["Fight (SummerSlam Theme)" playing]
[announcer] And now, SummerSlam.
[whooshing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] It's a hot August night in the northeast.
It is scorching here inside the Nassau Coliseum,
which sold out in 90 minutes for SummerSlam,
the event of the summer.
A full house enjoying themselves in Times Square, New York City,
at the World as well,
as we get set for perhaps the most anticipated
SummerSlam in history.
Rock, Brock for the undisputed title,
Triple H and Shawn Michaels, non-sanctioned here tonight.
["Medal" playing]
[Tazz] Whoa, what a way to kick it off, Cole,
Olympic gold medal winner, Kurt Angle.
[crowd] You suck!
You suck!
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest has been scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
weighing in at 237 pounds,
Kurt Angle!
[Cole] We are right out of the chute with the Olympic gold medalist.
Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside, we will be calling the SmackDown matches.
Good old JR and The King will be calling the Raw matches,
here tonight on SummerSlam.
But remember Kurt Angle's vow.
He vowed to break the ankle of his opponent, Rey Mysterio,
here tonight, at SummerSlam.
["619" playing]
[Tazz] Here he comes!
[announcer] And from San Diego, California, weighing in at 175 pounds,
-Rey Mysterio! -[Tazz] Where is he? There he is!
[Cole] Mysterio, from behind!
-[Tazz] Turn around, Kurt! -[Cole] Springboard into a hurricanrana!
Mysterio is out of the chute.
Kurt Angle! The leg scissors.
No warming up in the bullpen on SummerSlam.
[Cole] And a dropkick to the face of Kurt Angle.
And Rey Mysterio has caught the Olympic gold medalist off guard.
Much as he has the past few weeks.
Mysterio whipped into the corner.
-[Tazz] Switch! -[Cole] Angle went for a German.
Mysterio reversed it, and quickly Kurt Angle goes for the ankle or Rey Mysterio.
-[Tazz] Here it is! -[Cole] Ankle Lock!
Can Rey Mysterio get to the ropes?
[Tazz] Kurt Angle sending a message right there.
That he can pick that ankle, get that Ankle Lock on Mysterio anytime he wants.
[Cole] Well, Kurt Angle vowed to break the ankle of Rey Mysterio.
Drop toehold, Rey-Rey.
-[Tazz] Here comes Mysterio. -[Cole] Look!
Starting off with a 619, and Kurt Angle had him scouted perfectly,
and now pulls Mysterio out of the ring.
[Tazz] Almost pulled Mysterio's leg off.
[Cole] Well, Kurt Angle has been extremely frustrated, Tazz, in recent weeks.
He has been humiliated and embarrassed by Rey Mysterio.
Mysterio not only owns a pinfall victory over Angle in a tag team matchup,
Mysterio's also cost Angle a number of matches,
including against Billy Kidman last week.
[Tazz] Well, Kurt Angle's strategy, in my opinion,
has to be, do not wrestle Mysterio's style of match.
Angle needs to ground Mysterio.
[Cole] Mysterio got Angle counted out against Billy Kidman
on SmackDown this past Thursday night.
Kurt Angle very wary of that.
You saw how quickly he got back into the ring to break up the ten-count,
and now he goes to work, oh, with the suplex on Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] How about the courage of Rey Mysterio,
facing a man with the credentials of Kurt Angle.
[crowd booing]
Long Island no respect for an American hero!
[Cole] This crowd at Nassau Coliseum, sold out, all over Kurt Angle,
as Angle begins the ground-based attack on the high-flying Rey Mysterio.
Telegraphed that one.
And Mysterio… Look at that.
-[Tazz] German! -[Cole] Whoa, what a German.
Went for a cover, but Rey Mysterio rolled onto his belly.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle clasping those hands, going for another German.
Mysterio's blocking this.
[Cole] Oh, and the shots now to the lower back of Rey Mysterio.
Look out, Angle's in trouble.
Can't make the ropes. Mysterio, cover!
Does he have him? And a kick-out after two.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] And a clothesline by Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's just too flat-out strong for Mysterio.
[Cole] Cover. Hook of the leg. There's two! And Mysterio kicks out.
[Tazz] Rey Mysterio's strategy obviously has to be to avoid Kurt going low.
Avoid the Ankle Lock from Angle.
[Cole] You know, Rey Mysterio very cognizant of the fact
that Kurt Angle will go for the Ankle Lock.
This is a fight for survival for Rey Mysterio.
Cover off the backbreaker, and a kick-out after two.
[Tazz] Rey could frustrate Kurt Angle.
He could maybe capitalize, get Kurt Angle off his game
by hitting one of those big high-flying moves.
That's if Angle could make a mistake.
-[ref] One, two, three, four… -[Cole] Now, Angle continues the pressure
on the small of the back of Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle pinpointed that lower back.
-Stretching him out right there. -[ref] Let him go. Now!
[Tazz] Back of the neck right across the second rope,
and the knee in the small of Mysterio's back.
[crowd chanting] Angle sucks!
[Tazz] The people saying Angle sucks is just infuriating Angle,
and Rey Mysterio paying the price.
[Cole] I'll tell you, Kurt Angle is doing what he needs to do against Rey Mysterio.
We mentioned last week, Tazz, that Kurt Angle has never faced
a high-flying opponent of the caliber of Rey Mysterio.
Angle's gotta keep him on the ground, and that's what he's doing early on.
[Tazz] This is where Rey's making a mistake, Kurt Angle overpowering…
Kurt's making a mistake, actually. He's just going at…
People are all over Angle here.
[Cole] All over Kurt Angle. And Mysterio's quickness, ducks under the right hand.
Mysterio with the forearms, battling back.
There's the reversal. Mysterio in the corner. Look at this!
Oh, and Kurt Angle gets him in a backbreaker.
-And Kurt Angle into the cover. -[Tazz] This is it!
[Cole] And Mysterio just kicked out. I thought Angle had him.
[Tazz] What do you have to do to Mysterio to beat him?
[Cole] You think Kurt Angle's a hypocrite?
Always talking about Rey Mysterio… Oh, wait a minute.
Kurt Angle again, continues the pressure on the back of Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] A half-Boston crab, that legbar,
just completely torquing the knee,
and stretching out the lower back of Mysterio.
[Cole] Now the reason for this, as we told you earlier on,
Kurt Angle claims he's gonna make Rey Mysterio tap tonight.
This is a submission maneuver here.
The pressure continues on the small of the back for Angle.
[Tazz] Kurt hasn't been able to beat Mysterio by submission thus far.
And you know, I'm not hoping for…
[Cole] Look at Rey. He rolls him up. He may have him here.
-Angle kicks out. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] Angle follows up with a clothesline.
But that's that lightning quickness of Mysterio.
Cover by Angle. Hook of the leg. And a kick-out by Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] This little guy won't die. Mysterio's all heart.
And Kurt Angle wants to rip his heart out of his chest.
[Cole] Angle's been frustrated
and embarrassed by Rey Mysterio in recent weeks.
We mentioned the pinfall victory Mysterio already holds over Kurt Angle
in a tag team match.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle is just having his way, Cole, with Rey Mysterio.
But Mysterio's tough to beat. He's proven it.
[crowd chanting] Angle sucks!
[Cole] The "Angle sucks" chants still at the Nassau Coliseum, yet again.
[Tazz] He don't look like he sucks to me. Doing pretty damn good in there.
[Cole] And there's that smirk, that confident look on the face of Kurt Angle
as he continues to methodically pick apart Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] He's an American hero. Of course he's confident.
[Cole] Oh, look at that! The jawbreaker.
Mysterio with a counter. And now a forearm.
Kurt Angle may have been caught off guard, and Mysterio hopes to capitalize.
But Rey-Rey's gotta fly to have a chance in this match.
[Tazz] Rey Mysterio bringing the fight to Kurt Angle!
[Cole] Over the top for the sunset flip. Can he get him over? No.
Kurt Angle missed with the right hand. Hit the mat.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Whoa!
Throw. A belly-to-belly throw by Kurt Angle,
who again regains control, and now he says it's done.
[Tazz] Good night, Irene. Goodbye, Mysterio, you put up a hell of a fight.
That's the signal. This is the end.
[Cole] Mysterio slowly to his feet. Kurt Angle stalking his opponent.
-[Tazz] Angle Slam! -[Cole] Went for the Angle Slam… Arm drag!
[Tazz] Man, can you believe that? Wicked!
-Whoa! -[Cole] Kurt Angle over the top rope!
[Cole] Mysterio gains valuable time to catch his breath.
[Tazz] That's the mistake I was talking about, Angle getting too cocky.
[Cole] Will this mistake allow Mysterio to regain his composure,
and have a chance for a huge upset over Kurt Angle?
[Tazz] Mysterio's gotta shake it off… Mysterio's gotta shake it off.
-Now's the opportunity… -You son of a bitch.
[Cole] Take another look.
Went for the Angle Slam. Watch the arm drag by Mysterio.
Mysterio just took Angle out with a shot to the knees.
And Rey-Rey's gonna fly…
-And the referee says. -[Tazz] What's wrong with that?
-[crowd booing] -[Cole] Referee trying to prevent--
[Tazz] I agree with the people. That's a crime.
-Whoa, here comes Mysterio! -[Cole] Whoa!
Over the top rope, Rey Mysterio!
[Tazz] A rolling heel right over the top rope into Angle's kisser.
[Cole] Sort of like a rolling senton, and you gotta love Rey Mysterio.
Check out the aerodynamic Rey Mysterio.
Uh oh, look at this!
-Top rope. Mysterio! -[Tazz] Oh!
-[Cole] Springboard! -[Tazz] This could do it!
[Cole] Off the leg drop. And Angle just kicks out!
This crowd fully behind Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] You gotta take your hat off to Kurt Angle.
Pure toughness to kick out of that huge leg drop.
[Cole] Mysterio's like an amusement park ride.
You gotta keep your eye on him up and down, all over the place.
Mysterio through the open legs of Kurt Angle. Shot to the midsection.
Angle looks to ground Mysterio again. Look at this!
[Tazz] It's bothered Angle.
[Cole] Oh, face-first down The Ankle Lock.
The Ankle Lock locked in by Mysterio, who counters.
[Tazz] Nice counter.
[Cole] A tremendous counter.
-Oh, here we go. Brace yourself! -[Tazz] 619!
[Cole] 619 connects!
Angle on dream street.
[Tazz] Angle's up! Angle's up! Look at this.
[Cole] He's got him with the West Coast Pop! He's got him!
And Angle just kicked out before the count of three.
[Tazz] What a match!
[Cole] Rey Mysterio connected with a West Coast Pop,
and Kurt Angle just kicked out.
[Tazz] Get him, Rey. Go get him, Mysterio.
Don't wait with Kurt Angle. Ow!
[Cole] Heel kick to the chin. And Mysterio, he can smell it.
He can taste it.
A huge upset on the horizon for the cruiserweight.
[Tazz] Oh no, Mysterio's going outside.
In my opinion, Mysterio should be going for a cover here, but…
Mysterio wants to finish off Kurt Angle.
[Cole] Mysterio to the top rope.
Mysterio gonna fly.
He's measuring Kurt Angle.
Mysterio perched.
-And Kurt Angle… -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] Looked like he was gonna go for that running belly-to-belly.
[Tazz] That's what he was doing. Ow!
[Cole] A shot to the chin.
I don't think Angle knows where he is.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's out of it, Cole. Look at him. He's woozy.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio, what is he gonna do here?
[Tazz] Who the hell knows? Look at this!
[Cole] Went for a hurricanrana, Angle countered!
Ankle Lock! The Ankle Lock is locked in!
[Tazz] Beautiful, wicked counter by Kurt Angle!
[Cole] Kurt Angle vowed to break the ankle.
Mysterio stretching, but can he get to the bottom rope?
Not quite.
[Tazz] Oh man. Kurt Angle's got Rey in no man's land.
[Cole] Mysterio taps out! He had no choice.
Mysterio tapped out to Angle.
-["Medal" playing] -[announcer] Here is your winner,
Kurt Angle!
[Cole] Kurt Angle picks up the win, but what an effort by Rey Mysterio.
He is a ton of dynamite.
[Tazz] Phenomenal outstanding matchup
at the top of SummerSlam, courtesy of SmackDown.
[Cole] Kurt Angle vowed to make Rey Mysterio tap,
and that he did with the Ankle Lock,
but not before a number of close calls,
including the 619 and the West Coast Pop,
from the aerodynamic Rey Mysterio,
-who gave it all he had. -[Tazz] Whoa!
That 619 right in the mug of Kurt Angle.
[Cole] Then, of course, the West Coast Pop
that almost won it for Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] Can't get any closer than that. Very close call.
But that Ankle Lock, just getting Mysterio
to Tap-out City.
[Cole] You gotta give props to Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle almost got caught in the hurricanrana.
Countered into the Ankle Lock.
Mysterio could not make the ropes.
Mysterio had no choice but to tap out.
[Tazz] Great matchup. Great matchup.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio put on a hell of a performance here tonight.
But it's Kurt Angle and the ankle lock
that gets things done at SummerSlam.
I thought Rey was gonna win. Really.
I know, well, see that's what SmackDown is all about.
SmackDown is so, by far, the superior brand.
You know what? You go tell Eric Bischoff to try to top that match.
Got it.
[sighs]
What the hell
are you doing in my office?
Ah, Stephanie McMahon, a pleasure, to be sure.
Whose pleasure, Eric? Certainly not mine.
Oh, it's always mine. Besides, Stephanie, that was the only door,
and this is the only office for a general manager tonight.
Besides, we're on neutral ground,
this is a pay-per-view, what do you say we just share the office?
Well, since it is SummerSlam and both Raw and Smackdown are represented,
I think I'd like to see the look on your face, Eric,
as you watch SmackDown reign supreme.
Take out a pen, some paper,
take some notes.
King, I'll tell you, it's gonna be a very interesting night
with Eric Bischoff, our boss, and Stephanie McMahon, the boss of SmackDown,
coexisting, or attempting to.
But what a night it's gonna be.
I know the superstars of Raw are primed and ready for an awesome effort.
Well, without a doubt the rivalry is gonna erupt tonight,
and we wanna welcome everybody to the Raw portion of SmackDown…
Not SmackDown, of SummerSlam tonight, don't we?
-[JR] This is SummerSlam. -[Lawler] Yeah, right.
[ominous music playing]
[whooshing]
-[Lawler] Wow! -["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[no audible dialogue] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing 227 pounds,
Chris Jericho!
[JR] Well, King, I'll tell you what,
the actions of Jericho and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair last week on Raw,
certainly brang this match to full circle.
Jericho running down "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
and Flair taking another opportunity
to really outsmart Jericho, and embarrass Y2J.
[Lawler] You got that right.
Ric Flair's not called the dirtiest man in the game for nothing.
But, as you can see, Chris Jericho,
he can get a little dirty himself.
[JR] Jericho busting Ric Flair wide open.
The blood was flowing.
And Flair, then, would make a triumphant return
as Jericho's band Fozzy was attempting to have a concert.
Flair came out, destroyed the speakers, destroyed the instruments,
and Jericho had to be wondering, "That's my band!"
[Lawler] That was the straw, if you ask me, that broke the camel's back,
as far as Jericho was concerned.
I mean, that's where Ric Flair went too far.
[JR] Jericho wants to physically dominate Flair.
And gain retribution for Flair disrupting that concert last week on Raw.
-[Flair] Woo! -[Lawler] Whoa!
There he is!
[JR] Over 16-time World Champion.
[announcer] From Charlotte, North Carolina,
weighing 234 pounds,
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair!
[JR] He is a 52-year-old legend,
believe it or not, making his first-ever appearance at SummerSlam.
The incomparable "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
and I'm gonna believe, King, I might be wrong here,
that Chris Jericho is absolutely eaten up with jealousy,
as it relates to Ric Flair.
[Lawler] I don't know if there's so much jealousy. That may…
It may have started out that way, JR,
but you gotta understand, what Ric Flair did last week with that concert…
I mean, Fozzy, that was their opportunity to become huge rock stars,
and then Flair screwed it all up.
Not only that, he destroyed probably
hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment.
[JR] Well, you gotta wonder if this match is gonna come down to Flair's Figure Four,
and Jericho's Walls of Jericho.
I talked to Jericho earlier today.
He said he wanted to impose his physical will on Ric Flair.
He wanted to dominate Ric Flair physically.
-[Lawler] Oh! -[JR] Flair.
I don't know that Flair can be intimidated.
[Flair] Woo!
[Lawler] He just… He just slapped Jericho right in the mouth.
[JR] Flair's legacy certainly has been well-established.
A Hall of Fame competitor, no doubt about that.
Cover by Flair. Not wasting any time.
Jericho's legacy still to be written.
Jericho, however, has the distinction of being the first ever Undisputed Champion,
and on one night, Jericho defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock
to become the Undisputed Champion,
and that's something not too many people can ever say.
[Lawler] "Too many?" Nobody in the history of the business can say that.
[Jericho] You son of a bitch?
[Lawler] I'm just trying to figure out what Jericho's gonna be best known for.
Is gonna be the biggest wrestler in the game, or the huge rock star?
-Look out! -[JR] Oh my God. High back body drop.
My suggestion there would be, he'd better stick to his day job of wrestling.
That's only my opinion. Nice knockdown by Jericho.
[Lawler] Wait, you're not saying you didn't like Fozzy?
You didn't appreciate that music?
[JR] I'm not a connoisseur of their style of music, shall we say.
Certainly not in a position to critique it, but I--
[Lawler] You don't like good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll?
[JR] Is that what that was?
[Lawler] A little harder version.
[JR] Jericho can't find the elbow.
-Ric Flair, the hard knife-edge chop. -[crowd] Woo!
[JR] One of the signature maneuvers of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Nobody does it with more intensity, or more force and velocity,
than Flair.
-[Lawler] Look out here! -[JR] They're in great shape.
[Lawler] Speaking of great shape, look at this!
[JR] Jericho skinning the cat.
-[JR exclaims] -[crowd] Woo!
[JR] Like a bolt of electricity going through your body.
[crowd] Woo!
[JR] There are those hard chops, already discoloring the chest of Y2J.
And Flair with rights and lefts.
This one is not about championships, as so many of our contests will be.
It is so personal
between the so-called, self-professed king of the world, Chris Jericho,
and the living legend in Ric Flair.
Hard chop by Jericho, taking a page out of Flair's book.
[Lawler] Uh oh, look out here.
[JR] Flair upside-down.
-And Jericho now. -[Lawler] Oh, man!
[JR] Hard to believe that Jericho was only two years old
when Flair made his professional debut.
Flair is an amazing…
He's gonna have a wing in the Hall of Fame named after him.
[Lawler] He may be in a wing of a hospital
before Chris Jericho gets through with him tonight.
-[JR] No doubt that'd be Jericho's wish. -[Lawler] Oh, boy. Here we go.
[JR] And Jericho pulling back that padding,
exposing the security wall, and you see exactly where Flair went.
And Jericho, a clubbing blow, on the back of the veteran,
from Charlotte, North Carolina.
By way of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
[Lawler] This could be it for Ric. Ooh, man, he got him.
Oh, God!
[JR] And Flair, you could hear,
-is in a… -[Lawler] Right into our cameraman there.
[JR] …great deal of distress
after that high-impact move by Jericho,
who tosses Flair back in. You can't win on the outside.
-[Jericho] Oh yeah. Come on, Flair. -[JR] Referee Charles Robinson
knows he has his hands full with this very emotional match,
on a night where emotion seems to be the common denominator.
Hard right hand, again, knocking down Ric Flair.
And thus far, King, Chris Jericho's goal of physically dominating Flair
-is coming through. -[Lawler] Right.
You can see he's not in any hurry to go for any pinfalls or end this match.
He wants to dominate Flair.
He wants to send a message, not only to Flair,
but to everybody that he is the king of the world now.
[JR] Flair getting knocked was getting back up, after that last right hand
put Flair down pretty hard, pretty strong.
-And Flair fights back. -[crowd] Woo!
Woo!
[JR] The legendary Ric Flair with those knife-edge chops
-finding their marks. -[Flair grunting]
[JR] Flair went right into that reverse elbow.
-Jericho waiting on Flair. -[Lawler] Oh man!
[JR] Jericho into the air.
Jericho, hook of the leg. Could be it here!
And Ric Flair able to kick out.
And Jericho again, pressing the issue.
Trying to fatigue Ric Flair,
which is no small feat, let me tell you.
Flair one of the most cardiovascular…
-[Lawler] Uh oh, what do we got here now. -Get off the buckle!
-One! Two! -[JR] …pure athletes in the WWE,
-and now Jericho… -Get out of there.
[JR] Trying to gain an unfair advantage. Wait a minute.
-[Lawler] What is this? -[JR] Jericho choking Flair.
Taking that tape off his wrist, and is choking Flair.
Referee Charles Robinson trying to put that turnbuckle pad back on.
In the meantime, Flair's oxygen being robbed of him
by Chris Jericho, and Flair fighting back.
[Lawler] Gotta admit, Jericho pulled off a great distraction job
there on the referee didn't he?
[JR] He certainly did.
[Lawler] Ooh, wow. What a shot.
[JR] Very bright move by Jericho.
And Flair right back up. Flair refusing to stay down.
And again another knockdown by Ric Flair.
Jericho as aggressive and as physical as we have ever seen him here tonight.
[Lawler] He's trying to prove to you, he's the king of the world.
-I'm the king of the world. -[Lawler] Hear that?
[JR] I heard him. He says it all the time.
Oh, man.
That lower back, again knocking the air out of Ric Flair.
-Flair in 1975… -Come on, you son of a bitch!
[JR] …in an airplane crash, broke his back.
Made a miraculous comeback
to etch one of the most star-studded careers,
and history-making careers in our business history.
And another suplex on that lower back by Chris Jericho.
[Lawler] Many more of those, and Flair will think he's back on the airplane.
This could do it right here.
[JR] Jericho, the young man,
who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
And Jericho taking a little bit too much time.
And the king of the world may be…
-May be… -[Lawler] Oh!
[JR] …uncrowned here.
Hard slam off the top, and now,
Flair trying to pull himself back up.
Flair knows he's got an opportunity here
to regain the offensive advantage.
Jericho is down.
Flair having problems navigating back up to his vertical base.
Here comes…
-[Lawler] Look out. -[JR] Jericho striking that ring post.
And a hard chop again by Flair.
-[crowd] Woo! -[JR] Flair,
dancing with what brung him here.
[Lawler] He is determined, he's gonna chop Jericho's head off.
And then… Look out!
[JR] A back body drop, this time, by Flair.
Lifting Jericho up to the lights.
[Lawler] He can still pull out that strut.
[JR] Flair, again, focusing on that lower back.
With a suplex.
And now Flair, looking for the cover.
Can't lock his hands.
And that gave Jericho the opportunity to kick out.
Flair couldn't get those hands locked.
[Lawler] Ho ho!
[JR] Flair turning away from the referee, using that closed fist.
He's the dirtiest player in the game.
He's said there were many occasions.
And Flair trying a vertical suplex. Jericho, he countered.
-It could be the Walls of Jericho. -[Lawler] He's going for it!
[JR] We thought going in it could be a matchup of
the Figure Four vs the Walls of Jericho.
-[Lawler] Oh, look out! -[JR] It's that cradle.
The inside cradle by Flair, who got a near fall out of the count.
-[Jericho shouting] -[Flair grunting]
[JR] Jericho again, beating Flair back up to his feet.
Striking Flair with a clothesline.
And a hard chop!
[Lawler] Now Jericho returning the favor. Listen to that!
[JR] Irish whip by Jericho,
and a modified bulldog taking Flair face down.
And Jericho back in the driver's seat, if you will.
-And Jericho… Oh, looking-- -[Lawler] There's nobody home!
[JR] Looking for that lionsault, King, nobody there, as you pointed out.
Flair, that one well-scouted.
And Jericho walked in again.
-Look at that chop! -[crowd] Woo!
-[JR] Jericho's chest is a crimson red. -[Lawler] Look at this!
[JR] And now, Flair…
Looked like Flair was trying for the Walls, he's got a half-Boston crab…
-[Flair screams] -[JR] …on Jericho, who counters.
-And now… -[Lawler] Look at this!
[JR] Jericho, with the Figure Four!
And what a hell of a way to beat Ric Flair,
with his own patented finishing maneuver,
the Figure Four Leglock.
[Lawler] That would put the… That would put the crowning jewel in his crown.
He would be the king of the world if he makes Flair submit to the Figure Four!
[JR] Can you imagine what Jericho would say?
Forever and a day, if he beats Ric Flair at SummerSlam…
-[Lawler] We'd never hear the end of it. -[JR] …with Flair's own Figure Four!
[Flair groaning]
[JR] Flair has utilized this maneuver for so many championships.
So many victories. It is a painful maneuver.
Putting pressure on seven different points of both legs.
[Lawler] Oh, Flair trying to get to the ropes, but he can't make it!
He might as well go ahead and just give up!
-Submit, Flair! -[JR] Well, this is a shocker here.
Jericho using Flair's Figure Four.
Flair writing in pain.
[Lawler] It'd be no embarrassment losing to the king of the world.
-[Flair groaning] -[Jericho] Give up!
[JR] Flair trying. He's near the ropes.
Flair in the ropes. Wait… Did…
Flair tapped but he was in the ropes though.
[referee] No! No!
[JR] Ric Flair was in the ropes.
-He grabbed the rope. -He tapped out.
[Lawler] Yeah, I think he was in the ropes first.
He grabbed the ropes first.
[JR] Well, Jericho thought that Flair tapped out, but Flair was in the ropes.
And now Jericho, right back on the advantage here.
-[Jericho yelling] -[Lawler] Oh man!
[JR] He was in the ropes first.
And Jericho got hung up there.
-[crowd] Woo! -[JR] And Flair got a reprieve
by being so close to the ropes.
Oh, Charles Robinson.
[Lawler] Did he get hit by the chop, or by Jericho?
[JR] I think Jericho got him.
[both exclaiming]
[JR] Oh, the referee… The referee didn't see that low blow.
[Lawler] You know who got the king of the world.
[JR] Flair just… He just broke the king's jewels!
And now Flair with a Figure Four on Jericho!
-[Lawler] Look at this! -[JR] Jericho's tapping!
Jericho is tapping!
Ric Flair has made Jericho tap in the Figure Four Leglock.
[announcer] Here is your winner, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair!
[Lawler] What happened, King?
The king of the…
[JR] Jericho might have been king for a day,
but not this day.
Because this day belonged to "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
and his Figure Four Leglock!
[triumphant music playing]
[Lawler] Yeah, but I don't know about this call now.
The more I think about it, Flair had already tapped out, JR.
[JR] I think Flair was in the ropes first, King, I disagree with that.
I did see Flair tapping, I'm not going to deny that.
I think he was in the ropes first.
[Lawler] I wouldn't have disagreed with that
until I saw now Flair gets his victory, I gotta…
I don't know about this.
Let's check it out. Can we look at that one more time?
[JR] Let's go back to the…
closing moments.
[Lawler] All right, watch his right hand. Watch it tap.
[JR] Look at his left hand first.
Where's… Left hand in the ropes.
[Lawler] I was watching his right hand. He's tapping like crazy.
[JR] He was tapping like crazy. But he was in the ropes first.
A split-second passed, and then the Figure Four locked in
in the center of the ring.
Nowhere for Jericho to go.
Nothing for Jericho to do but tap out.
[Lawler] I still can't believe this.
[JR] Jericho is absolutely irate.
Jericho thought Flair tapped.
[music fades out]
-Did you see that? Brock did you see that? -What?
Hulk Hogan, it's like when a musician dies,
and the record labels release the "Best Of."
The best of Hulk Hogan. Why?
Because his career is dead.
Dead at the hands of you, Brock Lesnar.
Tonight, it's the same thing with The Rock's title reign.
Okay? You gotta take this guy out.
You gotta murder his title reign.
Why? Because he's different.
He's The Brahma Bull. He's The People's Champ.
He's The Rock. You're already inside his head.
You're inside his head, half the battle is won.
Make no mistake about it, this guy's driven.
This guy's gonna come at you with everything he's got.
He feels like he is almost the challenger.
Like he's the underdog.
Take advantage of it. Hit him. Hit him hard.
Take him out early, and we leave tonight,
the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.
You are The Next Big Thing!
And tonight, The Next Big Thing will arrive.
[chuckling]
[guitar rock playing]
[Cole] Will The Next Big Thing arrive tonight?
SummerSlam, live from the sold-out Nassau Coliseum
on Long Island, New York.
Still to come, Brock Lesnar versus The Rock
for the Undisputed Title.
[man] Latino heat!
["Latino Heat" playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 228 pounds,
Eddie Guerrero.
[Cole] We thank the fans around the world for joining us for SummerSlam,
live in over 50 countries tonight,
including the United Kingdom and Australia.
-[Tazz] Brooklyn. -[Cole] Red Hook.
[Tazz] Big up to the Red Hook.
[Cole] And Latino Heat, Eddie Guerrero, is extremely focused
heading into this matchup tonight.
For Eddie Guerrero, there is one word which describes the way he feels
for his opponent, Edge.
That word is jealousy.
[Tazz] Oh, I beg to differ.
If you're Latino Heat, man, you got it all.
You don't gotta be jealous of anybody.
That suave bolo Latino thing he's got going on.
["Never Gonna Stop" playing]
[crowd cheering loudly]
[announcer] And from Toronto, Ontario, weighing in at 241 pounds,
Edge!
[Cole] Listen to the Edgeheads applauding the future of SmackDown.
And as Edge likes to say, the future is now.
[Tazz] Well, I spoke to Edge earlier today, Cole. He is pumped up.
Primed and ready for Guerrero tonight.
He was fired up to be here in Long Island on SummerSlam.
Edge's strategy in this match, Cole,
It should be frustrate Eddie Guerrero.
Get that temper… That Latin temper of Eddie Guerrero going.
Get Guerrero of his game if you're Edge.
[Cole] Well, Eddie Guerrero has doubted for weeks
that Edge has ever delivered the Spear to him.
Well, I think Eddie Guerrero has selective memory.
[Tazz] I think Guerrero drank too much of that tequila.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero and Edge set to lock up
one-on-one in what will be a very exciting matchup.
We talked about the jealousy of Eddie Guerrero for Edge.
Guerrero is jealous over the fact that Edge is popular.
That Edge is a sex symbol, so to speak.
Eddie can't handle this because he's Latino Heat.
[Tazz] One guy's not a sex symbol, that's true.
[Cole] Oh, look out. Oh! Face-first goes Eddie Guerrero.
And Edge takes early control in the beginning of this matchup.
[Tazz] Both men were trying to feel each other out a bit with some chain wrestling.
Edge came out on top.
[Cole] Edge the 2001 King of the Ring.
We've talked about the success Edge has had as a tag team wrestler,
very successful as a singles star as well.
And Eddie Guerrero… Oh, look at Edge.
Eddie's in trouble… But look, Eddie…
[Tazz] Tremendous balance. Nice!
[Cole] Landing on that apron, into a neckbreaker off that top rope.
[Tazz] Never seen one done that way.
Reverse on the top… Back of the neck on the top rope.
[Cole] Well, Eddie Guerrero and his family a virtual who's who of wrestling history.
[Tazz] That intensity of Guerrero we talk about week in and week out,
on Thursday night on SmackDown that Guerrero brings the intensity.
[Cole] Well, Eddie, the youngest of four brothers.
Of course, Chavo, his nephew is currently wrestling here in the WWE.
-Over the top. Leapfrog by Edge. -[Tazz] Monkey flip!
[Cole] Eddie is launched halfway across the ring.
[Tazz] Edge wants Guerrero up. Here comes Guerrero!
-Oh! There goes Guerrero. -[Cole] First cover of the matchup.
Hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
Two bright stars. Two stars you will only see on SmackDown
right here in the ring.
[Tazz] Both men, Edge and Guerrero, very similar styles…
This is a little shady maneuver Edge is going for here,
trying to tie Guerrero up in the ropes.
[Cole] Well, Edge very intense. Very aggressive here tonight.
-Eddie Guerrero… -[Tazz] Whoa-ho-ho.
[Cole] A shoulder delivered to the ribs.
-And Edge gonna go for it. -[Tazz] Another one!
[Cole] Two in a row, nobody home. As Edge…
flies through the second rope, landing outside the ring.
[Tazz] Edge landed hard, went for that other… Some kind of Spear.
Took a little stinger in his hand there, trying to shake something off.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero now on the attack.
This is the thing about Eddie Guerrero.
-He wastes little time. -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Look at this. Look at Edge. I think he's hurt.
That's not going to stop Guerrero. There's no timeouts here.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero on the attack like a rabid dog.
Eddie Guerrero begins to attack, which now looks to be…
[Tazz] Look at this! Oh-ho-ho.
[Cole] …the injured left shoulder of Edge, I believe.
As we take another look at how I think Edge tweaked his shoulder in this matchup.
[Tazz] Take a look here. Edge, right on the outside.
Right there, he torqued his shoulder up.
[Cole] Now, that left shoulder, Tazz, if I'm not mistaken,
is the shoulder that Edge injured in the steel cage match,
delivering the Spear to Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] That's right. Weeks ago on SmackDown.
Guerrero doing his homework.
Edge hurt on the outside,
and now Guerrero like a shark that smells that blood in the water.
Yum-yum, he's gonna get some.
[Cole] Well, Edge was out for about a month with that shoulder injury,
and again, Eddie Guerrero torquing the left shoulder of Edge.
And this what Eddie Guerrero… What he brings to the dance.
He picks out a body part, he realizes it's injured,
now he will go on the attack.
He will be relentless to Edge.
[Tazz] No doubt. No doubt. Wrestling 101.
Guerrero with the point of the elbow.
Right in the AC joint, rotator cuff area
of Edge's shoulder.
[Cole] And Eddie Guerrero, up to the second rope. Now up to the top rope.
[Tazz] What's he gonna do?
[Cole] Look at this!
Oh, man. The force driven into the shoulder.
Here's the hook of the leg. Could have him. Edge kicks out.
Tazz, I'm… I know when you wrestled, you suffered a very serious neck injury.
When you come back from an injury, whether it's the neck or the shoulder,
how difficult is it to stay out of trouble?
How easy is it to toy with an injury like that?
[Tazz] Let's check out this impact first.
It's very easy to revisit an injury.
Especially when a guy like Guerrero is going to suck right into that.
You see that figure four hammerlock, that reverse hammerlock,
really torquing the shoulder of Edge.
He's got that baby in tight.
[Cole] So if Edge just tweaked his shoulder when he went through the ropes,
Guerrero's going to make sure it's more than tweaked right here.
[Tazz] Look at the eyes of Guerrero.
Get a closeup of those eyes,
you can see the intensity, that rage that burns in Guerrero.
He wants to rip that shoulder right off the bone.
[Cole] This is an important matchup for Guerrero.
Eddie Guerrero and Chris… Now look at Edge.
Edge desperately trying to make it to the bottom rope and he does.
Forcing Guerrero, at least for the moment, to break the hold on Edge.
[Tazz] He gets to the ropes, and then those knees and those boots
just a relentless attack from Guerrero right on the injury.
Smart. Smart wrestling.
[Cole] Very little wasted motion by Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] None. That's why Guerrero, all these years, has been so successful.
[Cole] The thing about Guerrero, and why this is important, Tazz,
is the fact that Guerrero and Benoit, a couple of weeks back,
defected from Raw, coming to SmackDown.
It was a huge coup for general manager Stephanie McMahon of SmackDown,
and Eddie Guerrero looking to prove it here tonight,
why he's here from the Raw side.
[Tazz] Well, Guerrero and Benoit both wanted competition,
and Guerrero's got some very stiff competition with Edge.
Right there with that hammerlock. Actually, a crossface chicken wing,
gets applied now.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero continues the pressure on the left shoulder of Edge.
And how much more can this kid take?
How much more can Edge take on a shoulder that
was already injured and knocked him out of competition for a month.
[Tazz] We know Edge is triple-tough. Ain't no doubt about it.
And Guerrero knows that. Guerrero is doing the smart strategy here.
Just wear down your opponent.
[Cole] Wear him down? He's trying to seriously injure him.
[Tazz] What do you want me to tell you? Wear him down, injure him, it's the same.
[Cole] Arm goes down this time it is all over.
And Edge keeps the arm up, as he battles back with shots to the ribs.
-[Tazz] Snap mare. -[Cole] A snap mare takedown by Edge.
And Eddie Guerrero quickly.
[Tazz] Floating over to an ankle pick, right into a Fujiwara armbar.
And look at that shoulder. That arm is…
Look at that! He's just bending that joint right out of place.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero trying to pull that shoulder.
[Tazz] Listen, man, you can't explain what that…
I've had that done to me, and I've done that to guys,
you can't explain to the average person what that feels like. Big-time pain.
-[Cole] All you have to do… -[Edge screaming]
…is look in the eyes and listen to Edge.
[Tazz] That armbar is in.
Guerrero is dominating this match the right way.
Take that wing right off the man.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero continues to apply pressure
to a shoulder injury that was tweaked earlier on.
[Tazz] Just stays right on the arm,
right into a top wrist lock, as Edge is on his back, floating over,
putting all his weight across the top of Edge's body.
[Cole] And, again, each one of these submission maneuvers, so to speak,
by Eddie, continues to torque that injured shoulder of Edge.
Just in different ways, right?
[Tazz] That's exactly what he's doing. Bending the joint over. Oh!
[Cole] Big knockdown by Eddie Guerrero off the clothesline.
But now Guerrero… Look at Edge!
I don't know how he had any strength in the shoulder to do that.
[Tazz] Look, he just sucked it up, Edge did.
But now Edge is paying the price.
But if you're Edge, what else can you do?
[Cole] Edge, all right-handed in that scoop slam.
Went to the left hand just to balance Guerrero.
But it took a lot out of Edge.
[Tazz] Guerrero's gonna come right back to that injury. Oh!
[Cole] And Edge, all guts as he tries to battle back with the clothesline.
[Tazz] One arm he's battling back.
Oh! Nice back drop.
[Cole] Edge is a one-armed man. You hit it, Tazz.
And Edge…
Oh! And Eddie Guerrero with an elbow to the face.
And Latino Heat hoping to fire up,
and take advantage of the injured Edge in this matchup.
-[Tazz] Looking for that… -[Cole] Face first goes Eddie Guerrero.
-[Tazz] Cover him! -[Cole] Hooks the outside leg.
Got him! No. Eddie Guerrero kicked out.
[Tazz] Gotta give it up for Edge, man.
Showed a lot of toughness there by hitting that faceplant.
[Cole] But how much does he have left? I mean really?
[Tazz] He ain't done yet, Cole. We've seen this kid. He's got tons of fight.
[Cole] Look at this! Eddie Guerrero tossed over the top rope.
This is important. This will allow Edge to gain valuable time
to at least try to get some of the numbness out of that shoulder.
[Tazz] Maybe Edge should be disqualified for that.
-[Cole] Why? -[Tazz] Vertical fall off the top rope.
-The ref's counting. -[Cole] Now where's he going?
[Tazz] The top rope, where the hell do you think he's going?
-[Cole] Edge up top, Eddie Guerrero-- -[Tazz] Oh no!
[Cole] Edge knocking Guerrero down.
A high-risk maneuver, and Edge may have injured the left shoulder again.
[Tazz] Edge leaving it all in the ring right there,
well, outside of the ring, in this matchup, trying to just ground Guerrero.
[Cole] It looked like Edge drove that left shoulder into the chest of Eddie Guerrero.
The impact may have re-injured Edge. Let's see if he did or not on this replay.
[Tazz] We'll get a good look with this camera shot. Oh! Yeah, right on it.
[Cole] He landed on it as well as he hit the mat below.
[Tazz] Edge is 6'4", 241 pounds, right on the ground.
[Cole] Eddie again, struggling to his feet.
Edge to the top rope.
And Eddie Guerrero quickly.
Realizes his chance is now to try to cut Edge off at the pass,
-and regain control of the match. -[Tazz] That's right. Exactly right.
Guerrero right here is probably gonna hit a big superplex or something.
From the top.
[Cole] The crowd beginning to rumble, beginning to come alive,
for Edge as he delivers the shots to the ribs.
[Tazz] Edge, fighting back. Guerrero, trying to get his footing on that rope.
-Trying to counter. It ain't gonna work! -[Cole] Oh!
Face-first, both men down, can Edge capitalize?
[Tazz] Top him, Edge. Top him!
[Cole] He rolls Eddie over. Hooks the leg.
He's got him! He's got him. And Eddie Guerrero just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] You gotta figure if Edge is up,
and that shoulder has not been eaten up by Guerrero,
he could have cradled him better with that cover.
[Cole] And Edge in the corner.
-[Tazz] We've seen-- -[Cole] Stalking Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] That's right, my man. Spear time!
Edge wants some Spear!
It's coming!
[Cole] And Eddie Guerrero, bigtime kick to the chin!
Guerrero had Edge scouted perfectly.
[Tazz] Not to the chin, I gotta correct you. To the shoulder.
Both feet. Right… Like a sharpshooter.
[Cole] But that's the wherewithal of Eddie Guerrero, playing possum.
-And now Guerrero, top rope! -[Tazz] Frog Splash!
[Cole] Frog Splash! But it was countered. Knees to the midsection by Edge.
[Tazz] Now's the time, Edge. Hit a big move and cover Guerrero.
[Cole] Edge looking to capitalize.
Face first, the Edgecution.
The Edgecution, connected.
[Tazz] This could be it!
-[crowd counting] -[Cole] There's two!
-[Tazz] Three! -[Cole] Kicks out!
-[Tazz laughing] Oh, man. -[Cole] Edge can't believe it.
I don't think anyone's ever kicked out of the Edgecution before.
[Tazz] I can't believe it. How the hell did Guerrero do it?
First missing a Frog Splash, then the Edgecution.
[Cole] What does Edge have to do to take Guerrero out?
[Tazz] What does Guerrero gotta do to take out Edge?
[Cole] Counters, snap suplex, here's the bridge, the cover,
-and a kick-out. -[Tazz] Beautiful Northern Lights there.
Get on him, Guerrero. Get on him.
[Cole] Guerrero again with a neckbreaker.
-Delivering it to Edge. -[Tazz] Now the Frog Splash, Cole.
Great strategy by Guerrero.
[Cole] Latino Heat, climbing slowly to the top rope.
-[Tazz] Edge is up! -[Cole] Edge to his feet.
And Edge with a right hand.
[Tazz] This Edge. Loaded with fight, and heart,
-and intestinal fortitude. -[Cole] All guts.
It's all guts for Edge.
[Tazz] Nice headbutts. Good toughness. I like that by Guerrero.
[Cole] Headbutts to the shoulder. To the injured shoulder of Edge.
[Tazz] About ten or 12!
[Cole] Edge knocked down.
And Eddie Guerrero to the top rope.
-[Tazz] What's Guerrero gonna do? -[Cole] Guerrero.
-The injured shoulder! -[Tazz] He had to break his shoulder.
[Cole] The cover! It's over!
-[Tazz] And Edge… -[Cole] Kicked out!
[Tazz] Whoo, man.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero delivered a Frog Splash to the injured shoulder of Edge.
Guerrero's saying, "How the hell did he kick out?"
[Tazz] How the hell is Edge's shoulder not hanging on one end of the ring?
[Cole] I think it is!
[Tazz] Look at, now, Guerrero going in.
Big time intensity on that injured shoulder.
[Cole] Guerrero, he doesn't want to hurt the shoulder here,
he wants to amputate it.
And now a shot to the knee.
And Edge… Guerrero knocked down.
Edge, off the ropes.
[both] Spear!
-[Cole] Spear! -[Tazz] Cover, that's it!
-[Cole] Hook of the leg! -[Tazz] Two! Three!
[Cole] What a win by Edge!
-What a win by Edge. -["Never Gonna Stop" playing
[announcer] Here's your winner, Edge!
[Cole] Can you believe the guts, the resilience of Edge?
[Tazz] Big up, big up, big up to Edge, man.
And the Edgeheads are loving it.
Great job. Great match. by both competitors. Great athletes.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero had the perfect game plan.
To pick apart an injured shoulder.
And Edge, with that shoulder literally hanging by a thread,
somehow able to reach deep down inside,
and deliver an unbelievable Spear to Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] No doubt, Edge was sticking… Sticking Latino Heat with that Spear.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero, there's now no denying it.
Latino Heat, you have now been Speared.
[narrator] We are not considered a pastime.
Contract disputes don't determine the outcome of our season.
Negotiations are handled a little differently in this arena.
When two sides have a problem,
it's taken care of
face-to-face.
World Wrestling Entertainment.
Our season never ends.
-Gentlemen, in just a few moments… -[crowd booing]
…defend your WWE Tag Team Titles against Booker T and Goldust.
-Your thoughts. -Our thoughts?
Our thoughts are that we can't wait.
We can't wait to expose Booker T and Goldust
for the American shams that they are.
The only problem is, we have to do it here in Long Island.
What do you mean by that?
What we mean by that, is we've performed in cities all over this country,
and this Long Island crowd typifies American audiences.
They're lazy,
unappreciative,
unresponsive and spoiled.
And the sickening part about it,
is they'll all be sitting on their hands while athletes like myself and Lance
will be performing at a world class level.
Because just like greedy Americans,
they're always wanting more.
If they want more
we'll give 'em more.
More of the Un-Americans as WWE Tag Team Champions.
[crowd booing]
[Booker T] Can you dig it, sucka?
["Can You Dig It?" playing]
Can you dig it, sucka?
I'll tell you what, King. It's getting very hot here for the Un-Americans.
Almost as hot as where we're sitting right now.
-[Lawler] Wow! -[JR] Booker T and Goldust.
Not only are they competing for themselves and their families,
I think they're competing for an entire country here tonight.
[Lawler] Well, you heard the Un-Americans, they say that, uh,
they think the fans here in America are unappreciative,
I don't think they're gonna appreciate
what Booker T and Goldust are gonna do to those guys, tonight.
I don't think they like anybody, anywhere.
-["We Salute" playing] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Introducing from Canada,
at a combined weight of 455 pounds,
the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Christian, Lance Storm,
The Un-Americans.
[JR] Well, ladies and gentlemen, as you can see,
another display of disrespect to the USA.
The Old Glory being flown upside-down.
The universal symbol of distress.
And I tell you, this turns my stomach.
As I have said, I have been very vocal about
these Un-Americans and their un-American activities.
So much disrespect.
These men have a total disdain for all Americans.
[Lawler] Oh, but they're from Canada, JR,
where, well, you know, where the start of moose season is a national holiday.
They got a lot to be proud of there.
Well, we got a lot of great fans in Canada, King, I'll tell you that,
I don't know who these two men really, truly represent.
Maybe just the people they see in the mirror every morning.
In any event, the WWE Tag Team Title's on the line here.
Four competitors from Raw.
[Lawler] These jerks don't have a problem spending the money they make in the US.
[JR] I would think not.
[bell ringing]
And it'll be Goldust
and Christian starting it out here.
Again, the Tag Team Titles on the line.
Goldust who made his WWE debut in 1995
has always been a strange enigma.
And Goldust, that powerslam on Lance Storm,
who was in the match illegally, we should point out.
And Goldust… Good uppercut there. And Goldust looking for the cover.
Referee Nick Patrick assigned this contest.
And, uh, you gotta believe that the resourcefully resilient team
of Storm and Christian,
at some point, are going to isolate either Goldust or Booker T.
That's what we have seen on so many occasions from the tag champions.
[Lawler] You can see here, though, Goldust and Booker T are,
well, they're hellbent on not letting that happen.
-Here we go. -Nice inverted atomic drop by Goldust.
Follows with the clothesline.
And there's the tag.
-[Lawler] Ooh! -[JR] And Booker T,
the youngest of eight children,
grown up the hard way in Houston, Texas.
He is as Americana as Americana can be.
But Lance Stom scoring that el… that knee right to the midsection.
Didn't have a lot of effect on Booker T. Sidewalk slam by Booker T.
-Booker T-- -[Lawler] Oh, wait a minute.
[JR] He has been a Tag Champion on 11 different occasions.
-That is an amazing feat. -[ref] One!
[JR] The cover, and Lance Storm slipping out the back door on that one.
[Lawler] And of course, Goldust certainly not your average,
everyday, run-of-the-mill American,
But that's what America's all about.
You put guys like Goldust and Booker T together.
They work together as a team with teamwork.
Like we do in this country and you're successful.
[JR] Booker T and Goldust coming from different environments.
Cheap shot by Christian. He paid for that.
Thumb to the eye by Lance Storm.
Oh, Goldust thrown over the top turnbuckle all the way outside.
And Lance Storm got underneath Goldust,
and Booker T trying to come in and get him some,
as referee Nick Patrick has his back to the action.
You see Christian taking full advantage of the positioning of the official.
[Lawler] Driving Goldust's back right into that railing out there.
There's a cover!
[JR] Done by Storm. The hook of the leg.
And Goldust, with those long legs, able to kick out.
Goldust about 6'5",
somewhere around 260 pounds.
Gonna isolate him now. Look at those straight right hands
by one half of the Tag Champions, Lance Storm.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
Listen to the fans. I don't think they're sitting on their hands, are they JR?
[JR] They certainly are not.
And Goldust trying to fight with everything he's got.
With the stakes high tonight.
Tag Team Championship on the line.
But Christian keeping his body between Goldust, and Goldust's partner, Booker T.
Like 'em or not, again a resourcefully resilient Tag Team Champions.
[Lawler] They know all the tricks in the book as far as tag team wrestling goes.
There's one of the tricks at the top of the list right there.
Distract the referee,
take advantage of it when his back's turned.
Two on one.
[JR] Booker T getting emotional. That taunting.
Came in the ring. Referee had to do his job.
But in the meantime, we saw another double team.
An illegal double team by the Tag Team Champions.
A hard backbreaker.
Focusing on the back.
A hook of the leg here. A near fall, Goldust.
Barely able to kick out.
With less intensity than the first time he kicked out.
Or the first near fall.
Cheap shot by Christian, leaving the action.
Into the lower back.
-[Lawler] There you go. -[JR] Lance Storm tried a dropkick.
Nobody there! A roll-up by Goldust.
And he got a near fall.
-[Lawler] Look at that! -[JR] Goldust using Storm's own momentum
to take Storm up and down.
Goldust may have bought himself a little bit of time.
Goldust would be well-served, King, to make the tag sooner than later.
[Lawler] Needs to get to Booker T.
Booker T on the fringe. He's looking to get in there.
[JR] Shot right to the head.
[Lawler] Christian, now, trying to ground Goldust, trying to keep him,
as you say, JR, isolated and away from his partner Booker T.
Booker T, in the meantime, he just can't wait to get in there.
Give him something for those suckers to dig.
[JR] A face lock applied by Christian grounding Goldust.
And again, look at the position of Christian's body.
Christian's body is between Goldust and Goldust's partner Booker T.
Like The Un-Americans or not, and by the way, for the record,
I do not like them…
[Lawler] You've made that perfectly clear on many occasions. Uh oh!
[Booker T] Come on, Goldie!
[JR] Again, Goldust trying to force Christian towards that corner.
Holding that front face lock there. Goldust…
There's the tag, and here comes Booker T.
Booker T now. He's rocking and rolling.
-And wait! Wait a minute. -[ref] Out!
[Lawler] What is this?
Come on, ref. Don't tell me you didn't see that tag.
[JR] The referee apparently did not see it. And look at the double team!
Like rabid dogs, the Tag Team Champions double teaming Goldust.
The referee can't…
[Lawler] Referee couldn't see an elephant in a phone booth
if he missed that. Come on!
[JR] Well, Nick Patrick is an outstanding official.
You can't allow the tag if you don't see it.
I understand that, but it's unfortunate.
And there's a cover. And Booker T makes sure there's not a three-count going down.
Lance Storm and Christian very aggressive here tonight.
A very sound game plan.
[crowd chanting] Booker T!
[JR] They have separated and isolated Goldust far from Goldust's corner.
[Lawler] Booker T chant going here.
Some people wanna see Booker T in there.
[JR] And if Booker T can get a tag,
if Booker T, big if,
if he can get a tag, he is gonna explode,
this place is gonna erupt.
And look at Goldust giving everything he's got.
[Lawler] Goldust doing a little exploding of his own right now.
[JR] The oldest son of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
He's fighting for everything he's got.
And here's a roll-up. It could be enough here. But it's not.
Make the tag. Make the tag. Whoa.
[JR] Both men colliding, but Goldust, you gotta believe, is getting
the worse of the… The worst end of the stick here.
-[ref counting] -[JR] He's been in the ring a long time.
That lower back has been punished.
The focus of this match, the lower back of Goldust.
[Lawler] These Long Island fans trying to do their best to help… There you go.
Come on, Goldust. Get to your feet, get to your partner.
-[ref continues counting] -[JR] Referee up to six in his ten-count.
Again, the champions have to be pinned or made to submit.
They retain in a disqualification or a count-out.
That makes it a must-pin or must submit situation.
Oh, look at that. Oh, Lance Storm.
Just as Goldust is close to the corner.
Lance Storm came by. Goldust there now for the tag.
Booker T almost… He can't get there.
What the hell?
[Lawler] Look at this. I hope you can see this.
It looks like the champions are just gonna try to get themselves disqualified.
[Lawler] They're ready for a Con-chair-to, JR!
-[JR] Con-chair-to! -[Lawler] No!
[JR] And Goldust ducked!
And Goldust makes contact.
Double clothesline on the Tag Team Champions.
And now Goldust may have an opportunity,
he may have one chance,
and one chance only in this Tag Team Championship match
to make the tag.
[Lawler] Goldust down. The Un-Americans down.
-Get to Booker T! -[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
[JR] The USA chant ringing through the heart and the soul of Goldust.
He knows he's gotta make the tag.
He's fighting for everything he can get.
-[Lawler] There he is! -[JR] And there's a tag! There's a tag!
-[Lawler] We all saw that one. -[JR] And Booker T
laying it down on the Tag Team Champions.
And the former 11-time Tag Team Champion
has gold in his eyesight.
-[Lawler] Look at him! -[JR] Booker T!
Man, this is street justice here with Booker T.
[Lawler] Whoa!
[JR] Hard clubbing forearm by Booker T.
The momentum belongs now to the challengers.
That quick. That suddenly by Booker T.
[Lawler] What's he gonna do now?
[Lawler] Whoa! Big dropkick.
[JR] Missile dropkick from the top!
Goldust taking care of Storm. The cover.
We've got new… Oh no, we don't.
A half a count away from new Tag Team Champions.
The Un-Americans are in big trouble here.
[Lawler] There you… Uh oh, missed him.
[JR] Booker T looking for the scissors, King.
[JR] Face-first, high-impact move by Booker T.
Again, Christian, in a hell of a lot of trouble.
[JR] And Storm, looking for Booker T,
inadvertently caught the referee in the face with that flying kick.
[Lawler] Yeah, come on, Booker!
And Booker T scored.
[Lawler] He got both The Un-Americans with one shot, JR!
[JR] The 7-10 split, by Booker T.
[Lawler] Uh oh.
-Can you dig it, JR? -[JR] I can feel it.
[Lawler cackling]
[Lawler] Look at the look on Booker T's face!
Here it comes. The good ol' all-American Spinaroonie! [cackling]
[JR] The momentum's there. Oh, the kick to the face!
It's gonna be over.
-Booker T with a hook of that leg. -[crowd counting]
-The referee's down. -[Lawler] Come on, Nick!
[JR] The referee got… That shot and the referee is down. Booker T,
no doubt in my mind, had the three-count going.
[Lawler] Watch it, weapon!
[JR] Lance Storm trying to cheap shot with that cast iron bell.
Booker T and Goldust, on fire here.
-Goldust out… -[both] Hey, wait a minute!
[JR] That damn Test.
Test just almost took Booker T's head off.
Another one of The Un-Americans.
A man who'll meet the American badass tonight.
-[Lawler] Now wait a minute. -[JR] Wait, ref. Come on!
-Come on! No! -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The winners of this bout, and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
The Un-Americans!
[JR] Well, how in the world can The Un-Americans be proud
of the way they won this match
with a three-on-two advantage.
That's all that boils down to being.
[Lawler] It's not about being proud of their victories, JR,
it's just about winning to these guys.
It's about remaining Tag Team Champions, so that they can rub it in all our faces.
[JR] It's all about coming to the United States--
[Lawler] Look, look, look. Look at Test.
[JR] The referee was still down.
He didn't see a damn thing.
It looks like the ref just saw Test getting out of the ring, if nothing else.
But be that as it may,
The Un-Americans have retained their tag team titles.
[Lawler] Looked like the referee saw that to me.
[JR] The Un-Americans a disgrace to this company.
A damn sure disgrace for Raw, I'll tell you that.
Goldust and Booker T, well…
Ladies and gentlemen, there's a huge contest down at the
WWE's The World at Times' Square, King.
The winner could win a make-out contest with Nidia.
[Lawler] How many times did you enter that, JR?
Tell the truth!
[JR] A couple.
Here we go, baby!
I promised New York City some making out,
and some making out's what you gon' get.
All right, girl. It's time!
It's time to choose
which one of these fine pieces of New York strip steak
are you gonna devour tonight, baby?
Sorry, boy. Better luck next time.
Get outta here.
-[Noble] Whoo! -[crowd cheering]
Whoo! You like that, boy?
Yeah, come on, baby!
Don't forget that trick with your tongue you do.
Give it to him. Yeah!
-[Lawler] Look at that, JR! -[JR] She's a sudden little thing.
You like that, New York City?
Wow, I mean, I love this Nidia.
She would make a fine addition to Raw.
This is a woman who really knows her place in this business.
Eric…
women in this business, their place is like mine.
On top.
[chuckles] Well, speaking of
"on top," we'll see who's on top later…
in the show.
We'll see when RVD brings that Intercontinental Title back to Raw
who's on top.
Bischoff, I think we can safely say, that will never happen.
["Whatever" playing]
[Lawler] I can't believe those two are coexisting in the same room.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Approaching the ring, representing SmackDown,
weighing in at 229 pounds,
the Intercontinental Champion, Chris Benoit!
[JR] Well, Chris Benoit won the Intercontinental Title
less than a month ago on Raw.
And then virtually 72 hours later,
he and Eddie Guerrero jumped to SmackDown.
I'll tell you what, without a little undercover work,
no pun intended,
by Stacy Keibler and general manager Eric Bischoff,
I'm not so sure that RVD would've gotten this rematch.
[Lawler] Well, my hat's… My crown is off to Eric Bischoff,
for bringing all of that great talent here to Raw, especially Stacy Keibler.
["One of a Kind" playing]
[Lawler] Wow!
[announcer] The challenger, representing Raw,
from Battle Creek, Michigan,
weighing 235 pounds,
Rob Van Dam!
[JR] Two hugely intimidating competitors here.
They like to be physical.
There'll be no… Well, it's certainly an unforgiving match.
[music fades out]
[JR] Certainly, King, I can speak for both of us I think,
it's an honor to be able to call this inter-promotional matchup.
Benoit the champion.
SmackDown man. Look at RVD going right to work on those legs
with those great kicks
against SmackDown's Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit.
[Lawler] Well, you're right, JR. This should be a classic matchup.
Just imagine, Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon back there
watching this match together.
High stakes here.
[JR] Those kicks. Oh my God. Scintillating kicks.
And Benoit's gotta regroup here in the early going.
Hard, stiff kicks.
Right to the sternum, right to the heart of the Intercontinental Champion
by Rob Van Dam.
[Lawler] And from the look on Benoit's face,
he was not expecting this match to start this way.
[JR] Van Dam from Battle Creek, Michigan.
Benoit raised in Edmonton, Alberta.
Born in Montreal,
for the record.
Benoit trained in Stu Hart's Dungeon up in Calgary.
And nothing but tough people come out of there. And another hard shot.
Nice leg lace takedown by Chris Benoit.
Floating over on RVD.
Trying to wrap around RVD is Benoit.
It would seem to me, King, I don't know if you'll agree with this or not,
but for Benoit to be successful,
he's gotta work on the head, the neck, the shoulder,
of Rob Van Dam, and look for the Crippler Crossface.
[Lawler] Well, he's gotta… you gotta stay out of the Crippler Crossface for sure
to be successful against the rabid Wolverine.
And those kicks.
Those kicks. The way Van Dam started off this match.
Looked like they were working.
Then all of the sudden, he went to the well once too often.
[Benoit yelling]
[JR] Modified head lock by Chris Benoit,
torquing that neck to a very uncomfortable position for Rob Van Dam.
We have seen Benoit make the best in the business submit
with that Crippler Crossface.
Rob Van Dam, crossbody. Springboard crossbody off the second rope.
Got a near fall. Oh!
You leave your hands down, you expose your head,
as Benoit did on that exchange,
you pay one hell of a price.
[Lawler] What about a size…
Well, you would know this JR, what size shoe does Rob Van Dam wear?
[JR] Well, I'm not sure. I'd say probably around 11.
[Lawler] You get one of those 11s in your mouth…
[JR] Look out here. German release suplex.
And Van Dam, folded up like an accordion there.
Landed right on the back of his head.
And the referee Chad Patton asking Van Dam…
[Lawler] Well, he may be out of it here.
[JR] He wants to continue. I don't know if Van Dam is coherent enough.
But look at that elbow. Right to the head and neck.
It's almost as you can see the game plan
of Chris Benoit in the early going here…
[Lawler] We saw Van Dam,
he is definitely not cruising after landing on the back of his head.
He was trying to get out of the ring to buy himself a little time
but the Wolverine wouldn't let him go.
[JR] Benoit a very proud Intercontinental Champion.
I wish he had… had not left Raw to go to SmackDown, but…
Oh, wait, there's a cover. Here we go, and oh!
[ref] Two!
[JR] You notice that Van Dam did not kick out of the predicament.
He just got that left shoulder up,
which tells me that Van Dam has got a lot of gray area right now.
He's not fussing. Backbreaker. Another cover.
And Van Dam, this time, able to elevate his shoulders off the canvas.
But that's about all he did.
[Lawler] Well, you're right.
That original hit to the back of his head, that's taken something out of Rob.
[JR] As we said, Benoit trained in Calgary in Stu Hart's Dungeon,
grew up idolizing the former great WWE star The Dynamite Kid.
That move right there. That's pure dynamite.
That snap suplex. Thrown over.
And a… That lateral press got a near fall.
And look at Van Dam. The look of determination.
Van Dam… Oh, look at this now.
[man] Come on, Rob.
[JR] The shoulder, the neck, the focus by Chris Benoit.
That Crippler Crossface could be a heartbeat away.
And anytime Benoit can latch that Crossface on,
and if he does in the center of the ring, King,
I have a lot of respect for Van Dam, but it'll be over.
[Lawler] It'll be over, all right.
And Van Dam knows he's gotta stay out of that Crossface.
What he's gotta do right now is,
he's gotta clear his head, JR, I still think he's woozy.
[JR] And… Oh, nice counter by Van Dam.
Man, look how quickly…
The crispness of Benoit. Benoit is…
He may have a busted lip there, but he could care less about that.
Wanted to thank the fans for being with us.
There's an inside cradle! Inside cradle there.
[Lawler] Benoit's not out to win any beauty contests or popularity contests.
[JR] Backslide by Van Dam.
We're live in 50 countries tonight around the world.
-[Lawler] Whoa! -[JR] Nice monkey flip by Van Dam.
Those legs are so strong, but, again,
it's Benoit who beats Van Dam back to the vertical base.
Benoit bleeding from the mouth.
From one of those kicks to the face, I would suggest.
[Lawler] About how many people are watching, JR,
over 150 countries are watching SummerSlam.
[JR] Amazing. And we thank them for it.
[RVD yelling]
[JR] Tougher the better for these two.
They are punishing each other in this Intercontinental Championship match,
inter-promotional style,
-and… Oh, Van Dam! -[Lawler] Look out!
[JR] Van Dam, with the split-legged moonsault.
Benoit had him well-scouted,
got his knees up,
and Benoit drove his knees right into the lower abdomen,
-of RVD. -[Lawler] Uh oh, here we go.
[Lawler] Looks like Benoit would like to end this thing right now.
[JR] Benoit the Intercontinental Champion.
Gonna take this opportunity to put Van Dam away.
The headbutt!
Oh, but nobody there but canvas.
Well, what a high-risk move by Benoit.
Nobody there this time.
The leg drop by Van Dam,
and now Van Dam looking…
Five-Star Frog Splash could be on the horizon!
-[both exclaiming] -[JR] Nobody there.
[Lawler] I know it's hard to be, uh…
well, unbiased during this match,
-both you and I, JR, we like-- -[JR] There it is!
-[Lawler] Got him. -[JR] There it is. Crippler Crossface.
[Lawler] You and I would like to see that Intercontinental title brought back to Raw
but it doesn't look like it's gonna happen.
[ref shouting instructions]
[ref] Come on. What do you say?
[Lawler] Van Dam not anywhere close to the ropes.
He's in a world of trouble here.
[ref] Come on, Van Dam. Talk to me now.
[JR] And, Van Dam, as tough as the young kid is…
[Lawler] Hey, look at that! The educated feet.
[JR] The educated feet found a way out.
…RVD does.
Get him, Benoit!
[JR] Expectant general managers of Raw and SmackDown,
again, watching live, as we all are.
[Lawler] A lot on the line in this match for those two.
[JR] So much on the line for everybody.
Especially the two athletes in the ring.
And look at Van Dam being punished, but he's damn sure not gonna quit.
[Lawler] Both guys bleeding from the mouth.
This has been a hard-fought, vicious matchup.
-Watch it! Look out! -[crowd gasping]
[JR] Van Dam, as they often say, says
you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
And I think Van Dam hurt that arm.
[fan] Suck it up!
[JR] That has gotta be something that Benoit is loving, King.
[Lawler] Well, you got that right.
Like painting a big bullseye on there for The Wolverine right now.
Gonna go right after that.
The arm wringer.
[JR] A hammerlock and the steel post
in succession.
[ref counting]
[JR] This may be the deciding factor in this match,
when we look back on it, is that Van Dam,
into that security wall, and that arm and that shoulder more specifically…
It's the shoulder and the neck that's gotta be punishing
Rob Van Dam as we speak.
[Lawler] I'm sure this has put a big smile on the face of Stephanie McMahon.
[JR] Shoulderbreaker by Benoit, and drops the elbow across the neck.
Hard stomps.
I doubt if you see Benoit go anywhere else in this match, King,
but that head and neck.
Benoit making sure Van Dam's away from the ropes.
[Lawler] Van Dam is just… He's in big trouble now.
Oh man.
[JR] The hard shot by Chris Benoit.
The knife edge. Upstairs, downstairs.
Van Dam's gotta get back in this thing quickly,
or it's gonna be too late.
[Lawler] He's gonna have to mount some offense
-but right now-- -[JR] The cover. There you go.
And again, Benoit, getting a near fall on the challenger
for the Intercontinental Championship.
[Lawler] Right now, we're seeing Rob Van Dam, he's just…
he's fighting a totally defensive fight.
Trying to buy some time, trying to get back in control of his faculties here.
Benoit using his left knee as a post.
Right in the spine of Rob Van Dam.
That surfboard-like maneuver, again, with that shoulder and neck weakened,
Van Dam, he must feel like he's in the electric chair right now.
[Lawler] Oh, man.
[JR] Van Dam trying to muscle out of.
[Lawler] When you're in that position, that's the only way you're getting out.
If he can get to his feet, he's got a few more options.
[Benoit screaming]
[JR] Test of strength here. The will to survive.
[Lawler] Van Dam winning!
Oh man.
[JR] Back in that painful position. And a knee right to the kidneys.
[Lawler] Look at this.
[ref] Come on, Rob. What do you say?
What do you say, Rob?
Come on, now, what do you say?
Come on, talk to me now.
[JR] Referee Chat Patton assigned this contest.
A Raw official asking Van Dam if he wants to give it up.
Again, remember, we don't know the damage done to the neck and shoulder
of Rob Van Dam from earlier.
[Lawler] Did you see right there, I mean, Benoit was actually,
he's trying to reverse him, tried to use Van Dam's own arms to choke himself with.
[JR] He's countered by Van Dam.
Van Dam got one kick in.
But it's not enough, and Benoit,
boy, that's why he's called the rabid Wolverine.
He has absolutely no back up, no side-step, for Benoit.
He is a real machine in there tonight.
Oh, nice back heel trip by Rob Van Dam.
Van Dam…
A little Rolling Thunder, but again,
it didn't hit, and there's a Crippler Crossface.
[Lawler] Oh boy, this is…
[JR] Benoit's got it cinched in, King.
In the middle of the ring this time.
Van Dam looking for the ropes with his feet.
But Van Dam can see… He can feel how far he is away from the ropes.
[Lawler] I'm afraid he's too far for his feet or his hands.
This is bad.
-[JR] It may be a matter of seconds… -[Lawler] Wait!
[JR] Van Dam broke… He broke free.
At least for the moment. There's a roll-up.
The roll-up. He got… No!
[Lawler] Both of these guys know each other so well.
It's like they anticipate each other's moves.
[JR] Benoit the great counter. Rolling up.
Rob Van Dam, and then… Oh! The hammerlock.
And the shoulder aimed perfectly at the steel ring post.
Benoit is relentless, to say the least.
Now trying to hyperextend that elbow.
Again, focusing on the left arm.
Remember, Van Dam is a right-handed athlete.
[Lawler] Watch this. And listen to this contact.
-[RVD screaming] -[Lawler] Man.
[JR] The reason I brang that up… Look out here.
Nice Northern Lights suplex by Benoit.
Benoit floats over.
He still held onto that arm in the hammerlock position.
And Benoit, like a pit bull dog.
Still holding onto that arm of Rob Van Dam.
[Lawler] And hair. He's trying to break Van Dam's arm off.
[JR] Two Northern Lights suplexes right on that damaged shoulder
of Rob Van Dam.
How much longer can Van Dam last?
A third Northern Lights, and again…
Benoit… Benoit wants to… He is severely wanting to…
-To make Van Dam submit. -[Lawler] There it is.
[JR] And to tap out here. And that may be what we get.
We may be there now.
Again, Van Dam a long way away from the ropes.
And then Benoit wrenching.
The hands locked.
[Lawler] I don't see how… I don't see how Van Dam is withstanding this.
Why is he not tapping out?
[JR] It is the will to be the Intercontinental Champion.
The will to bring the Intercontinental Title back to Raw.
[crowd chanting] RVD! RVD!
[Lawler] These fans with the RVD chant…
[JR] This is the only inter-promotional match on SummerSlam.
-And Van Dam… -[Lawler] Oh, look at this.
[JR] Benoit blocking that…
That arm extended out to the ropes by Van Dam.
Benoit blocking that, and now Benoit getting his back
between RVD and the closest ring ropes.
Great technique by Benoit.
-[Lawler] Look at this! -[JR] Look at this!
-I can't believe it! -[Lawler] Hey!
[JR] Van Dam's got the Crippler Crossface on the innovator of that maneuver!
-And he doesn't have it long. -[Lawler] Won't stay long, you're right.
I gotta tell you, that's gotta tick the Wolverine off right there.
[JR] Before Van Dam could get up, he got dropkicked right in the face
from his knees.
And Van Dam trying to get the circulation and blood flowing
back in that arm and shoulder.
And this is so physically intense.
Shots right to that shoulder by the Intercontinental Champion.
Benoit's title on the line here at SummerSlam.
-[Lawler] Oh! -[JR] Springboard!
[Lawler] That big kick, right in the throat of The Wolverine.
That could take a lot out of him.
[JR] Almost out of desperation was that kick by Van Dam.
Gets his back down. Makes the cover. But it's Benoit who…
shoots that right shoulder off the canvas.
[Lawler] Both of these guys have pulled out all the stops
and they're both physically spent right now.
[RVD screaming]
[JR] Oh! The stepover!
What a big shot that was by Van Dam,
who's desperately trying to fight his way back in this championship match.
-Rolling Thunder! -[Lawler] He hit it!
It hit this time.
Van Dam, with a Rolling Thunder.
Going for the title! Oh, and he got a near fall.
Rob Van Dam going for the Intercontinental Title.
It was a second away on that exchange.
-The Irish whip. -[wrestlers grunting]
Oh, Van Dam. Instinctively went for that shoulder.
A shoulder block. May have hurt himself again.
Spinning heel kick. Knocked him down. Chris Benoit.
There's a cover. The hook of the leg. Will it be? Not this time.
Not this time. Another near fall by the challenger.
[Lawler] What is it going to take?
I don't know if there's anything that's gonna
put that Wolverine down for the three-count.
[JR] Oh oh. Van Dam looking for that monkey flip.
Got that reversed,
-and Van Dam… -[Lawler] Oh!
[JR] Aw, man.
That is not a good place to land
-for most male athletes, I'll tell you. -[Lawler] You got that right.
[JR] And look at this. Right on the shoulder. Around the back of the neck.
The back of the neck the focus of Chris Benoit.
He is an animal.
[Lawler] Oh, look!
[JR] Benoit looking for a suplex. It was countered in midair
into the crossbody by RVD.
RVD may have knocked the breath out of himself there.
[Lawler] A lot of damage done to both men on that maneuver.
[JR] This is anybody's ballgame.
Oh, look at this. Wait a minute. Maybe not! Maybe I spoke too soon.
-[Lawler] Got him! -[JR] The Five-Star! Turning in midair!
Can it be? The leg is hooked!
-[bell ringing] -[Lawler] Look at that, JR!
Van Dam! Van Dam wins it!
-Yes! -[announcer] And new
WWE Intercontinental Champion,
Rob Van Dam!
[Lawler] Eat your heart out, Stephanie McMahon and SmackDown!
[JR] One hell of a wrestling match, let me tell you.
As physically intense, as stiff a competition,
as perhaps you will ever see,
between Van Dam, the new Intercontinental Champion,
and Chris Benoit.
[Lawler] Boy, that big Five-Star Frog Splash
brought the Intercontinental Championship back to Raw, JR.
[JR] Van Dam missed a Five-Star earlier.
But not when it counted.
[Lawler] Boy, he didn't miss this one. Look at that. Bang!
[JR] Adjusting his body in midair.
An amazing athlete, Rob Van Dam,
has brought the Intercontinental Championship back to Raw.
[Lawler] And we will see him with that championship
Monday night at Madison Square Garden, JR.
Wow, good job!
I think it's safe for you, uh,
to adhere to this old saying, "never say never."
[chuckling]
[Stephanie sighs]
You can watch the Intercontinental Championship from now on, on Raw.
[laughs hysterically]
[JR] The hell was that about?
[loud rock guitar playing]
Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
The American Badass,
and maybe the baddest of all The Un-Americans, Test.
A lot of people are wondering, "Who are these Un-Americans?"
"Why are they here? What is their motivation?"
Well, perhaps this will explain.
["America the Beautiful" playing]
[music distorts]
[Storm] We've had all we can take of this "America the Beautiful" crap!
Because we have a message for America!
[Test] The world hates America. We hate America.
[JR] Go home if you don't like being here.
[Storm] You see this upside-down flag?
It stands for the upside-down beliefs and values of American society.
How is it the average teen can list every Britney Spears song,
but they can't list the Bill of Rights?
You're all ignorant!
[JR] This is absolutely disrespectful. That's all its meant to be.
[Lawler] Boy, and these Un-Americans, Christian, Lance Storm, and Test,
if they ever get a man down, they'll be glad to kick him.
[JR] Our American flag, those damn shirts, with our flag upside-down,
this group right here makes me absolutely physically ill.
To hell with The Un-Americans.
America sucks!
[crowd booing]
["This is a Test" playing]
[Lawler] They can't make their feelings any plainer than that, can they, JR?
[JR] Absolutely not.
Look at this. Again, the flag upside-down.
The distress signal.
Maybe if someone else was carrying that flag, that would be distress
before this one was all said and done.
[Lawler] You know, this was supposed to be the first time we saw Test here tonight.
But unfortunately, he figured heavily
in the outcome of the Tag Team Title match earlier.
-[JR] Pack of dogs. -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing The Un-Americans,
weighing 282 pounds,
Test!
This man is an embarrassment to the Raw brand,
as far as I'm concerned.
And I know we live in a society where you can express yourself freely…
["Dead Man" playing]
[Lawler] Here comes somebody who knows how to express himself, JR.
[JR] Yeah, with a soup bone or two.
[announcer] From Houston, Texas, weighing 305 pounds,
The Undertaker!
[JR] He may be The Undertaker to the fans around the world,
but tonight I think he's gonna be 6'10", 305-pound American Badass.
And I know those great kids from Tough Enough III are watching this one.
And I can guarantee you who those kids are cheering for.
That man on that motorcycle. The Undertaker.
[Lawler] You see the look on The Undertaker's face?
[JR] Oh, it's go-time, baby. This ain't gonna be no wrestling match.
The Undertaker's been a WWE Champion four times.
Tag Champion seven times.
But this is not about gold.
This is about American pride.
And pride for your country.
[Lawler] Look at Test. Where you going? Stay in there, Test!
-There you go. -[crowd cheering]
[JR] A big homefield advantage for The Undertaker.
As bad as they come.
[Lawler] He is a true free spirit, JR.
He don't take no, uh…
He don't take no crap off nobody, and nothing.
[JR] Well, he said last week on Raw, that he's not a role model.
Doesn't intend to be.
He's an individual.
And by living in this country,
has the opportunity to express himself in that way.
But these Un-Americans have a different vision of the land of opportunity.
The home of the free.
[Lawler] Unfortunately, you can't… You can't sell Test short.
I mean, he is a…
He's a young guy, he's a big guy,
and he's full of hatred, JR.
[JR] Test has been living off the unlimited potential label for a long time.
He's 6'6" or 7", somewhere around 280, young…
[Lawler] I'm glad he's tall. Gives me more of him to hate.
-[bell ringing] -[JR] Young and strong.
And certainly The Undertaker
knows what it's like to feel that big boot of Test.
The Undertaker went down for the three-count
not that long ago in that eight-man tag match on Raw just a couple weeks ago.
And a hard shoulder block by Test.
The Un-Americans, the biggest and baddest--
-[Lawler] Hey, you see The Taker? -[JR] The Undertaker. He might take over.
With a lot of authority.
[Test grunting loudly]
[JR] Undertaker, that shoulder-to-shoulder contact.
And again, The Undertaker, using his shoulder like a battering ram,
trying to disjoint the arm of Test,
who fights back and buries a knee
deep into the solar plexus of The American Badass.
-[Lawler] Oh, yes! -[JR] Taken down in the air.
-Hello, LaGuardia. -[Lawler laughing]
-[JR] Cover. And a near-fall. -[ref] No! Two!
[Lawler] Great. Man, he knocked Test for a complete flip.
You know what, JR?
There's a lot of pressure on both of these guys in this match,
because it's more than personal.
These guys gotta feel like they're fighting for a belief.
[JR] That's right, yeah, you're right. This is beyond personal.
Pressure now, when it's The Undertaker, looking for a little old school here.
Look at the balance. A man nearly seven feet tall. Oh!
A reckless Test turns the referee into the ropes.
The ref knocked The Undertaker off balance.
[Lawler] Well, that's typical Un-American, that's showing no respect, whatsoever.
No respect for the old school values of The Undertaker there.
Have a look at that again.
Watch Test.
[JR] Undertaker straddling that top rope.
Test using the referee almost like a tag team partner.
Certainly an unwilling tag team partner on that exchange.
And that has given Test the upper hand in this matchup.
[Lawler] Referee probably could have disqualified Test for that.
But I guarantee you, The Undertaker wouldn't want to win that way.
He wants to beat Test. He wants to prove a point here. Look out!
[JR] The Undertaker, both knees driven into those steps,
unhinging the ring steps.
Test is a big, powerful, young competitor.
There's no doubt in my mind that someday soon
that Test will be wearing some major gold around his waist,
but again tonight, it's not about gold.
[Lawler] What a lousy, rotten attitude this guy has.
You've been around him, JR. You've tried to talk to him.
He's got a rotten attitude.
[JR] I used to have a decent conversation with this guy.
But not in the last several weeks since this Un-American thing was created
by Storm and Christian and Test.
[Lawler] Sticks his nose in the air, thinks he's better than everybody.
At least, better than everybody in the United States.
[Undertaker exclaiming]
[JR] A reverse elbow by Test
finding its mark on that exposed head of The Undertaker.
Undertaker, 12 years in this company.
-[ref] Two! Three! Four! -[JR] As distinguished a career
as any man has ever had in our business in the WWE.
No doubt about that.
Undertaker going downstairs, lower abdomen of Test.
Before The Undertaker could turn the corner,
and build that momentum, King,
it's Test cutting The Undertaker off with his own high-impact offense.
[Lawler] Like we said, you cannot sell Test short. This guy is strong.
He's big. He's powerful.
When he hits you with one of those knees, or one of those, you're gonna feel it.
Even if you are The Undertaker.
[crowd booing]
[JR] The arrogance of Test.
Conceit of this man. Looking down on our fans here at ringside.
And throughout the sold-out arena. Wasting some time.
You don't wanna waste time with The Undertaker.
Test comes back with that knee again to the midsection,
and a hard clothesline from the left side,
going even on the right or the left side by Test.
And now Test using that right knee as a post
right on The Undertaker's ear to keep him grounded,
as a leverage point, there you see it.
[Lawler] The Undertaker needs to get up here, build some momentum.
And you know, it's… It doesn't look right seeing The Undertaker on his back,
not in control of the match.
[JR] Not at SummerSlam, not in America,
and not with this…
Well, I'm not even gonna say what I was thinking about this man.
His mommy and daddy may be watching.
I don't know proud they could be of this man.
Undertaker trying to fight his way back up.
That proverbial vertical base,
that's where The Undertaker does his best.
He is not a mat wrestler, per se.
He is a, more of a street fighter, is The Undertaker.
He'll beat you in a lot of ways,
but he beats most people when he's vertical.
-[Lawler] There you go! -[JR] Both feet underneath him.
Pops those hips, The Undertaker does, and that suplex.
Getting underneath Test.
Undertaker measuring, and Test avoided the contact.
Undertaker had a bead on the heart of the big Un-American.
Undertaker taking a deep breath,
and scoring with the right hand with Test fighting right back.
[Lawler] Well, I like this because if it boils down to
just a flat-out street brawl, a good old back-alley street brawl,
we know who's gonna come out on top of that.
Soup bone is The Undertaker's specialty. DDT!
Test lowered his head.
He got DDT'ed for his efforts.
There's a cover. No! Test kicked out.
Gotta hand it to him.
Very resilient. Showing his toughness,
and will to win, is Test.
[Lawler chuckling]
[JR] Undertaker gonna try to take Test back to school.
[Lawler] He's gonna get this in one way or the other. There you go.
[JR] A little… Little old school for The Undertaker walking the top rope.
[Lawler] There was no referee to shove into the ropes that time
within arms' reach of Test.
[JR] Undertaker now…
sees the opportunity here to really build some momentum.
High impact Irish whip to snake eyes.
Oh, The Undertaker looking for that big foot.
Downstairs goes Test.
Test looking for that pumphandle slam.
[Lawler] He's gonna hit. No, wait, reverse!
-[JR] Undertaking reversing. -[crowd cheering wildly]
Look at Test's face!
Sheer fright, and rightfully so.
Test fights out of it.
In desperation, fights out of it.
Looking for that big boot.
-Test, oh my! -[Lawler] Got him again!
-[JR] The American Badass! -[Lawler] Ride into the mat!
[JR] What a ride!
A red, white, and blue, all-American Chokeslam.
-[ref] One! Two! -[JR] The cover!
-Oh my God! -No, that's two! He got up.
[JR] I'll tell you what,
you can count on one hand the number of people who've ever kicked out
from a Chokeslam from The Undertaker.
[Lawler] Well, The Undertaker's still got some more plans for…
Hey, wait a minute. Look at this.
-[JR] Aw, damn it. Lance Storm… -[Lawler] Hey, give him a ride too.
[JR] Now The Undertaker's in a three-on-one…
Undertaker's taking matters… He's fighting for his life here.
Undertaker brought those two men in the ring.
Referee can't disqualify them for being brought into the ring.
[Lawler] Look at this!
[JR] Up and down! The Chokeslam.
[Lawler] What a huge Chokeslam.
[JR] One tag champion just got drilled.
And there's the other one. But watch Test! Oh, Test!
Test got the shot in.
He's gonna win it again.
Oh my God! The Undertaker.
The Undertaker kicks out, and Test cannot believe it.
Test scored with that big kick,
but somewhere, The Undertaker reached down in his guts,
and kicked out before the three-count.
[Lawler] Oh, look at Test. He's hot.
Now what?
[JR] Test's gotta be thinking, "I couldn't beat him with a kick to the face,
and now I'll just tear his head off."
-[Lawler] Watch it. Ref-- -[JR] The hell with a victory.
Referee Jack Doan over matched here.
[Lawler exclaiming]
[JR] The chair right back in the face of Test.
And the… Oh, look at this! Tombstone!
-[Lawler] Here you go! -[JR] Tombstone!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver!
[Lawler] This is the way we plan it in the good, old USA!
-[JR] The Tombstone Piledriver! -[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[Lawler] Yes! -[JR] The American Badass
is dominant!
[announcer] Here is your winner, The Undertaker!
[JR] The Undertaker fighting off three Un-Americans!
And The Undertaker pulling that Tombstone Piledriver!
Ran outta mothballs, if you will.
[Lawler] What a great victory. Now what?
-[crowd cheering] -[Lawler] Where's he going?
[JR] Undertaker leaving right through these fans.
-These WWE fans. -[Lawler] There you go!
-[JR] And, King, look what he's got! -[Lawler] I see it!
Good old stars and stripes.
[JR] The red, white and blue
of the United States of America!
There's no distress here!
Old Glory never looked better than here tonight at SummerSlam!
[Lawler] Boy, check it out.
Things looked bad for The Undertaker, until, oh man, Test had to eat that chair.
And welcome to the Tombstone.
Watch Test's head. Listen to this. This is great.
And here's him knocking sense into him.
[JR] The Undertaker!
That's Americana!
The American Badass is no role model.
But he's the baddest son of a gun in the yard,
let me tell you that.
Draped in Old Glory, The Undertaker,
refusing to die in this one-on-one match.
[Lawler] Well, he's made us proud to be an American here tonight.
[rock music continues]
[JR] As The Undertaker leaves victorious,
-we are just moments away from… -[engine revving]
…what I believe will be one of the most emotional matchups.
in the history of this organization.
And that is the non-sanctioned fight
between two men who were at one time best friends,
Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
Well, I, like you said, JR, this has been long awaited.
There are a lot of fans out there that are watching this right now
that probably have never even seen Shawn Michaels perform.
But they're gonna see it tonight
and it's gonna be something they'll never forget.
[JR] Shawn Michaels last wrestled 1609 days ago,
if you can believe that.
He left the game due to a broken back.
But this is about pride and passion.
About evilness and ego.
It's gonna be a fight.
[upbeat music playing]
[JR] Shawn Michaels and Triple H are best of friends,
are closer than a lot of brothers.
[Michaels] Triple H, my friend,
is that a lie, or is that the truth?
That is the ever-loving truth!
But let me ask you a question.
Who is The Showstopper?
Me.
[Triple H] Who is the main event?
Me.
[JR] Shawn Michaels and Triple H, they're closer than a lot of brothers.
[upbeat music continues]
[Triple H] Tonight, The Game brings you
his best friend, Shawn Michaels!
[JR] Shawn Michaels and Triple H are best of friends.
[Lawler] That friendship is really what swayed Triple H.
That's what brought him here to Raw.
Let's get ready to suck it!
-[ominous music playing] -[JR] Wait a minute!
-[Lawler] What? -[JR] What the hell? No!
Triple H, the Pedigree on Shawn Michaels!
[Triple H] Shawn Michaels and I were never best friends.
I used Shawn Michaels to get to the top,
just like Shawn Michaels used me to stay at the top.
Now I am The Showstopper!
Now I am the icon!
What the hell do you want?
[JR] Stage manager Rick Dawes telling, well, The Game something.
[Lawler] Where is he going?
[Triple H] What the hell happened? What the hell happened?
-[Lawler] Oh wow. -[Triple H] Somebody get help.
Somebody go and get some help.
[Lawler] Somebody obviously ran his head right through the car window.
The only thing I know for sure.
is that the guy jumped me from behind.
Shawn, I swear to you, and I swear in front of all these people,
I'm gonna find out who did this to you.
When I find out who did this, that person is a marked man.
[dramatic music playing]
It was you, Hunter.
[Triple H] You're damn right it was me, Shawn.
I was trying to prove a point.
That you are weak. You are vulnerable.
I recognize that I'm not in the best of shape right now.
The doctors have told me that I'll make a full recovery.
They say I'll be 100%. 100% by say, uh…
[dramatic stinger]
…SummerSlam.
-["Fight (SummerSlam Theme)" playing] -[crowd cheering]
I'm not gonna sanction your match at SummerSlam.
Officially, your match will never happen.
But it will happen, Eric.
♪ I will fight till there's nothing left ♪
♪ Till my legs are gone You won't forget me ♪
♪ 'Cause I will fight Till my final breath ♪
♪ Just to see you fall I'll make you fear me ♪
♪ Every time you think I'm done ♪
♪ I'll come back stronger ♪
♪ Stronger! ♪
♪ And every time You think that you've got me ♪
♪ I will fight you ♪
♪ And I will put you in the ground ♪
[JR] Shawn Michaels is an amazing, amazing athlete,
one of the best I personally ever saw,
but after a four-year absence, what does Shawn Michaels have left in his tank.
[Triple H] Face facts, you can't wrestle anymore.
You're done! It's over! I will cripple your ass!
HBK is dead!
Is dead!
[JR] Shawn Michaels and The Game, non-sanctioned!
♪ I will fight till there's nothing left ♪
♪ Till my legs are gone ♪
♪ You won't forget me ♪
[echoing] ♪ Forget me ♪
[song fades out]
[Lawler] Wow.
-["Sexy Boy" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Are you ready for this, JR?
[JR] I'm ready, but is HBK ready?
[Lawler] There he is!
[fireworks popping]
[JR] He is a Showstopper!
What an amazing, amazing athlete!
His last match
March 29th, 1998, at WrestleMania.
He was the first ever
Grand Slam winner.
He has been the WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion,
European Champion, and Tag Champion.
The first man in the history of this company to earn that honor.
[Lawler] JR, we are witnessing something that we…
quite rightly thought we'd never see.
[JR] I always hoped that Shawn Michaels would get back in the ring one more time.
And that's what we're seeing here.
So my personal dream has come true.
But I swear, I pray that this is not a mistake
that Shawn Michaels will regret, that his family will regret,
for the rest of his natural life.
[Lawler] Yeah, but this…
Just look… Look at Shawn Michaels.
I don't know if there's ever been anyone in this industry
that's had more charisma than that man.
[JR] He was as controversial as anybody that ever stepped in the ring.
He has had several life-changing experiences
since his retirement.
This match, as I said earlier, is about passion and pride
of Shawn Michaels.
It's about the evilness and the ego
of a man that Shawn Michaels used to call his best friend.
[Lawler] He's got chills right now, JR.
So does everybody in this arena.
["The Game" playing]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
-[bell ringing] -[announcer] The following contest,
non-sanctioned, is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing, from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing 272 pounds,
Triple H!
[JR] Well, The Game, the second man to ever hold the Grand Slam.
Shawn Michaels the first.
The Game the second.
And how…
What Triple H did to a man that revered him,
that really was a catalyst in Triple H's ascension
to main event status.
It's beyond me what kind of heart and what kind of soul
possesses a man like Triple H.
[Lawler] There's two things you don't like about Triple H, and that's his face,
because only a two-faced individual would be able to
stand and put his arm around Shawn Michaels,
tell the world that he's Shawn Michaels' best friend,
then take Shawn Michaels head and run it right into the car windshield.
[JR] This match is not sanctioned by the WWE.
Both men have signed hold harmless,
a contract that basically says if Shawn Michaels can't…
Oh, look at this.
[Lawler] That's just a little more of that charisma I talked about, JR.
But you're right.
As far as Eric Bischoff is concerned, as far as the WWE is concerned,
this is not even happening.
This match is not even taking place.
[JR] But it's gonna happen. It is real.
The Showstopper, The Cerebral Assassin.
And remember, the referee is here only to count a pinfall,
or ring the bell, signifying a submission.
-There's no disqual-- -[Lawler] Here we go!
[JR] Shawn Michaels right in the face of The Game.
-[bell ringing] -"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels,
with that Texas pride, scoring with a right hand.
[Lawler] Look out.
[JR] Triple H, he's trying to distance himself.
-[Lawler] Look at that! -[JR] The Spear by Shawn Michaels.
Hard right hands right there on the man, his former best friend, Triple H.
The evil, Cerebral Assassin.
And Shawn Michaels scoring.
You've gotta believe that Shawn Michaels' back, that broken back,
might as well have a bullseye on it, as far as The Game is concerned.
-Michaels, leapfrog, what an athlete. -[Lawler] Look at this!
[JR] And Triple H, Michaels sidestepped The Game.
The Game went sailing right over the top.
[Lawler] I'll tell you,
Triple H has made a big mistake if he underestimates Shawn Michaels!
[JR] Crossbody over the top!
Again, these men can't be counted out.
Look at those right hands. Look at the…
Those right hands right into the forehead.
Right between the eyes of The Game.
[Lawler] There's some question as to how much Shawn Michaels has left,
but I'll guarantee you this, I'll promise you this,
he will get every ounce of it, every bit of it tonight in this match.
[JR] Shawn Michaels, yes, he will, King.
He will give us his heart and his soul.
-[Lawler] Look at that! -[JR] The Game,
the side of his head bouncing off the ring post.
But, in my view, Shawn Michaels has gotta get it over early, here.
He has not wrestled in over four years.
He looks to be in great shape.
[Lawler] He looks great. You gotta give him credit.
He looks fantastic.
-[JR] Strong! -[Lawler] Oh, look at that shot.
[JR] Shawn Michaels catching The Game with that clothesline.
And thus far, in the early going,
Shawn Michaels has been extremely offensive.
-[Lawler] Wait a minute. -[JR] Again, it's non-sanctioned.
This goes beyond a hardcore match.
[Lawler] Wait a minute, now, JR.
[JR] Michaels throwing a trash can--
[Lawler] I guess anything's gonna go in this.
You're right. There are no rules in a non-sanctioned match.
-[Triple H yelling] -[crowd exclaiming]
[JR] Downstairs went The Game.
[Lawler] Look out!
[JR] Elevating Michaels right onto the security wall.
Michaels bouncing off that security wall, and The Game rolling back in.
[Lawler] There's so many things that gotta be going through the mind
of Shawn Michaels.
I mean, first of all, he's in the ring going against the man that
just a few weeks ago thought was his best friend.
Now he's in the ring, in a match that
a few weeks ago we thought he'd never do again.
[JR] What a shot that was!
Oh, look at this!
-Shawn Michaels… -[Lawler] Vintage Shawn Michaels!
-[JR] …skinning the cat! -[Lawler] Wow!
[JR] And almost beheading Triple H with a thunderous clothesline.
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, with his heart as big as Texas.
Cowboy boots on. He's here for a street fight.
A non-sanctioned affair.
And right between the eyes with a trashcan.
And down goes The Game.
[Lawler] Probably the most important thing that's going through Shawn's mind
is the fact that you mentioned Texas.
That his young son is sitting at home in Texas watching
every minute of this.
[JR] Watching his daddy for the first time.
The shot. Michaels off the top rope.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Shawn Michaels will wanna get it over early.
He's done a hell of a job with his game plan.
And Michaels may be warming up the band, King.
It could be time for some Sweet Chin Music.
[Lawler] Yeah!
Let's see it. Let's hear it!
[JR] He went for it. Couldn't find it.
And The Game… Oh, look out!
The Game, by God! By God, what a backbreaker.
What a vicious, powerful backbreaker.
[Lawler] You said it. The bullseye on the back of Shawn Michaels.
[JR] And the referee asking Shawn Michaels if he wants to stop this match.
[screaming] I can't. No.
[JR] Shawn Michaels saying, "No."
Emphatically, "No."
Nobody knows, I don't think even Shawn Michaels knows,
how much pain and punishment his back can take.
[Lawler] Let's take a look one more time.
Feel the impact. Man. Wow.
[JR] That was as perfectly executed by The Cerebral Assassin
as you will ever… Well, not again! Not another one!
And another backbreaker.
The Game said he was gonna try to maim,
he was gonna try to cripple and destroy Shawn Michaels.
It is Triple H's goal, as perverse as it sounds,
as hideous as it is, to see Shawn Michaels in a wheelchair.
[Lawler] Well, you know I said we saw some
vintage Shawn Michaels earlier in this match,
now we're seeing vintage Triple H.
This is what made Triple H The Game.
This…
Oh, this attitude, and this…
[JR] Triple H a five-time WWE Champion.
He didn't get there accidentally.
Right in, what an Irish whip.
So much velocity. Triple H able to lift his feet,
to send Shawn Michaels like a shot right to the turnbuckle.
Again, focusing on that back.
How healed is the broken back?
And you say, "Well, JR, it's been four years."
For those of you that have ever had a broken back,
I am told it never fully heals.
You never get over it.
And you damn sure don't get in the ring with an athlete like Triple H.
[Lawler] And that's why we knew this wasn't the smartest decision.
that Shawn Michaels could make.
-[JR] Shawn Michaels… -[crowd exclaiming with dismay]
[JR] Triple H, totally disrespecting one of the great legends of our time
in this business, Shawn Michaels.
And Triple H is certainly not going to waste any motion.
[screaming] Oh God!
[JR] Triple H, the elbow.
-The point of the elbow. -[Lawler] Watch this.
[crowd exclaiming in dismay]
[JR] Nothing but disrespect.
But nothing that The Cerebral Assassin gives a damn about.
And there's a cover. The first cover. Here we go!
And Shawn Michaels able to kick out, King.
But you gotta wonder, if your back goes,
the kickouts, they stop happening.
[Lawler] Yeah, they're gonna be few and far between.
[JR] And this is legal. It's not sanctioned.
This match, the WWE wants nothing to do with this match.
[Lawler] What's he gonna do with this chair?
-[JR] The hold harmless-- -[Lawler] No, not his back. No!
[JR] Right in the lower back!
Right in the spine of Shawn Michaels!
And look at this face, King.
That face tells the story.
Michaels' legs… His legs are… Oh my God.
He's gotta be… Oh! It's not over. It's not over!
[Lawler] I just wonder if Shawn's doing the right thing by kicking out.
-[JR] I tell you what, this audience-- -[Lawler] He might be better off,
and much better off for his family, if he just lets this end.
[JR] You might be right.
This audience absolutely was hushed over what we are seeing here.
They know the jeopardy, the danger, that Shawn Michaels is in.
Shawn Michaels' heart maybe doesn't know it because it's still beating.
He's still trying to fight back. But to no avail here.
Again, six feet, four-and-a-half.
-[Lawler] Oh, look at this! -[JR] 260.
Busted up by Shawn Michaels. There's a roll-up!
And Shawn Michaels, he just didn't have the strength to hold The Game down.
Right hands. Everything Shawn's got.
Oh! Facebuster.
And again Michaels back down on the canvas.
His arms…
Gotta get his arms out of there.
I wanna see those arms and legs move, of Shawn Michaels.
[Lawler] He doesn't have the strength, but he's got the heart, too much heart.
[JR] Again, the referee in this non-sanctioned match cannot stop it.
Only one of the competitors can say, "I quit. I give up."
This match, one fall to a finish.
[Lawler] The more I watch, you can call it heart, or call it ego.
They're both too big. When it comes to Shawn Michaels--
-Look at this! -[JR] DDT on that steel chair.
Scrambling the brains of HBK.
And now The Game. It's gotta be over here.
No, it's not over!
Oh, Shawn Michaels busted open.
Shawn Michaels has been busted open with that…
-[Lawler] Face first into that chair. -[JR] Damn sure did.
-And… -[Lawler] Now what?
[JR] The Game taking that belt.
The Game taking that belt off Shawn Michaels.
And whipping him like a dog!
Lashing Shawn Michaels like he was an animal.
With that leather belt.
Michaels bleeding.
You can hear the leather on the skin of a human being.
Beating him… Unmerciful.
[Lawler] And unfortunately, like you said, it's all legal in this match.
-[JR] The Game methodically… -[Lawler] He's got that metal belt buckle.
[JR] And there's not a damn thing the referee can do about it.
Those shots from that loaded right hand with Shawn Michaels' own belt.
And that, more specifically, that big belt buckle
being used as a weapon by Triple H.
[Lawler] I tell you something, JR, I'm beginning to think this is…
This has gotta be the biggest mistake
Shawn Michaels has made in his entire career.
[JR] You may be right.
You may be absolutely right.
But again, the referee is helpless. The referee can't stop it.
And Shawn Michaels, King, you know him as well as I,
He will not quit. As long as he is breathing, he will not quit.
[Lawler] And I'm afraid neither will Triple H.
Triple H won't quit until he fulfills what he said he was going to do.
He wants to cripple and maim Shawn Michaels.
[JR] Triple H wants to see Shawn Michaels in a damn wheelchair.
What kind of morbid, sick human being would even say something like that
about another soul?
-[Lawler] What is Triple H looking for? -[JR] I have no earthly idea.
God only knows what Triple H must be thinking or what he's contemplating here.
Looking under the ring. Shawn Michaels
trying to pull himself back up.
With every fiber in this being, Shawn… Oh my God.
-You gotta be kidding me. -[Lawler] Wait a minute.
[Lawler] Surely the referee can stop this.
[JR] This… The chairs were enough. Now we got a sledgehammer.
And… Oh.
The referee is helpless.
And, look… Shawn Michaels kicking back.
Shawn Michaels fighting for his life here.
[Lawler] You got that right. Come on, you have to do something here.
[JR] Michaels on his knees. Can he stand?
-Yes, he can. Scoring with the right hand. -[crowd chanting] HBK!
The crowd chanting for HBK!
They're trying to carry him through!
The most crucial match, the most crucial night,
of his entire… Oh! What another hard Irish whip.
-[Lawler] Back again. Oh no. -[JR] And the abdominal stretch.
Putting more pressure and torque on that lower body.
[Lawler] Poor Shawn is like he's in a torture chamber…
Triple H is… He's just intent on torturing
[JR] I don't… I wish Shawn Michaels would just give it up here.
Just give it up, Shawn.
You made us all proud.
You came back. You did everything you could.
Everything under God's sun you could do, you have done.
The Game is… He is an executioner.
He's an executioner with a PhD.
That's legal. You can't count him.
There's no disqualifications here!
[Lawler] You can see Earl Hebner doesn't like it.
Doing everything he can.
[JR] Well, Earl's got a heart. He's got a soul.
-He knows what's right and what's not. -[Lawler] Oh, look at this!
[JR] Earl, you're over matched, my friend.
[Lawler] Earl Hebner's going right up to Triple H.
He's getting right in Triple H's face.
[JR] I admire Earl Hebner's…
I'm telling you right now, knock it off!
[JR] I admire Earl Hebner's attitude.
-What he stands for. -I'm sick of everything!
The chair, the hammer. Knock it off!
[Lawler] I'm telling you, Earl Hebner realizes
when he saw that sledgehammer come out, he can't let anything go in this match.
[JR] Earl Hebner's been in the eye of controversy in his career before.
A shot to the midsection by Shawn Michaels.
Earl doesn't want to be a part of seeing the demise of Shawn Michaels.
To seeing Shawn Michaels confined to a wheelchair.
To being maimed and crippled.
But Shawn Michaels, he doesn't know that.
He's running on adrenaline.
But how much adrenaline can Shawn Michaels have left?
[Lawler] It's adrenaline and it's instinct.
You're right. There's not much of either one left right now.
[JR] God almighty. Shawn Michaels gotta… Shawn fighting!
You gotta fight him. You know what Triple H is gonna try to do!
[Lawler] That's right. That's why that's instinct.
Shawn knows that would have been over for him if Triple H had hit a superplex.
[JR] That's what The Game would have liked to have done.
The Game wants to hear Michaels' back snap again.
You've gotta believe that's what The Game wants to do.
-Break Michaels' back here at SummerSlam. -[Lawler] What are you gonna try… Don't.
You don't think he's going to try to come up with an elbow? Oh!
-[JR] Wow, what a chicken… -[Lawler] Similar to what we saw earlier.
The referee shoved into the ropes,
and Shawn Michaels losing his balance.
[JR] What a crappy. Oh, come… No! No! No!
Michaels helpless, hanging upside-down.
Just got a chair shot right to the lower back.
[Lawler] And I just…
I'll tell you, JR, somehow when I heard all of those…
that big diatribe from Triple H, the things he said about Shawn,
somehow I hoped it wasn't true, but he really does…
I mean, he really does wanna cripple Shawn Michaels.
[JR] Triple H hates Shawn Michaels.
-Triple H hates our fans. -[Lawler] Why?
He hates everybody but himself.
What an egotist.
What an evil egotist.
-Oh, no, no, no! Oh God! -[Lawler] Oh no!
[JR] For the love of God, look at that chair! And look at the man's back!
A poor human being
four years away from this carnage and combat.
This is a sick human being, folks.
Count him down. Quick count. Get it… Oh no!
-[Lawler] Shawn, what are you doing? -[JR] Shawn Michaels, refusing to die!
[Lawler] This is not smart.
[JR] It may be his last match, but by God he's not gonna quit.
And what's The Game gonna do here.
The Cerebral Assassin,
what sick, perverted thing does he have on his mind now
with that steel chair?
[Lawler] All he's got on his mind is,
is like you said, seeing Shawn in a wheelchair. Crippling the man.
-[JR] No, no, no! Come on. -[Lawler] No!
[JR] Sidewalk slam on that chair.
A DDT on the chair is what busted Shawn open earlier.
Michaels almost laying limp.
Fast count him, Earl. Get it over with!
And Shawn Michaels kicking out!
Triple H, trying to hook those hands, but Michaels kicks out again.
Where's he… Where's it coming from?
The will to win, King.
Or is it the will to survive? And The Game is getting frustrated.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK!
[JR] The sold-out crowd here at the Nassau Coliseum,
doing all they can to help…
[Lawler] We knew this was gonna happen. We knew. We said earlier that
no matter what, Shawn Michaels was gonna give us every ounce of everything he had.
[JR] But he's done that. He doesn't need to give us anymore.
He gave us for about 15 years of his life.
Tonight, enough's enough.
[Lawler] I'll tell you what, you know what I think? I think that Triple H,
somehow still feels like he's living under…
in the shadow of, under the cloud of… of Shawn Michaels.
Of everything that Shawn Michaels has accomplished in this business.
[JR] Oh no. God almighty.
-You can see it coming. The Pedigree. -[Lawler] Whoa!
-[Lawler exclaiming and laughing] -[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Did you see that coming, JR?
[JR] Triple H was gonna Pedigree Shawn Michaels on that steel chair.
The chair has been mangled. Shawn Michaels body's been mangled.
And another part of Triple H's anatomy has obviously been mangled.
[Lawler] Well, he'll get no sympathy from anybody in this arena.
[JR] This crowd trying to get Shawn Michaels back into it.
The fans are doing all they can.
And Michaels… He's trying to pull himself up. Look at Shawn.
He can't get up on his own.
He's near the ropes… Oh, Triple H has got that chair.
It's like a loaded gun.
-The game will fire away again. -[Hebner] No!
Put it down. I'm telling you right now.
[JR] Oh! Sweet Chin Music!
Right back in the… Right back in the chair!
Right back in the face of The Game!
[Lawler] The big superkick!
Shawn Michaels' patented move,
that might have taken everything that Shawn Michaels had out of him.
[JR] Exactly. That may have been everything that Shawn had left,
with that one Sweet Chin Music.
The chair went right back in the face of The Game.
-It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. -[Lawler] Listen… Wow!
That's a beautiful sound.
-[JR] The steel… Oh my God. -[Lawler] Look at this!
Triple H has opened up.
[JR] The Game has been busted wide open
at the hands of Shawn Michaels.
-The superkick to the chair. -[Lawler] Whoa!
[JR] And The Game is bleeding.
[Lawler] Profusely!
Look at Shawn.
Now he realizes he's capable of doing some serious damage here.
Shawn Michaels now has opened up The Game.
Will Shawn have enough left in his tank
to finish Triple H off?
Triple H, one of the most feared competitors,
in the history of the WWE.
-[Lawler] Whoa! -[JR] Bleeding. He's knocked down! And…
-[Lawler] What? Look at that! -[JR] Oh my God! Shawn Michaels!
Leapt up! Where it God's name did he get that?
[Lawler] Whoa! JR!
That's pure adrenalin right there.
[JR] Shawn Michaels, hammering The Game!
-HBK! -[Lawler] No!
[JR] Back body drop on the bloody Game.
I can assure you, son…
Shawn Michaels' son came completely out of his chair when he saw his dad do that.
-Look out! -[JR] Oh, chair shot!
The Game tried to block it, but to no avail.
A Jason Giambi-like swing by Shawn Michaels.
The steel chair between the eyes
of the bloody and battered Triple H.
[Lawler] These people can sense it.
Shawn may have the opportunity to get a victory here.
[JR] Reversal, and The Game going over the top.
And here comes Shawn Michaels
right out after him.
Shawn Michaels showing so much guts.
So much courage.
[Lawler] Listen to this.
Woo-hoo! Bam!
[JR] Oh, that is sick.
That is some… That'll kill some brain cells.
That'll scramble your brains.
And now Shawn Michaels has got his own leather belt.
[Lawler] It ain't as sick as what… what Triple H did to his best friend.
[JR] And now Shawn Michaels, laying the leather.
-[Triple H screaming] -[Lawler] Keep returning the favor.
[JR] Return to sender
for Shawn Michaels and that leather belt.
[Lawler] JR, I'm gonna tell you something.
When Shawn agreed to this match, I…
I was just hoping he'd be able to survive.
Now I think he can win.
It'll be huge.
[JR] I hope so, King,
but listen, I gotta believe this is a long way from being over.
-[crowd chanting] We want tables! -[Lawler] Listen to these fans.
-Ooh, man. -[JR] What a shot that was.
I don't… I don't know…
[Lawler] Look out. Michael Cole, get out of the way.
[JR] I don't know how much more The Game can…
[Lawler] Hey!
[JR] Shawn Michaels just took off Hugo Savinovich
-of our Spanish announce team's boot. -[Lawler] What the heck?
-[JR] The Game with the heel of that boot. -[Lawler] Did you hear that?
That's a heel for a heel, isn't it?
[JR] An eye for an eye, a heel for a heel.
And now Shawn Michaels moving the furniture around.
What's Shawn Michaels… Where's he going?
[Lawler] Your guess is as good as mine.
I'm surprised he's still in this thing. Look out!
-Whoa! -[JR] Oh God!
Triple H's bloody face bouncing off those steel steps
from the bulldog of Shawn Michaels.
My God, this is unbelievable. Somehow, someway
Oh, wait a minute. Uh-uh. Shawn, don't do it!
-Shawn Michaels… -[Lawler] Look at the smile on…
[JR] The innovator of the ladder match!
[Lawler] He is The Showstopper!
[JR] Shawn Michaels pulling out a ladder from under the ring.
And remember, it's all legal. This is not sanctioned.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK!
[Lawler] He don't have to ask these people if they want to see that.
Of course they do. Look out! Whoa!
[JR] Michaels using that ladder like a battering ram,
exploding in the face of Triple H.
Oh, man. I don't know. That's low.
-[Hebner] Come on! -[Lawler] That's all right.
[JR] Again, a shot of that…
Well south of the border, there. Maybe a couple shots.
But, again, who's keeping score there?
It's a non-sanctioned fight.
[Lawler] Watch this move.
Ladder right to the face
and the head of Triple H
-[JR] My God, this is carnage. -[Lawler]Look out!
-[JR] Shawn put the brakes on. -[Lawler] He blocked it!
[JR] Double leg takedown by Shawn Michaels. Uh-oh.
Shawn Michaels and The Game.
Throwing him right into that ladder.
The bloody face of The Game.
His face a crimson mask here at SummerSlam.
[Lawler] I can assure you, never in his wildest dreams,
did Triple H think for one minute that he'd be in this situation.
[JR] Pin him! Come on! Count it!
-Oh God! -[Lawler] Did he get him?
[JR] A two count.
[Lawler] No, Triple H never would have imagined,
that he would be bleeding, a bloody mess, at the hands of HBK.
[JR] Absolutely not. But that's exactly what has happened here.
-[Lawler] Look out. -[JR] The Game.
The Game sliding right into the ladder.
And the ladder jamming Shawn Michaels' ribs.
[Lawler] Look how bad Triple H is bleeding.
His hair is soaked. His face is covered.
[JR] Triple H has lost a lot of blood.
He's fading away here before our very eyes in this bloodbath.
In this non-sanctioned matchup.
[Lawler] Shawn, you gotta get up, you gotta take advantage of this.
[JR] And Shawn Michaels…
We may have seen Shawn Michaels best chance of winning
just leave us, just go away,
after that ladder shot.
[Lawler] That ladder just kicked right into the ribs and chest area of Shawn.
[JR] Michaels' back has gotta be killing him.
His body gotta be racked with pain.
Watch for The Game going upstairs.
The Game going upstairs and Shawn Michaels scoring with right hands.
[Lawler] This is not smart, Shawn. You don't need to do…
[JR] No, Shawn!
[Lawler] It's gonna hurt you too, don't do it!
[JR] Shawn Michaels with a superplex!
[Lawler] We saw Shawn, though, he did turn to…
[JR] He tried to land on his side. The cover! It's gonna be!
It is! No! No! No!
How close was that?
[Lawler] Man.
[JR] Oh my God. How close was that?
Michaels reversed.
[Lawler] Whoa, back up! Look at that!
The roll-up! He's got it! No, he doesn't.
Not enough strength in that back to hold The Game down.
The Game the high knee right to the face of Shawn Michaels.
The Game is awesome. There's no doubt about it.
But he is so evil. So hideous.
The cover! No, it's not.
[Lawler] The Game is awesome? What about Shawn Michaels?
[JR] Shawn Michaels is off the page. This is… This is beyond my wildest dreams.
That this match would go this long,
and that Shawn Michaels would thus far be able to survive
the most calculating, the most perfectly sound
in-ring competitor in the entire WWE.
Not just to mention Raw, but the WWE.
[Lawler] Yeah, I guess he does know what he's doing.
Triple H is staggering around.
As you said, he's lost so much blood, he's gotta be in a weakened condition.
[JR] The Game bringing those stairs in.
He's gonna hit Shawn Michaels upstairs… That's exactly…
Bullseye here, and…
The drop toehold! A drop toehold.
The Game's face bouncing off those stairs.
[Lawler] Pin him! Cover him!
No, he's not down.
[JR] He's… He has got… He's barely able to stand.
But so is Shawn Michaels.
Shawn Michaels a clothesline.
Taking The Game over. The Game.
I think he wrenched his knee in that ladder.
Michaels going to the outside.
-What's he gonna get now? -[Lawler] What else is under there? Oh!
Hey, hey!
[JR] First, it was a sledgehammer. The stairs.
A ladder.
And now a table.
[Lawler] Well, these people were asking for tables.
"We want tables."
Shawn has always been a man that
loves to give the people what they want.
[JR] He is a Showstopper.
But is this… Will this backfire on Shawn Michaels?
A knockdown and a straight right hand.
Triple H had his hands down.
And that blood, maybe he couldn't see it coming.
So much blood in his face.
[Lawler] What?
[JR] Shawn Michaels setting this table up.
And I have no earthly idea what Shawn Michaels has planned for Triple H.
[Lawler] There's all sorts of stuff under that ring. Hey!
Is that a fire extinguisher?
[JR] Yes.
Right to the head.
And The Game landing on that table.
[Lawler] Oh no!
[JR] Oh my God, Shawn.
Shawn Michaels, he's spaghetti-legged.
He's going on guts.
[Lawler] Yeah, you are. You're crazy. Don't do it.
[JR] It's a suicide move for Shawn Michaels.
For these fans, Shawn Michaels putting his life on the line!
-[Lawler] Oh! -[JR] God, the carnage!
For the love of God almighty!
[Lawler] Now what?
[JR] Shawn Michaels off the top!
Through the body of The Game!
I just wish it was pinfalls count anywhere!
'Cause I think one would be over here and now.
[Lawler] Drag him into the ring.
Have you ever seen anything like that in your life, JR?
[JR] Oh, my God.
Shawn Michaels, the shape that he's in.
-[Lawler] Watch it again. -[fans chanting] Holy shit!
[Lawler] Watch this!
Good gosh.
-One more look at this. -[JR] This is unbelievable.
Unbelievable!
[Lawler] It is truly vintage Shawn Michaels,
he just throws caution to the wind, no matter what condition his body's in.
[JR] Two men from Raw
giving us everything in their bodies.
Every fiber of their being is on display here.
And Michaels now, bringing that ladder back in.
The Game is busted up. He may have internal injuries
after that shot from the top through the table.
-And what in God's name? -[Lawler] No, wait a minute now.
[JR] Shawn Michaels has said this is one night only.
He's doing it one more time.
And by God he's gonna leave us with everything he's got.
Something that we will never, ever forget him.
Michaels on top of that ten-foot ladder.
[Lawler] The referee is begging him not to do it.
[JR] Shawn Michaels… Oh! The fans…
For the love of God, the elbow right to the heart of The Game!
-[Lawler] Oh! He's all right! He's okay! -[JR] From the ladder!
Yes, he realizes. He's still got it, JR!
Shawn Michaels with the elbow from the ladder!
And now, King, tuning up that band!
[crowd cheering wildly]
-[Lawler] Look at this! -[JR] One of the all-time great hits!
Number one with a bullet!
[Lawler] Get up, Triple H!
Get up and meet your best friend now.
[JR] Triple H has lost a lot of blood in this bloodbath here at SummerSlam!
-[Lawler] The man's got something for you! -[JR] Bang! No!
It was blocked! Bloody hell! It was blocked!
-[Lawler] Oh no! -[JR] A Pedigree!
-My God, a Ped-- -[Lawler] No!
[JR] Michaels, roll-up! Will it be?
-Can it be? -[Lawler whooping]
-[JR] Yes! HBK! My God, HBK! -[Lawler laughing]
-["Sexy Boy" playing] -[announcer] Here's your winner,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels!
[JR] In 25 years, I've never seen this much courage,
the will to win!
[Lawler] What about that!
What about that, JR?
[JR] A young man that's Hall of Fame bound.
With nothing to prove!
And with pride and passion prevailing.
-[Lawler] Oh! Oh! Oh my God! -[JR] God almighty!
[Lawler] He hit him in the back with a sledgehammer, JR!
[JR] Got him with the hammer, right in the back!
-Triple H and Shawn Michaels! -[Lawler] Get that away from him!
[JR] Hammer away fro-- No! No!
-[Lawler] No! -[JR] I don't… No!
For God's sakes, no!
-[Hebner] Knock it off! -[Lawler] Get somebody out here!
[JR] Oh God! Oh no!
[Lawler] Earl, get the hammer!
[JR] Oh no!
-[crowd booing] -[JR] Oh, God almighty, no!
I refuse to believe what I've seen.
I refuse to believe
that after the most courageous victory…
-[Lawler] Hurry up! -[JR] …that any of us have ever seen,
that son of a bitch used that hammer
on Shawn… He's hit him twice with that sledgehammer.
My God almighty.
-Triple H has got a-- -[Lawler] Hurry, hurry. Get the…
He's gonna rot in hell for what he did here tonight.
Oh no.
That just makes me sick.
God.
[Lawler] Are you proud of yourself now? Look at that stinkin' smile on his face.
[JR] How in God's name can that human being be from this planet?
How can… Does he have no conscience? Does he have no heart?
Does you have no soul?
You son of a bitch! Do you realize what you've just done?
[Lawler] I cannot believe…
He said he was gonna leave Shawn Michaels in a wheelchair, he may have just done it.
[JR] How in God's name could he be smiling?
The Game is laughing at his accomplishments.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK!
[JR] HBK beat your ass!
And now you may have succeeded in doing what you wanted to do, damn you!
[Lawler] I can't believe it.
[JR] This is absolutely perverse.
[Lawler] Not once, but two… Two times he drove that…
That sledgehammer into Shawn's back.
[JR] We always have a physician here at our events.
They got a collar on Shawn, my God.
[Lawler] See this one more time.
[JR] The Game, to his credit, blocked the Sweet Chin Music,
but what a counter to the Pedigree, King.
What a counter.
What a victory. My God, what a moment in WWE history.
[Lawler] Yeah, but speaking of moments, look at this.
[JR] Oh God.
I mean, with no… Mal… Total malice. And no conscience.
[Lawler] And one was enough, but no. Look at this lowlife.
[JR] He wanted Shawn to look him in the eyes.
"I did it, Shawn." Get off… God.
And we just may have seen The Game…
His prophecy may have come true.
[crowd applauding]
[JR] The Game wanted to put Shawn Michaels in a wheelchair,
Oh God.
[Lawler] Damn Triple H said that
Shawn Michaels would have to be carried out from this match.
[JR] After one of the most awesome performances
I've ever seen in 25 years,
for it to end like this at the hands of Triple H,
is by God repulsive.
Just amazing to me.
I cannot believe… The courage of Shawn Michaels, was absolutely amazing.
But what Triple H has done to Shawn Michaels is absolutely…
It's uncalled for, it's pathetic,
and you can't do a damn thing about it because it's unsanctioned.
He's a lowlife. It's as simple as that.
I mean, an absolute lowlife.
Ladies and gentlemen, before we present our championship match,
I, Howard Finkel,
have a few things I would like to get off my chest.
-[Lawler] Oh, please. -[JR] Not after that, Howard.
-First of all, I'm very proud to say… -[JR] God.
…that this is the first pay-per-view that I've announced in this very arena
since WrestleMania II.
-[scattered applause] -Thank you.
[Lawler] So what? What is he doing?
It's a little something called commitment.
And just so you know,
Major League Baseball may be going on strike,
but you WWE fans will always have
The Fink.
-[JR] Was this all for… -[rock music playing]
[Lawler] What is he doing?
-[JR] Now wait a minute. -[Lawler] Hey!
This wasn't called for, but it's very welcome!
-[JR] I think business just picked up. -[Lawler] Oh baby! It's Trish!
[JR] Trish stealing Howard's spotlight. Somebody already stole his hair.
[Lawler] Come on up, pour your heart up, Trish.
I think she's already doing that, isn't she?
[JR] WrestleMania II, who cares?
[Lawler] Look at the look on that idiot's face.
[JR] He looks like, "How dare you come into my ring?"
-[Lawler] Look at the shape of his head. -Hold on. Hold on, honey.
Hold on.
Two weeks ago, you slapped me in the face.
Last week, you pushed me into a pool of mud.
Now, just because you're in an arena of Long Island skanks…
[Lawler exclaiming]
…doesn't give you the right to think that you're hot stuff and interrupt me.
I know. I know.
And Howard, I've been feeling really bad about the things I did to you,
and I hope you accept my apology.
But I gotta tell you, I've been sitting in the back listening to you all night,
and I gotta tell you, I never realized until tonight
what a sexy voice you have.
-[Lawler] Sexy voice? -[Trish] Yeah.
-[JR] She drunk? -So, to make it up to you,
I got a little surprise.
You do?
-[Lawler] Uh-oh. -Wow, hey, Trish…
-[Lawler] Don't kiss him. -…you know, we might have something here,
because I'll tell you
it certainly is a dog-eat-dog world, isn't it?
Especially when…
you've got the puppies…
[Lawler] Hey!
…and I've…
got my wiener.
-[Lawler] Oh my God. -[JR] Oh, God. I'm gonna vomit. I'm sick.
[Lawler] What does that mean?
Yes, you do, Howie.
Howie. But you know what?
Let's go slow. How about we start off with a little hug, or…
Or maybe a big hug, Howie?
-It's fine with me. -[Lawler] A big hug?
Ugh.
-What is Trish…? -Wow.
[Lawler] He's getting to feel the puppies.
Trish, I must tell you something.
That certainly is a pleasant surprise to me, what's going on here.
[giggling] Yeah?
Well, next I was thinking, um…
Actually, Howard,
the real surprise
is Lilian Garcia.
-[Lawler] Lilian Garcia? -[JR] Oh, there's Lilian!
-Lilian Garcia! -[JR and Lawler] Oh!
-[JR] Lilian just slapped Howard! -[Lawler] Good!
You think you can get rid of me? I don't think so.
[JR] Howard was probably feeling a little funny down there.
-[JR] Oh my! -[Lawler] Yeah!
He touched Trish, and I was gonna tell Howard
to tell his pants it's not polite to point,
but I think Trish just took care of that along with Lilian.
[JR] It's obvious that Howard wasn't wearing a cup.
The ladies have marked their turf, as far as The Fink is concerned.
Howard got a little bit too big for his britches.
-No pun intended there, King. -[Lawler] Yeah, you got that right.
[JR] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
it's our pleasure now to send you down to ringside,
to the SmackDown announcers, who will call the SmackDown main event.
-What the hell was that? -I have no idea.
But I'll tell you one thing, it is our privilege to call the main event tonight,
because the hype is over. The anticipation is at a fever pitch.
There's no more talking.
It is the most anticipated main event in SummerSlam history.
[Tazz] And it's coming up next.
The Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar, gets his shot and the Undisputed Championship,
and "The People's Champ" The Rock.
[Cole] Will The Rock continue his reign as champion?
Or will 2002 be the summer of Brock?
[Heyman] Brock Lesnar, you are real,
because you are The Next Big Thing.
And, tonight… Tonight, Brock, you become the next King of the Ring.
[JR] The winner of this match is not only the prestigious King of the Ring,
but he also earns the right to fight in the main event at SummerSlam
against the Undisputed Champion.
Oh my God. Lesnar caught Van Dam in midair!
It is over! Lesnar's the King of the Ring!
And this rookie now, has earned the main event shot
at the Undisputed Title at SummerSlam.
[exciting music playing]
[JR] The Undisputed Title on the line.
Who will go to SummerSlam to meet Brock Lesnar for the Undisputed Title?
The first man to score a pinfall or submission wins the match,
and therefore becomes the Undisputed Champion.
-[Lawler] No way! -[JR] Rock Bottom! Rock Bottom!
Rock Bottom!
Yes! It's over! It's over!
The Rock! The Rock!
The Rock is the Undisputed Champion of the WWE!
[Heyman] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the extreme,
I fear not reprisals from my enemies,
for I walk with The Next Big Thing,
Brock Lesnar!
Rock, you're in the wrong place.
The wrong year.
With the wrong guy.
The blood of Hulkamania
is in my hand.
And Rock,
the blood of you is gonna be on my hand come SummerSlam.
[Rock] You know, Brock Lesnar,
you wanna play games with The Rock?
You think you wanna play mind games, is that what you wanna do?
You wanna send a message to The Rock?
Well, The Rock's got a message for you. Just bring it!
All I care about is being the absolute best.
[Lesnar] In my mind, I'm number one. Always.
I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel like I was number one.
[Rock] I don't care about being the biggest guy in the industry.
I don't care about being the strongest.
[Lesnar] Outdo my opponent. Always.
In my mind, I'm number one.
[Rock] All I care about is being the absolute best.
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Cole] He is the challenger
in the biggest match of his young career.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Undisputed Championship.
Introducing the challenger, being accompanied by his agent Paul Heyman,
from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing in at 295 pounds,
"The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar!
[Cole] Are we looking at the animalistic future of the WWE?
The brutality that is Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] The constant talking's done.
It's ass-kicking time.
Lesnar knows that, and so does The Rock.
And it's go-time right now.
[Cole] Will The Next Big Thing become The Big Thing tonight?
[Rock] If you smell what The Rock is cooking.
["Electrifying" playing]
[announcer] And from Miami, Florida,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
is the WWE Undisputed Champion,
The Rock!
-[Cole] And The Rock… -[Tazz] Here we go!
…wasting little time! The Brahma Bull rushing the ring!
And here we go!
-The Rock and Brock colliding… -[bell ringing]
…with the title on the line.
[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] And what a belly-to-belly by Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] Just like that. Clasps the hands, one throw!
[Cole] Here's the cover. Hook of the leg, and The Rock kicks out.
[Tazz] Brock sending a message, that big over the top belly-to-belly to The Rock.
[Cole] And Brock Lesnar
with The Rock.
But just like a sack of potatoes.
Driving him into that knee.
[Tazz] The ribs, Cole.
The injured ribs from SmackDown, and the week before at Raw.
[Cole] Here's the cover.
Hook of the leg by Brock, and The Rock gets the shoulder up.
It was six days ago that Triple H injured the ribs of The Rock.
On SmackDown Thursday night, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero,
along with Brock Lesnar, continued the damage.
And Lesnar, going right for the ribs early on tonight.
[Tazz] That big, thick, strong deltoid of Brock Lesnar
driven right through The Rock's ribs.
[Cole] And The Rock driven through the second rope.
And outside the ring, there you see the agent of Brock…
Paul Heyman with a cheap shot.
And Heyman could be a wild card in this matchup.
[Tazz] I think Heyman might've just torn a hamstring.
That's the first physical thing he's done in about…
since his hotel room earlier tonight.
[Cole] The Brahma Bull up on the barricade
as this animal, Brock Lesnar, drives Rock into the crowd.
[Tazz] Check out Paul.
A sneaky, nasty maneuver by the master of sneakiness, Heyman.
[Cole] If you're the youngster, Brock Lesnar,
you could not ask for this match to start off any better.
The Rock dropped on those ribs on the steel barricade.
[Tazz] Brock Lesnar, just…
Just all power.
Six foot four, 295 pounds.
Two-time Big Ten champ. Four-time All-American.
Two-time national champ from the University of Minnesota.
[Cole] And Brock Lesnar, continues the pressure on The Rock.
And if you're Brock Lesnar,
the toughest opponent perhaps that The Rock has ever faced,
you have to continue this ground-based attack on The People's Champ.
And another belly-to-belly!
And you see The Rock writhing in pain.
Brock into the cover. Could crown a new champion!
And Rock just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] The Rock came roaring in like gangbusters.
That was about it offensively for him.
And Lesnar just grounded The Rock.
[Cole] And The Rock with a right hand.
Tries to battle back. Another one from the Undisputed Champion.
-[Tazz] Heyman! -[Cole] Look at Paul Heyman!
Heyman grabbing the leg of The Rock.
giving the advantage again to Lesnar.
[Tazz] As if Brock Lesnar needs an advantage from Heyman.
[Cole] And Lesnar continues that brutal attack on the ribs
of the Undisputed Champion.
And Heyman again.
Look at him!
[Tazz] I'm begging the ref or somebody to get Heyman the hell out of here.
-[Cole] Paul Heyman… -[Tazz] It's like a handicap match.
[Cole] …he's riding the gravy train with Brock Lesnar.
A win tonight for Lesnar makes Paul Heyman virtually a millionaire.
He's got the champion, the youngest champion ever, in his corner.
[Tazz] Heyman knows a lot of people with money.
Hopefully he becomes a billionaire.
[Cole] Here's The Rock whipped off the rope.
But the inexperienced rookie, he's shown it.
He telegraphed it! Wow! Lesnar exploding.
[Tazz] Big, big powerslam by Lesnar.
[Cole] Hook of the leg. There's two! The Rock just gets the shoulder up again.
[Tazz] The Rock's all heart. Look at Heyman, that face.
[Cole] Tazz, The Rock will never say quit.
The Rock will do anything to keep the title.
He'll never use those injured ribs as an excuse.
[Tazz] Well, you know what? The Rock, five-time Tag Team Champion.
Two-time Intercontinental Champion.
And a seven-time WWE Champion.
What more can you bring to the table?
[Cole] But he's never faced a man like Lesnar before.
Oh wow.
[Tazz] The ribs, the ribs, the ribs.
Lesnar, simple but effective attack.
[Cole] And Brock Lesnar, here he comes, the speed!
Oh! Into that steel post.
[Tazz] Inexperience.
[Cole] And Lesnar's shoulder into the steel post.
Driving force. And The Rock trying to recuperate.
The Brahma Bull.
[Tazz] Come on, Rock. Get a big throw here.
[Cole] Oh, what a suplex.
[Tazz] A little taste of Brock's medicine with a big back suplex.
[Cole] Now The Rock hoping to gain… To catch his breath.
Both men down, center of the ring.
First man to his feet here could gain the momentum in this championship matchup.
[Tazz] The Rock ain't showing any signs of life.
Brock Lesnar's moving at least.
This is a war, man. This thing has been…
[Cole] Both men kip up. Can you believe it?
[Tazz] That was cool, man.
[Cole] And The Rock, with right hands
to Brock Lesnar.
The champion reversed into the ropes.
Trying to knock the big man down, but that's like hitting a brick wall.
-[Tazz] No lie. -[Cole] Again a clothesline.
[Tazz] Go low, Rock! Go low! Go low!
[Cole] Ducks underneath the clothesline by Brock Lesnar.
-Now knocks Brock down. -[Tazz] Go high, Rock!
[Cole] And the champion, drops Lesnar with a DDT.
Floats into the cover. Hooks the leg. Two!
-[Tazz] Ho ho! -[Cole] Lesnar just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz[ Rock's picking the pace up.
Lesnar didn't expect that arsenal from The Rock.
-And Heyman… -[Cole] The Rock, locking in…
for the Sharpshooter,
but Heyman on the apron causing the distraction again.
And Heyman knocked down.
[Tazz] Leg lace! "Leg drag," I'll correct myself there.
[Cole] A leg drag by The Rock.
Setting Brock Lesnar up,
for perhaps the submission maneuver that is the Sharpshooter.
-And there it is. Locked in. -[Tazz] Sit back. Sit back.
Lesnar might be too strong for this, Cole.
[Cole] The Sharpshooter locked in by The Rock.
Will Brock Lesnar submit for the first time in his career tonight?
[Tazz] Brock Lesnar, with his amateur background,
is conditioned for a maneuver like this on his lower back.
Conditioned for this.
[Cole] And The Rock, you can see, putting everything he has into the Sharpshooter.
Referee Mike Chioda in the face of Brock Lesnar.
Will The Next Big Thing tap out.
[Tazz] Look at how low The Rock's hips are, if we can get a shot.
Look at how low The Rock's hips are, six foot five.
Keeping the leverage down, keeping the pressure on the lower back of Lesnar.
[Cole] The experience of The Rock.
Grounding the monster that is Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] Lesnar's down on his belly. He's pancaked right now.
And The Rock knows it. Keep that hold on, Rock. You got the big kid hurtin'.
[Cole] Look at Lesnar. The right hand is up.
Will Lesnar tap? Will Lesnar tap to the Sharpshooter?
[Tazz] Oh, but Heyman's back on that damn apron.
[Cole] Heyman again distracting the ref.
Dropping a steel chair into the ring.
-Uh oh. -[Tazz] Pull him in, yeah!
[Cole] Heyman in, the hard way!
[Tazz] Well, Heyman's gonna wish he never interfered in this match.
[Cole] Paul Heyman…
And Brock Lesnar, a clubbing blow to the back of the neck.
[Tazz] Paul Heyman's meal ticket, "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar,
just saved Paul Heyman.
[Cole] And Brock Lesnar crawling… Crawling towards the steel chair.
Heyman has the referee distracted.
The animal with the weapon in hand.
-[Tazz] He don't need a weapon. His hands… -[Cole] Into the ribs!
The injured ribs of The Rock. That steel chair driven like a javelin.
[Tazz] The Rock is in a bad way right now.
There's that big thick bearhug.
[Cole] And we saw what this bearhug did to the legendary Hollywood Hulk Hogan
just a few weeks ago.
Brock Lesnar's massive arms sucking the life out of Hogan,
causing internal bleeding.
Blood dripping from the mouth.
Will The Rock suffer the same fate tonight?
[Tazz] It ain't just the thickness of Brock's arms, Cole.
It's that great hand strength.
That grip from all those years wrestling as an amateur.
That's taken… [stammering] Toll.
Easy for me to say. The Rock's back.
[Cole] The Rock with a right hand to Brock Lesnar.
Still has that bearhug cinched. Oh!
And Brock Lesnar…
quickly again back into the ribs, into the bearhug on The Rock.
[Tazz] Remember, we said, The Rock's ribs first injured--
[Cole] Rock's… His shoulder's down. Rolls back over to his belly.
The instinct of the champion.
[Tazz] Rock's ribs were initially injured
weeks back on Raw by Triple H.
[Cole] Again, shoulders down, again, champion gets his shoulder up.
The Rock, despite the pain, knows where he is at all times.
That's what this title, hanging onto this title, means to The Rock.
[Tazz] A lot of these fans here, they're into Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] But you're right, that great mat instinct
of Brock Lesnar, keeping The Rock in the middle,
keeping that gutwrench, that bearhug, that waistlock around The Rock's waist.
[Cole] The Rock desperately trying to make it to the ropes.
[Tazz] You gotta question The Rock's conditioning.
We've see all those videos of him training.
Upright, running, through the steps, training one way.
But no mat work.
[Cole] But how can you question the stamina of The Rock.
The cardiovascular condition…
And look at Brock Lesnar continuing to squeeze The Rock's guts, his ribs.
[Tazz] I'm not saying his stamina, what I'm saying is he didn't train on the mat.
I didn't see any mat training by The Rock.
[Cole] The arm down one time.
The arm down a second time.
Lesnar made Hollywood Hulk Hogan pass out from the bearhug.
Will it happen to The Rock tonight? No!
The fight of The Brahma Bull lives on.
[Tazz] These people, they're not digging The Rock here on Long Island.
But that's all right. The Rock's all heart.
[Cole] The Undisputed Title is on the line.
The Rock the champion. The challenger Brock Lesnar.
-[crowd chanting] Rocky! -A sold out Nassau Coliseum
begins to come alive for The Rock.
[Tazz] Now the "Rocky" chants. These people need to pick a side.
Now they want The Rock!
[Cole] A right hand.
To the side of the head of Lesnar. And another.
And the champ begins to build momentum.
[Tazz] The champ, The Rock, wants to hold onto
the most prestigious championship in this great business,
the WWE Championship.
[Cole] Paul Heyman again distracting the referee.
That may have helped The Rock that time.
Heyman may have hurt his own man that time.
[Tazz] Hey, you don't wanna have his back turned…
Look at The Rock's eyes, man. The Rock is a gladiator.
This is a battle.
And that's it. It's all about winning the match.
[Cole] The champion can sense, perhaps, a turning point.
Perhaps a momentum… And once again.
-[Tazz] Don't do it! -[Cole] Driving The Rock into the corner.
And maybe The Rock took a little too much time there.
[Tazz] It looked like he got hit by a big fullback for Florida State.
[Cole] A driving shoulder into the ribs.
Can you imagine, Brock Lesnar in three weeks can change
-the entire sports entertainment-- -[Tazz] Look!
[Cole] The Rock exploding out of the corner.
-[Tazz] Never say die… -[crowd cheering loudly]
[Cole] The Brahma Bull digging deep down.
The white hands to the challenger.
[Tazz] Oh, there goes Lesnar.
[Cole] Laying the smack down, and Lesnar knocked out of the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Listen to Nassau Coliseum.
[Tazz] Well, half of them are booing, half are cheering.
Some like The Rock. Some like Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] I don't know the last time, Cole, we seen The Rock
use these tactics and be this intense.
You wanna fight a vicious warrior,
you better be vicious.
[Cole] This was perhaps the most anticipated title match
in the history of SummerSlam.
And thus far The Rock and Brock have delivered.
And The Brahma Bull clearing the announce table.
What does The Rock have on his mind.
[Tazz] Oh, I'm thinking, I ain't no genius,
-but I'm thinking he wants to put Lesnar-- -[Heyman] Oh, shit!
[Cole] Now, Paul Heyman,
looks as if he thought he'd try to sneak up on The Rock.
[Tazz] There goes Lesnar's head.
[Cole] And Brock Lesnar…
He tried to ambush The Rock,
The Brahma Bull seemingly with eyes on the back of his head.
Shining up the old ring post.
And you know where he's gonna stick it.
[Tazz] Yeah, right in Brock Lesnar's big head!
Oh!
[Cole] Off the steel post!
Head first goes the challenger.
[Tazz] I've got a funny feeling, Cole,
that The Rock's got something in mind for happy Heyman.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar's agent
is in deep, deep trouble.
[Tazz] I'm so happy right now.
-Oh my God! -[Cole] Look at this!
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Whoa!
Paul Heyman driven through the damn table
with a Rock Bottom by The Brahma Bull.
And Paul Heyman deserves every bit of it.
[Tazz] Hallelujah, there is a God!
Whoo-hoo, wow!
[Cole] Brock Lesnar still reeling
after his head collided with the steel ring post.
And now you can see the champion,
you can almost see the smoke,
coming from the nostrils of the Brahma Bull.
He senses victory is near.
[Tazz] No doubt Rock is snorting.
And The Rock's focus goes right back to Lesnar.
[Cole] The Rock taking it to Brock Lesnar.
Tosses him back into the ring.
[Tazz] Lesnar's unbeaten though. Never been pinned, never tapped out.
[crowd chanting] Ref, you suck!
[Cole] This crowd at Nassau Coliseum.
Mixed reaction throughout.
You get that big match feel here tonight at SummerSlam.
The fans into this match every single step of the way.
And The Rock is stalking the challenger.
[Tazz] Brock Lesnar was 53-3 in college,
but I don't think that's going to matter much right now.
The Rock is poised and pumped and ready to deliver
probably a Rock Bottom!
-[Cole] Lesnar… Rock Bottom! -[Tazz] There it is!
[Cole] Rock Bottom! Rock Bottom on the champion.
-Into the cover! Hooks the leg! -[Tazz] One! Two! Three!
[Cole] No, Lesnar kicked out.
Lesnar kicked out of the Rock Bottom.
I can't believe it.
[Tazz] Give it up for the toughness of "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar.
[Cole] And look at The Rock. The Rock perhaps questioning himself.
-[Tazz] Perplexed. -[Cole] Talking to himself.
"Perplexed" a great word.
The Rock cannot believe Lesnar kicked out of The Rock Bottom.
[Tazz] Most of us here, including you and I, can't believe Lesnar did.
Rock, you need to pick the game up now, my man.
[Cole] I think The Rock can smell it.
But I think the damage from The Rock Bottom's been done.
Brock Lesnar, a Rock Bottom of his own!
[Tazz] Brock Bottom?
[Cole] Driving The Rock into the mat.
-[Tazz] Cove him, Brock! -[Cole] We can have a new champion!
-[Tazz] Here's three! -[Cole] A new champion!
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Kicked out.
[Tazz] Ho ho, what a match.
[Cole] The Rock kicked out of a "Brock Bottom,"
as Tazz named it.
And now both men are down.
Who will be first to his feet?
Who will gain important momentum as this match drags along?
[Tazz] This is where conditioning takes over.
The fourth quarter, the bottom of the ninth,
all those damn clichés,
but this is the WWE.
You've gotta get up to survive.
[Cole] Two proud men, two national champions,
The Rock in college football, Brock Lesnar in college wrestling.
Tonight going for the most prestigious prize,
in sports entertainment today.
The Undisputed Title.
Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] I'm very surprised Lesnar didn't try to get an F-5 right there.
[Cole] Spinebuster! Spinebuster!
And here it comes!
[Tazz] Don't waste time, Rock. Nail this People's Elbow, man!
[Cole] The most electrifying move in sports entertainment today, or any day.
[Tazz] You cheated us so many times… Lesnar's up!
-[Cole] The clothesline! -[Tazz] What a hit!
What a hit!
[Cole] Brock like a LoadBacker, almost taking The Rock out of his boots.
[Tazz] Here it is!
-[Cole] Oh no! -[Tazz] It's F-5 time, Cole!
[Cole] And The Rock countered! The Rock countered!
The Brahma Bull with right hands battling back.
[Tazz] Lesnar blocked the Rock Bottom.
[Cole] Went for another Rock Bottom.
-[Tazz] Go, go, go! -[Cole] Brock Lesnar, huge counter.
[Tazz] Oh man!
-F-5! -[Cole] F-5!
An F-5 to The Rock!
-The cover. Hook of the leg. -[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[Cole] Lesnar has defeated The Rock! -[bell ringing]
-[Cole] Brock Lesnar is champion! -["Next Big Thing" playing]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, your new WWE Undisputed Champion,
"The Next Big Thing"
Brock Lesnar!
[Cole] An F-5 from Brock Lesnar
has taken out The Rock.
Brock Lesnar has become the youngest champion in WWE history.
[Tazz] Who in the hell will be able to stop The Next Big Thing?
Best of luck.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar has climbed the mountain in just five short months.
This monster's on top of the world.
The Next Big Thing has arrived. ld.