by the 350-pound Rikishi.
[wrestlers grunt]
-[Ross] Jericho hammering… Oh, Jericho-- -[Jerry] He's going. No, he's going.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
-[Ross] He's going this time. -[Jerry] Hold on.
[Ross] That Jericho has got nine lives.
Oh, raking the eyes of Rikishi, was Jericho.
[Jerry] Look at big A-Train, came here like freight train, didn't he?
[Ross] Yeah, he did. He caused some havoc.
-[Jerry] Hey. -[Ross] There's Shawn Michaels.
[Jerry] What's he doing? He's not supposed to be out here.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels has got medical attention.
He's been busted open by Jericho early.
-[Jerry] We've got an illegal entrant. -[Ross] Michael's been eliminated.
[Jerry] This is not right.
[Ross] Michaels is the number one entrant.
The low blow and a chair shot caused Michaels
-to be eliminated by Jericho. -[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] And Jericho is gone! -[Jerry] Oh!
[Ross] Test eliminated Jericho. And for Shawn Michaels,
-Test threw Jericho. -[Jerry] Look out.
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] And Michaels over the top,
Michaels over the top right at Jericho's face.
[Jerry] Do something. Get him out of here.
You don't believe that he's come to it like this.
[indistinct clamor]
[Ross] Jericho's gotta remember. You don't hunt what you can't kill.
[Jerry] Yeah, but Shawn Michaels is the reason
that Jericho has been eliminated. This is not right.
[Ross] Well, Jericho got a taste of his own medicine.
-[Jerry] Jericho is my pick, damn it. -[buzzer blaring]
-[upbeat rock music playing] -[Ross] You better pick somebody else.
-[Ross] And here comes Maven. -[Jerry] I'm not picking him.
[Ross] Maven eliminated The Undertaker one year.
[Jerry] I'm still going with Kane. Kane's my second pick.
[Ross] He got broken in half by The Undertaker,
who has entered in this Royal Rumble match.
[Ross] Maven fired up on Kane.
[Jerry] Hey, leave him alone. That's my second pick, Maven.
There you go. Get him, Kane.
-[Ross] Kane overpowering Maven. -[Jerry] Yeah, get him, Kane. Oh, wow.
[Ross] The ring is filling back up.
Shawn Michaels has made sure that Chris Jericho
will not be in the main event at WrestleMania.
-Kane tryna put out Maven. -[Jerry] That should get him sued.
If there was a law that would have been against it.
There should be a law, or rule, or something. Look at A-Train.
[Ross] A big slam by…
[Jerry] How is that allowed?
How can Shawn Michaels be allowed
to just come back in the ring like that, J.R.?
-Tell me. -[Ross] I don't know, he's not allowed.
-[Jerry] Well, how'd he do it? -[Ross] Well, you saw what he did.
[Jerry] I did see what he did. Now, Jericho's out of the Royal Rumble.
[Ross] It wasn't Shawn Michaels that threw Jericho over. It was Test.
[Jerry] Jericho just got derailed from the Road to WrestleMania.
[Ross] That's just too damn bad, isn't it, King?
-[Jerry] It is bad. -[Ross] The Road to WrestleMania
has got some curves and some bumps in a row,
and we're seeing them here tonight.
-[crowd] Seven… -[Ross] Twenty-seven.
[Ross] Three men have entered at 27 in the past that have won this thing.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Jerry] Who's this?
["Gold-Lust" playing]
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Well, it's bizarro world.
The longer they come, the more bizarre they get.
[music concludes]
[Ross] And Goldust in at number 27.
[Jerry] Goldust is going right after Team Angle.
[Ross] Goldust on Raw. Nice powerslam by Goldust.
Goldust, a former Tag Team Champion on Raw just a few weeks ago.
[Jerry] Oh, boy.
[Ross] Again, no disqualifications here, it's all legal.
-[Jerry] This is legal. Oh. -[crowd exclaims]
-[Ross] It still hurts like hell though. -[Jerry] Golden Globe Award.
[Ross] Hard right hand by Goldust, teeing off on Charlie Haas of Team Angle.
He's now hammering another Team Angle member.
-[Jerry exclaims] -[Ross] Goldust eliminated by Haas
and Shelton Benjamin. Team Angle eliminates Goldust.
[Jerry] I'm telling you, those two, promising young men there, Team Angle
[Ross] Two great athletes, two pure wrestlers.
And there's Booker T now.
[Jerry] Unfortunately, one of those great athletes, pure wrestlers
looks like a sucka right now.
You're dead, sucka.
[Ross] Booker T! Booker T! Are you gonna make it to WrestleMania?
-Booker T fighting for everything he's-- -[Jerry] Oh, Team Angle…
[Ross] Team Angle, both men eliminated Booker T.
[Jerry] First Goldust, now Booker T? Team Angle is on a roll.
I think I'm changing my pick J.R., just like I said,
Team Angle is gonna win this thing.
-[Ross] Two men can't win it. -[Jerry] You gotta work as a team.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Ross] Rolling thunder by Van Dam.
["I Walk Alone" playing]
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Ross] Oh, my God.
You talk about a raw animal,
a 317-pound animal, ladies and gentlemen.
-That's Batista. -[Jerry] That's my pick, Batista.
He was my pick all along.
[Ross] Batista making his Royal Rumble debut,
6'6", 317. Oh, my God, almost beheading John Cena.
-[Jerry] He may have rapped his last rap. -[Ross] I can dig that, dawg.
Wow, what a shot that was.
[overlapping chatter]
-I embarrassed myself, didn't it? -[Jerry] Yes.
Look at Batista though. He's not gonna embarrass himself.
-[Ross] Nothing's pretty about Batista. -[Jerry] He's my new pick.
[Ross] Straight away aggression. And Test trying to pick that leg up.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. What's Test doing?
[Ross] Full Nelson Slam by Test, taking down Batista.
-And-- Oh, Batista. -[Jerry] Hang in there, hang on, Batista.
[Ross] He's got that big arm, he ain't going nowhere.
-Oh, and Test is going to the showers. -[Jerry] Stacey is going with him.
[Ross] Just to the dismay of the Testicles,
Test fans, Test is eliminated by Batista.
And Batista just manhandled the 350-pound Rikishi.
[Jerry] Who do we got that's still in there? There's A-Train,
still got Angle Team going.
[Ross] Remember, the winner meets his brand's champion.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Ross] Rikishi is gone!
[Jerry] That's it, Rikishi, you're out.
Oh, he wasn't my pick. There's my pick right there, Batista.
-[Ross] And business picked up… -[Jerry] I'm gonna stick by that pick.
[Jerry] I almost picked A-Train, I like him.
A-Train's really a nice guy. He'd give me the hair off his back.
[Ross] You pick more women than you do wives.
[Jerry] What?
-[buzzer blaring] -["Next Big Thing" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] Oh, my, here comes the pain, King.
Here comes the man that beat the Big Show earlier tonight
to earn this opportunity into the Royal Rumble.
And Brock Lesnar is coming out number 29.
[Jerry] I forget about Brock Lesnar. Batista…
[Ross] And Brock Lesnar knocking down his former teammates, Shelton Benjamin.
Hammering away at Seton Hall and Team Angle's Charlie Haas.
Down goes Maven.
[Jerry] How many guys have tried to avoid running into the arms of Brock Lesnar?
[Ross] Lesnar is a former All-American for the University of Minnesota,
former National Champion, the youngest man to ever be WWE Champion.
And Kane-- Batista and Jamal,
two huge men trying to eliminate Kane.
[Jerry] And Team Angle is trying to eliminate Brock Lesnar.
-And they may do it right here. What? -[Ross] No!
Lesnar eliminated both members of Team Angle.
Brock Lesnar just eliminated both Haas and Benjamin.
-[Jerry] Oh, boy. -[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] Oh, an F-5! -[Jerry] Look out! Good grief.
-[Ross] An F-5 to the outside! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] He manhandled--
Oh, that damn Brock Lesnar just manhandled Matt Hardy.
Good God, King, look at that.
[Jerry] Check it out, a F-5 right to the outside.
Thank goodness Team Angle was still hanging around.
Batista stay away from Brock Lesnar.
-[Ross] A scissor kick by the A-Train… -Son of a bitch!
…350 pounds, 6'8".
The winner of this match will meet his brand's champion
in the main event at WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Look at the ring, there's some monsters in there now, J.R.
-[crowd] Six, five, four… -[Jerry] Some huge individuals.
-Who's next? -[Ross] Here comes number 30,
I'll give you a guess.
-["You're Gonna Pay" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Ross] It may be the biggest and the baddest of all time.
♪ …A big mistake, and I can't allow… ♪
[Jerry] He's back.
♪ …You to think you can just walk away… ♪
[Ross] The phenom known as The Undertaker…
making his return to the competition since being injured by the Big Show.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Yes, he's back. -[Ross] The conscience of the WWE…
can go to WrestleMania in the main event if he can win this match.
-And there are no more entrants. -[music concludes]
[Jerry] What you see is what you get on the Road to WrestleMania
in the Royal Rumble here.
[Ross] Every entrant now has come to the ring.
The Undertaker was number 30. The Undertaker with right hands…
and he is whipping some ass like a government mule here.
-What a shot and there goes Cena. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] One huge right arm from The Undertaker
and Cena is out of here.
[Ross] And those two gloves of the Undertaker
rocking everything that moves.
And there goes the 350-pounder, Jamal.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] My God, The Undertaker is walking tall here.
[Jerry] Oh, look, look, Maven thought he was gonna strike again.
[Ross] Maven eliminated The Undertaker last year
-and then got broken in half. -[Jerry cackles]
He dropkicked The Undertaker from behind just like that.
-[Ross] And The Phenom doesn't forget. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] The Undertaker drilling Maven.
[Jerry] This is probably what should've happened last year.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Bye, Maven. -[Ross] And Maven is eliminated
Emphatically by The Undertaker.
-Now, from behind… -[Jerry] A-Train!
[Ross] A-Train, oh! The A-Train bomb on The Undertaker.
What a high impact move.
This A-Train is the big old monster, let me tell you.
And Kane sent for a ride by Brock Lesnar, who can't connect with the clothesline.
And Kane, the Big Red Machine, can he get-- Yes, he does, chokeslam!
-Chokeslam by Kane. -[crowd exclaims]
Kane manhandled Brock Lesnar.
[Jerry] We're down to six superstars. Batista, hang on. Can I change my pick?
[Ross] I don't know how much Brock Lesnar got in his tank
after that match earlier tonight with the Big Show.
-What a beautiful kick. -[Jerry] Oh! Beautiful.
[Ross] Inside-outside, upside-down comes Rob Van Dam.
[Jerry] Wait, these two guys said they weren't gonna work together?
Every man for himself, what happened to that?
[Ross] It's still every man for himself. Look at this damn A-Train.
-[Jerry] Good grief. -[Ross] A-Train asserting himself.
[Jerry] He'll hit you like a freight train. What?
[Ross] Oh, look what he's gonna do here.
A-Train gonna load up Kane, who's over 300--
And Van Dam saved Kane there, came with high impact.
-And now the Tag Team-- -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Ross] Rob Van Dam and Kane have eliminated the A-Train.
Good teamwork by Van Dam and Kane.
[Jerry] He's off the track to WrestleMania.
These guys are functioning as a team.
They said they weren't gonna do it, now they're doing it.
-[Ross] Look at this teamwork. -[Jerry] Oh, Batista! He's my pick.
-[Ross] Oh! -[Jerry chuckling] Look at that!
-[Ross] Well, I mean, that shocks me. -[Jerry] Why?
He told him he was gonna do it.
[Ross] I know it's every man for himself, right?
I didn't think-- Oh, God, that Batista almost beheaded Kane
after Kane eliminated RVD. And, yes, I know it's every man for himself.
And two big bulls, the battling bulls knocked each other down.
-[Jerry] Get up, Batista, get up. -[Ross] Two big Raw studs.
[Jerry] Speaking of "Two big Raw studs," look at this face-off.
[Ross] And now two big SmackDown studs are looking at each other.
Hell in a Cell, I'll never forget that Hell in a Cell match
with Lesnar and The Undertaker as long as I live.
[Jerry] They're ready to get it on. Here we go.
[Ross] Undertaker's come to fight. Undertaker has come here to win
this Royal Rumble match. And Batista and Kane…
We're down to the final four.
[Jerry] Lesnar and The Undertaker blindsided.
[Ross] Two superstars from Raw, two superstars from SmackDown
in the final four here, let's see who will go to WrestleMania
and meet their Champion in the main event.
[Jerry] Come on, we got to pull for Raw. Come on, Batista.
-[groans] -[grunts]
[Ross] What a body shot, The Undertaker breaking Batista
-with body shots. Hard body shots. -[Jerry] Fight back, Batista, fight back.
[Ross] Batista may have busted some ribs there
from those thunderous right hands and a clear shot right to the temple,
but Batista is still standing.
[Batista grunts]
[Ross] The Undertaker sent for the ride and manhandled,
Batista, 317, manhandling The Undertaker, taking every shot
that The Phenom can dish out.
[Jerry] Undertaker is down, now Brock is down.
[Ross] And now the two Raw guys-- The two Raw superstars,
double teaming the SmackDown superstar, Lesnar.
And, King, I wonder what Lesnar has got left in his tank
after that war with the Big Show earlier tonight.
[Jerry] I think he's about to show us.
[Ross] Oh, look at that, belly-to-belly overhead.
[Jerry] Get away, Batista, get away.
-[Ross] A 317-pound-- -[Jerry] Stay out of the way.
-Oh, no. -[Ross] And, Lesnar…
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] Lesnar's gonna…
-[Jerry] My second pick! Whoa! -[Ross] F-5s! Kane.
-[Jerry] He didn't go over the top rope. -[Ross] That took a lot out of Lesnar.
-Look it now, now they're… -[Jerry] Took more out of Kane.
[Ross] Now, let's see it, now let's get it on.
Let's see this fight,
let's see The Undertaker and Lesnar get it on.
-[Jerry] Oh, here they go. -[Ross] Here we go now.
Right hands by The Undertaker, a right hand by Lesnar,
who's gonna blink, who's gonna go down?
[Jerry] Look at these huge shots by these individuals.
[Ross] They're beating the hell out of each other,
The Undertaker and Lesnar.
They make take each other right out of the Rumble.
Damn, what a shot with that huge boot right to the face.
And Lesnar suffered one of those earlier tonight against the Big Show.
[Jerry] Well, Lesnar got the upper hand to those
with those huge right hands but this huge right foot…
Ow, that had to hurt.
[Ross] And Undertaker almost was eliminated there.
He may have caught a break. Oh, my God.
[Jerry] This ain't no break. Throw him over the top.
-[crowd cheering] -[shrieks]
[Jerry] Throw him over the top.
[Ross] Undertaker is not looking for elimination,
he's looking for extinction, and the Tombstone. The Tombstone!
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Ross] Tombstone Piledriver
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Lesnar with that 20-inch neck, just got tested.
He was dropped right on his head
with a Tombstone Piledriver by The Undertaker.
-[Jerry] No, no, no, no. Oh! -[Ross] Undertaker eliminates Batista.
It's The Undertaker against brother Kane and Brock Lesnar,
Two SmackDown superstars, one Raw superstar left.
[Jerry] Oh, no, look at this. Look at this.
[Ross] Don't tell me these two are gonna team up?
I didn't think I'd ever see this again, King, ever.
[Jerry] J.R., this is the Royal Rumble.
The winner of this is gonna be on the Road to WrestleMania.
Yes, the monster brothers are tak--
-[Ross] Oh, The Undertaker… -[Jerry] What?
…he outsmarted his brother, Kane.
And Batista coming back in with that steel chair.
-[Jerry] Batista is still in this. -[Ross] Batista has been eliminated.
Oh, my God, what a shot.
He caught him. And Brock Lesnar…
-[Jerry] Hey! -[Ross] Lesnar!
-Oh, yes! -[bell ringing]
-[Ross] Brock Lesnar has won the Rumble! -["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Ross] Brock Lesnar has eliminated The Undertaker!
[Howard] Here is your winner of the Royal Rumble match,
-Brock Lesnar! -[Jerry] Look at The Undertaker.
Yeah, he got you, he got you, Undertaker.
[Ross] Brock Lesnar is now on the main event at WrestleMania.
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Ross] The Road to WrestleMania has begun here at the Royal Rumble.
-The Undertaker can't believe it. -[Jerry] All he can do is smile. He knows.
Yeah, he got you.
But, boy, what a big catch-up, because like you said, now,
Brock Lesnar is on the Road to WrestleMania.
[Ross] And the road wasn't easy for Lesnar.
First, he had to go through the 500-pound, Big Show.
And then he came and survived in the Royal Rumble.
But the question is, who will Lesnar face
at WrestleMania?
Kurt Angle's the man today, but will he be the man at WrestleMania?
[Jerry] Now, wait the minute. What's gonna happen here?
[Ross] This could be another explosion.
[Jerry] No, I think Undertaker is saying…
"That's twice you got me, but…
next time you get the title, he wants a shot."
[Ross] I think that's exactly what The Undertaker said.
"If you become the Champion again, give me my opportunity."
And I guarantee you, Brock Lesnar will give The Undertaker that opportunity.
-What a shot. -[Jerry] Boy, The Undertaker
had just delivered that chair shot on Batista,
but he took his mind off Brock Lesnar just for a split second.
[Ross] Man, this is gonna kill Paul Heyman.
This is gonna kill the-- Oh, no. He's gotta beat Team Angle.
Ladies and gentlemen, Brock Lesnar is going to WrestleMania.
Here comes the pain straight to the main event at WrestleMania.
-[crowd cheering] -[music concludes] ain event at WrestleMania.