["The End" playing]
[man] I've had a vision.
[boy] Great tribulation as the world has never known.
[man] The sun shall be darkened.
[boy] The moon shed her light.
[man] Men will seek death.
[boy] But be unable to find it.
[man] In the awesome battle of Armageddon.
[boy] The end is here.
[singer] ♪ You came to me ♪
♪ In a dream last night ♪
♪ You were standing ♪
♪ In a brilliant light ♪
♪ One minute here ♪
♪ But the next you were gone ♪
♪ I thought you could stay ♪
♪ But I was so wrong ♪
♪ The end is here ♪
♪ The game is over ♪
♪ No more pretending ♪
♪ No more ♪
♪ The end is here ♪
[narrator] And now, Raw and SmackDown…
present WWE Armageddon.
[man] I have left side cover. We're coming in.
[fireworks popping]
["The End" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] The end is here, but for whom?
We'll find out tonight live here at Armageddon.
Hello again, everyone, and welcome
on behalf of Raw and SmackDown, Armageddon.
Our fans here in Florida, our fans watching live
at our home in New York City, the world, and Times Square already,
and what a night it's gonna be.
Four titles are on the line,
including the two most important championships in the WWE.
[fireworks whistling, popping]
-["Turn The Tables" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[singer] ♪ Come on ♪
♪ Ah, yeah ♪
[Ross] And what a way to kick it off,
with the World Tag Team title on the line.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is a Fatal 4-Way elimination match
for the World Tag Team Championship.
Entering the ring at a combined weight of 548 pounds,
D-Von, Bubba Ray, the Dudley Boyz.
[Ross] Well, the Dudleys bringing it on at the Survivor Series.
They are-- they have 15 Tag Team Championship reigns.
They are the most honored tag team in the history of our business,
but the question is, can they get it done tonight?
[Jerry] Well, they would love nothing more than to make it 16 title reigns.
And if you ask me, J.R., they have a very, very good shot at this thing.
["We Salute" playing]
[Howard] At a combined weight of 470 pounds,
William Regal and Lance Storm.
I'll tell you one thing, Regal and Storm, King,
have been on the biggest roll of any team in the WWE,
seven consecutive wins on Raw.
Can that translate to a title here tonight?
Well, of course, anything can happen in this kind of match, J.R.
That's what so great about it.
The Dudleys though, you know, there's no love lost
between these two teams.
This should be very, very interesting here.
I think they could start it before the rest of the teams
-get in the ring. -[Ross] Regal and Storm say
-they are wrestling for respect tonight. -[Booker] Can you dig it, sucka?
["Can You Dig It, Sucka?" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Howard] At a combined weight of 518 pounds,
Booker T and Goldust.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] Well, Booker T and Goldust perhaps, in the eyes of many,
the emotional favorites here tonight.
Last week on Raw, Goldust almost-- He tried to back out the matchup.
He was talked out of it by Booker T.
Perhaps that has brought Goldust and Booker T closer together,
and perhaps that will translate into a tag title reign beginning tonight.
[Jerry] Well, and perhaps they may-- that may come back to haunt Booker T.
I mean, you know, Goldust may have been right.
No one knows themselves better than, well, themselves,
and Goldust, he finally figured out that he was the weak link in the team.
But, no, like you said, there was a love fest
when Booker T convinced Goldust to stick around
and like I said, may come back to haunt Booker T.
[Ross] Every team for themselves here.
No love lost between these four teams.
There may be some measure of respect between some…
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Ross] …but everybody's here
for the same thing, and that is to walk out
the new World Tag Team Champions,
except for the case of the reigning champs.
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Ross] They just want to survive.
["Break The Walls Down" playing]
[Howard] At a combined weight of 453 pounds,
the World Tag Team Champions,
Chris Jericho and Christian.
[Jerry] I think-- I guess when you're in the regular tag team title match,
well, you got probably a 50/50 chance.
But when you're there with three other teams,
what are your chances then, J.R., like a 25% chance or what?
[Ross] Well, I think that's probably the right math.
This pair won the tag titles October 14th against Kane and Hurricane,
but certainly, King, as you pointed out, because of the elimination rules,
the champions must survive the elimination of three teams
to leave here with their tag titles.
There's no championship advantage for the-- for the reigning champions.
-[Jerry] Not at all. -[Ross] And a coin toss was held
prior to Armageddon to determine who would start the match,
and it will be the Dudleys along with Regal and Storm
starting this four-team elimination World Tag Team title confrontation.
[Jerry] I was talking to Jericho and Christian earlier,
they said they didn't wanna win that coin toss.
And I guess, when you look at it like that,
it's not really an advantage to start this thing.
You could be eliminated right off the bat.
[Ross] Three teams must be eliminated
for a winner to be determined here tonight at Armageddon.
[Jerry] Oh, Bubba Ray blocking
The King of the World's entrance into the ring.
[Ross] Well, certainly, Jericho and Christian have had their issues
with the Dudleys and Booker T and Goldust.
There is the bell. Nick Patrick has been assigned the contest--
to officiate this contest, I'm trying to say.
-[Jerry] Oh, yeah, here we go. -[Ross] There you see Bubba Dudley
and Lance Storm starting it out,
again, as determined by pre-match coin toss.
Our first championship matchup,
and, King, I remember vividly the Survivor Series,
where every championship that was on the line,
-we had new champs. -[Jerry] Every single match,
a new champion was determined at Survivor Series.
-That ever happened before? -[Ross] Not to my recollection.
-We'll see if that trend continues here… -Go on, Canadian scum!
[Ross] …in this World Tag Team title matchup.
Again, four teams in the match.
There must be three decisions rendered.
In other words, three teams must be eliminated
to come down to the one team,
and that one team surviving will be the World Tag Champions.
[Jerry] Man, there's an unceremonious way to be brought into the ring.
[Ross] Bubba Dudley and-- making a tag to his half-brother, D-Von.
[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Ross] The entire city counsel of Dudleyville double teaming Christian.
Now, there's the first cover and a near-fall created by D-Von Dudley,
and Christian fighting back.
[Jerry] I'd like to see the city council of Dudleyville.
You know, they had to close the zoo in Dudleyville,
-the duck died. -[Ross] Oh, really?
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Ross] I didn't hear that.
Especially here at the holidays.
-And D-Von Dudley… -[Jerry] Look out there.
[Ross] …taking down William Regal.
Regal and Storm, as we pointed out, are really on a roll.
They've won seven tag team matches in a row on Raw,
and a near-fall created again
-by D-Von Dudley. -You want him?
-[Goldust] Over here, Dudley. -You want him?
[Jerry] These guys aren't very popular.
In fact, I'd like to have the spinning concession that they bring,
but they get the job done, they win matches.
[Ross] Well, that tag looked as legal-- nice left foot--
as D-Von tagging in Goldust. A nice takedown by William Regal.
Regal and Storm, a-- there's a blind tag. I saw that tag.
Christian just tagged himself in, here that Regal is totally aware of.
-[Jerry] I think Regal realizes it. -I made the tag.
[Ross] Referee Nick Patrick is aware of it.
Now, informing Regal that he's got to get back out on the apron.
[Jerry] You can just tag any body part, I guess, huh?
[Ross] Yeah, what'd you think, just the hand?
[Jerry] Well, I thought, you know, ordinarily that's normal tag tag,
like you see there, the big huge rock stars tagged in now.
[Ross] Well, if this match was gonna be won on ego alone,
it'd be a no contest and Jericho would be the tag champions all by himself.
[Jerry chuckles] Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
-[Ross] And Goldust-- -[Jerry] This is not gonna be good.
[Ross] Former Intercontinental Champion catapulting Jericho over the top
out to the floor here in the early going
in this four-team elimination World Tag Team title matchup.
[Jerry] Well, you know, Jericho, all the bad blood
between Jericho and Goldust, that got started because of--
well, because of Booker T calling Jericho a sucker.
Oh, and as Jericho has pointed out many times…
-[Ross] Suplex here. -[Jerry] He is not a sucker-- a sucka.
[Ross] Well, that's certainly an arguing point.
And Goldust getting settled early
and then Jericho quick to get more off this.
You son of a bitch,
-I'm The King of the World. -[Ross] Of course, Jericho can regroup--
[Nick] Watch it, watch it. One.
-[Ross] Jericho was-- -[Jerry] What do you think
is going through the mind right now of Booker T?
I bet he's thinking, "Maybe Goldust was right."
"Maybe he is the weak link in this team."
[Ross] Yeah, but it's still early. And I don't know, I think Booker T
has got a great deal of confidence in Goldust.
[Jerry] He may have a great deal of confidence,
but we'll see tonight if it's deserved.
[Ross] Well, all four teams having different agendas,
different momentums coming into this matchup.
Inverted Atomic Drop followed by the clothesline by Goldust,
now looking for the cover here, and still no team has been eliminated.
Three teams are gonna be eliminated.
They'll return to the locker room when they are defeated
by pinfall or submission, from what we understand.
[Jerry] What I don't understand is you have the upper hand on your opponent.
Why would you ever tag out?
Or at least tag in anybody other than your own partner?
[Ross] And-- oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Goldust and Bubba, did a little flip, flop, and fly.
[Jerry] Wait, look at this. What's this?
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Bionic elbows on Regal and Storm.
[Jerry] Yeah, dual bionic elbows.
-Oh, boy. -[Ross] Probably the last time
-you'll see adversaries… -[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Ross] …teaming up here.
[Jerry] Listen, what's up?
Yeah. Here he comes.
[Ross] Put his head right on the mark.
[Jerry] A headbutt right where you would never want one.
-D-Von! -[Jerry] Uh-oh, wait a minute.
This is not-- I don't know what I'm about to say.
[Ross] Dudleys started building that momentum, and all eight men.
[Jerry] It's about to become a table match,
an elimination table match.
[Ross] Eight men kind of broke down there momentarily,
and they're still fighting on the outside.
-[Jerry] Who are the legal men? -[Ross] I think it's D-Von and Christian,
but I wouldn't wanna swear to it.
[Jerry] Here we go.
[Ross] Tag made.
-[Jerry] Oh, 3D. -[Ross] Regal made the tag.
-[Jerry] 3D. -[Ross] The Dudleys got the 3D.
I don't think they're aware of the tag that was made.
The Dudleys score the 3D,
but the referee can't count it because Regal got the tag.
Regal's the legal man.
-Look at Regal, he's hooking-- wait-- -[Jerry] What's happened here?
[Ross] Bubba countered and Regal now got the tights again.
[Jerry] What?
[Ross] Did they get three? No, it's a near-fall.
[Jerry] Two? No, wait.
-[Ross] Did he get it or not? -[Jerry] I can't tell.
I think the Dudleys have been eliminated.
[Ross] I think the Dudleys have been eliminated as well,
and Goldust trying to get Regal now, and he did it.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Yeah, now that's--
-[Ross] That's definitely a three count. -[Jerry] Regal was definitely eliminated.
Who's left? We got--
[Ross] We got Goldust and Booker T against the tag champions.
And I'll tell you what, the elimination of Regal and Storm and the Dudleys
is a huge, huge opportunity now for Jericho and Christian.
Two teams have been eliminated
so now the tag champions, if they can defeat Goldust and Booker T,
are gonna leave here…
-[Jerry] Still the champions. -[Ross] …still the champs.
[Jerry] Things were going along so nicely
and then all of a sudden down to two teams.
[Ross] All hell broke loose there, just in a-- in a matter of seconds.
That's how quickly it can happen here, only takes three seconds,
and right now, Goldust and Booker T have the opportunity.
There's no distractions, there's no other teams but one team,
and that's the Tag Team Champions, to focus on.
[Jerry] I realize that, J.R., but let's face it, you said it yourself,
Christian and Jericho are the Tag Team Champions.
[Ross] Or at least for now.
[Jerry] That means they've beaten people more
than they let people beat them.
-Maybe not a couple seconds. -[Ross] Good attempt by Booker T
and Goldust-- or excuse me, Jericho kicks out as Goldust looks on.
Well, I'll tell you what, this has got to give both teams
a little bit of confidence.
The hard part of this match, if you wanna look at it that way,
with the 50% of teams involved now have been eliminated.
So it's basically down to a sudden death,
one loss to the finish format for the tag team title.
[Jerry] Exactly. You know, Christian and Jericho got to be pleased with this.
[Ross] No love lost between Jericho and Booker T, I'll tell you.
-[Jerry] Pleased with that. Right. -[Ross] There's the tag, Goldust in now.
Goldust, the son of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes,
-and nice teamwork. -[Jerry] Right in the face.
[Ross] Good teamwork. That could be it there.
Oh, the referee got to pull out Goldust, and Christian at the very last moment
able to intercept Goldust, interrupt the count.
[Jerry] Very last second. Booker T thought he had that thing won.
And the last time he thought-- wow.
[Ross] Jericho with that low dropkick
-on Goldust, tagging in Christian. -[Jerry] One of your dropkicks,
wasn't it? You can do those, couldn't you?
[Ross] About six inches off the ground. I have a good vertical leap.
[Jerry] I wanna tell you something, that's one of Jericho's specialties
that you can see there.
Christian now with the advantage on Goldust.
I'd still can't-- you know, I have to think back on the--
on Goldust's own words.
Is he gonna prove to be the weak link of this team?
Wow.
-[Ross] Oh, Goldust couldn't find his-- -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Ross] Goldust's own momentum. He crashed and burned on the outside.
Look at Jericho now.
He's gonna lay waste to Goldust and…
and that's pretty good dexterity
-in using one of the-- -[Jerry] Flag day?
[Ross] Well, flag day.
[Jerry] Well, it might be in Great Britain.
-[Ross] Well, maybe, I'm not-- -[Jerry] Union Jack flags.
[Ross] You know, we're live in the United Kingdom.
[Jerry] Hello, everybody.
[Ross] England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Thank you for joining us.
On Sky Box Office tonight in the UK, staying up late.
[Jerry] I think William Regal's father
-was from Wales. -[Ross] Really?
[Jerry] His mother was the normal parent.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Yeah, it's true. Look out.
[Ross] That gutbuster almost from the hip.
On the hip corner, can he get three?
-And Christian now stopped by Booker T. -Get out!
[Jerry] Booker, if I were you, I'd get in there myself,
take that weak link out.
[Ross] I'm not so sure that Goldust really is the weak link. He--
[Jerry] Well, he said it himself.
[Ross] Well, I know. I think he just had a--
[Jerry] Little down on himself, but go ahead and make an excuse for him.
[Ross] Well, he just said he lost some confidence. He has a--
[Jerry] Because he lost some matches.
[crowd chanting] Chris, you suck! Chris, you suck!
-[Ross] Booker T and-- -[Jerry] Now, listen to these fans.
[Ross] Booker T and Goldust lost Monday, as a matter of fact,
to Regal and Storm.
But Regal and Storm did not survive
this elimination tag team encounter tonight.
And for the record,
-neither did the Dudleys. -[Jerry] True.
[Ross] Abdominal stretch applied by Christian.
Christian has been a nine-time Tag Team Champion,
-Jericho twice. -[Jerry] Ow.
[Ross] That's eleven between them--
[Jerry] Oh, yeah. And how many times Goldust?
-[Ross] None yet. -[Jerry chuckles] Right.
[Ross] He's still looking for that first one.
[Jerry] He is the-- so, I don't know, the members in this--
[Ross] Competed with a tag team 11 times.
[Jerry] Right, so just do the math there. Who is the weakest link?
[Ross] Well, if you go and put it that way,
statistically speaking I guess it would be Goldust.
But in any event--
[Jerry] I think about 99% of all statistics are made up on its way home.
-[Ross] Nice counter knockdown by-- -[Jerry] Ow. Right in the throat.
[Ross] By Goldust, taking Jericho down and Goldust--
[Jerry] It's not a good thing when a huge rock star gets his throat injured.
[Ross] Yeah, do you know one?
[Jerry] Oh, there you go.
See, now you're gonna jump in there with Booker T.
You're gonna disparage the huge rock star.
[Ross] Pretty strategic move by Christian, made sure that Booker T was not available
for the tag and that gives Christian-- Chris Jericho the opportunity
to maintain his offensive advantage on Goldust,
Goldust taken back to the corner…
-[Jerry] Ow. -[Ross] …by the tag champions.
-And look at the eye-- -[Jerry] And what--
what does this prove to you? I think this proves that
Jericho and Christian both think that Goldust is the weak link in this team.
[Ross] He's certainly been isolated, has Goldust.
[Jerry] Doing everything in their power to keep Booker T out of the ring.
[Ross] Nice tag team strategy by the champions, cutting the ring off.
Got an imaginary diagonal line from corner to corner,
wrestling in their half of the ring, positioning their opposition,
as far from the opposition's corner as possible.
-[Jerry] Smart wrestling. -[Ross] Very smart.
[Jerry] Smart ring management, if you will.
-Ow. -[Jericho] You want some of this,
you son of a bitch? Come on!
[Jerry] Hey.
[Ross] And Goldust, I think he had about enough and got a wakeup call there
from that taunting and that slapping around by Christian and--
[Jerry] Christian ran right into that.
[Ross] And what a sidewalk slam that was.
But Goldust still, because of the isolation,
finds himself closer to the champions' corner
-than in his own corner. -[Jerry] Come on, link.
Pull yourself across there, weak link.
Tag Booker T, he's fresh. Oh, here he goes.
Booker T's ready.
-[Ross] Goldust trying to make that-- -[Jerry] Just get to--
[Ross] Oh, that crawl to the corner for the tag.
[Jerry] Whoa. And if he can't just crawl that,
this could be the weak link, but he made it.
[Ross] Jericho tagged himself, Booker T.
Booker T now and Jericho, the legal men,
and it's down to the final two teams for the World Tag Team title
and Booker T building a head of steam.
[Jerry] Oh, what a boot.
[Ross] Man, what a thrust kick that was by Booker T.
[Booker groans]
[Ross] And Booker T, he is elusive tonight,
a rollup, he got it-- no.
[Jerry] Oh, no, no, he did not get it.
[Ross] Oh, hard knife edge shot.
[Jerry] If Booker T were to win this thing,
we'd see the world's biggest Spinaroonie, wouldn't we?
Look out, he is on-- he is on a roll.
[Ross] Christian tried that cheap shot but to no avail,
and finally, Jericho-- will that be enough, Jericho?
And a cover, and then he get-- no. A long two count.
[Jerry] He rolled, stopped. Ow.
[Ross] He's rolled up rock.
[Jerry] Did you hear that? Did you hear that, J.R.?
[Ross] It's like a gun going off, shades of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
-and those knife edge chops by Jericho. -[Jerry] Uh-oh, here we go.
[Ross] Jericho now looking for the Walls of Jericho.
[Jerry] Get it on him.
[Ross] It is a devastating finishing maneuver.
[Jerry] Take this, sucka. Hey!
-[Ross] Jericho-- -[Jerry] He pulled his hair.
[Ross] It's that cradle-- he got it, no.
[Nick] Two.
-[Jerry] That was so close. -[Nick] Two.
[Ross] Jericho, the first ever undisputed champion here in the WWE,
won it one year ago this month.
[Jerry] Uh-oh, what's this now?
[Ross] Christian again finds his place on the outside.
-[Jerry] Look out. Look out! -[Ross chuckles]
Went in with a scissors kick, didn't find the mark.
And Jericho rolling up Booker T.
[Jerry] Booker T went to finish off Jericho,
but Jericho with a great counter and he's got him. Tap out.
[Ross] Jericho sitting back for the Walls of Jericho.
-[Jerry] Tap out, sucker. -[Ross] That modified Boston crab.
Jericho has beat a lot of great ones
-with this very maneuver. -[Jerry] Who's the sucker now?
Who is the sucker now, J.R.?
You gotta tap already. Tap!
[Ross] Booker T holding on for everything he's got.
[Jerry] No, that's tap. Was that a tap?
[Ross] It was not a tap.
Referee is right there to take a good look.
-[Jerry] That's a tap. -[Ross] He's not tapping.
[Jerry] What's he doing?
Oh, wait a minute, he's looking at that-- oh.
[Ross] Booker T desperately trying to get to that bottom rope.
-[Jerry] He's done for now. -[Ross] But to no avail.
-[Jerry] Hey, hey, look out. -[Ross] And Goldust saves his partner
with a bulldog headlock.
[Jerry] He's not supposed to do that. He's the weak link of this team.
[Ross] Hey, wait a minute. Christian's got one of the tag title belts.
-[Jerry] Oh, boy. Oh! -[Ross] And Goldust.
Well, whatever Christian was thinking, Goldust changed his mind.
-But out goes the Bizarre One. -[Jerry] Yeah, get him out of there.
Oh, no.
[Ross] Oh, what a shot that was. Could it be enough?
Will we have a new Tag Team Champion?
-[Jerry] No, no. -[Ross] Oh, no, Jericho,
barely, and I mean barely, able to kick out.
[Jerry chuckling] Look at Booker T, he wants to do that Spinaroonie so bad,
but it is so elusive.
[Ross] It's down to two teams in this Fatal 4-Way elimination matchup.
-Christian trying to slow down Jericho. -[Jerry] Oh!
-[Ross] Trying to slow down Booker T. -[Jerry] This should do it right here.
[Ross] Booker T trying to fight out of this predicament on top, and does.
Jericho face-first.
-And-- -[Jerry] Now what?
[Ross] And Booker
-with a missile dropkick. -[Jerry] Missile dropkick.
[Ross] This could be all.
-The hook to the leg-- -[crowd] One, two…
-[Jerry] No. -[Ross] Jericho, this time
it was his left shoulder that just inched off the canvas.
[Jerry] Boy, I'll tell you, you got to hand it to Jericho.
He maybe a sucker, but he sure is resilient.
[Ross] Absolutely, he's a great athlete.
-[Jerry] Right, J.R.? -[Ross] Absolutely.
[Jerry] Ooh, man.
[Ross] Jericho's modified bulldog taking down Booker T. Jericho.
-[Jerry] Look at this. What? -[Ross] Couldn't connect on the Lionsault.
[Jerry] He landed on his feet, he's okay.
-Landed on his face then. -[Ross] One man flapjack by Booker T,
taking down Jericho.
And these guys are trading offense, great offense.
[Jerry] Wait a minute.
He smelled it, J.R.
Five time, five time, five time, five time, five time.
It's the Spinaroonie right here in the middle of the match.
Look at him.
[Ross] Booker T's big Spinaroonie.
And, oh, he caught-- he caught Jericho with that scissors--
-oh, the referee's distracted. -[crowd] One, two…
[Ross] Oh, what a bad break-- what a bad break for Goldust and Booker T
that may come back to haunt them because it was obvious
that Booker T had the-- had the match won there.
[Jerry] Here's something obvious from Booker T.
[Ross] Got that belt that--
[Jerry] He wanted that championship belt, he got it, up close and personal.
[Ross] Christian dropped the belt in the ring,
referee didn't see the shot, the Lionsault,
and Booker T refuses to stay down.
-[Jerry] What? Look at this. -[Ross] The title shot to the face.
[Jerry] Jericho can't believe it. I can't believe it.
[Ross] Jericho thought he had the victory there,
but Booker T refusing to die here.
[Jerry] The referee refusing to count to three.
What's wrong with him? Can he count to three?
[Ross] And-- oh, wait, the Book End.
Jericho walks in the Book End, hook to the leg.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Ross] And that--
-[Jerry] What? -[Ross] Booker T and Goldust have done it.
-Booker T and Goldust have done it, King. -[Howard] The winners of this match
and new World Tag Team Champions,
-Booker T and Goldust. -[Jerry] I can't-- I can't believe it.
I can't--
[Ross] The crown continues from Survivor Series.
We have our first championship match here at Armageddon
and we've got new Tag Team Champions.
[Jerry] Booker T and the weak link, they've won.
[Ross] Booker T predicted this, King.
He said they were gonna do it.
[Jerry] Yeah, but he's predicted a lot of things before.
He's like Nostradoofus,
they never come true, but tonight, thanks to this.
[Ross] Jericho tried to cheat his way to victory
and walked right in to the Book End.
And Goldust and Booker T have climbed to the top of the tag team mountain.
-Goldust and Booker T. -[Jerry] Oh, look at Goldust.
[Ross] They're both emotional, as they should be,
because they're the best tag team in the world today.
[Jerry] Wow.
Now that you put it that way, that is--
that is worth getting emotional over. Look at this.
[Ross] Booker T, now with his 12th Tag Team Championship reign,
Goldust with his very first here in the WWE.
And this unlikely team, when they first joined forces,
who would have ever thought that they would've stayed together
to accomplish this tonight?
[Jerry] Well, they were almost no longer a team last week,
but Booker T, he had faith in Goldust.
And as you see, I guess that faith was justified.
Goldust came through in the clutch.
Sucka!
[Ross] Jericho and Christian went in this match
with no championship advantage.
They got a break when two teams were eliminated,
but what a victory for the new champions.
Booker, Goldust. Book, Goldust, a lot people thought
that you guys didn't have what it takes to bring home the gold,
-but after what we just saw-- -Check it out, man.
A lot of people like you didn't give us a chance,
but everybody right here, everybody in this arena,
they believe in Goldie and Booker T.
And Goldie, check it out,
you ain't the weak link.
Check it out right now, you one half
-of the World Tag Team Champions. -Oh, yeah!
Now can you dig that, sucka?
["Can You Dig It, Sucka?" playing]
[Ross] It rings loud and clear, a proud moment for two great athletes,
Goldust and Booker T the new World Tag Team Champions.
And it's our pleasure, folks, to pitch you down at ringside
where Tazz and Michael Cole are standing by.
Cole, I'll tell you, J.R. said it, man.
At Survivor Series, every title that was up for grabs changed hands.
Is that the road we're headed down tonight at Armageddon?
Well, the WWE title changed hands tonight
when the Big Show defends against Kurt Angle.
And where will Brock Lesnar be?
Well, earlier on tonight on Sunday Night Heat,
our own Josh Mathews had the opportunity to catch up with Brock
to ask him that very question.
Brock, I just had a question for you. I was wondering now that your suspension--
Wait, who are you?
Oh, I'm Josh Mathews, SmackDown scene backstage reporter.
I was just wondering now that your suspension has been lifted,
do you plan on being at Kurt Angle's corner tonight
for his match for the WWE title against the Big Show?
Well, Josh, alls I got to say is
that tonight I wanna make an impact.
[singer] ♪ You think you know me ♪
["Never Gonna Stop" playing]
[Michael] But what kind of impact is Brock Lesnar planning to make?
And Brock still hasn't answered the question.
Will he be in the corner of Kurt Angle tonight?
[singer] ♪ …kick boots and ultra live ♪
♪ See heaven flash a horror show ♪
♪ Knock it nice and smooth ♪
♪ Step back and watch it flow, yeah ♪
♪ Never gonna stop me, never gonna stop… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from Toronto, Ontario,
weighing in at 241 pounds, Edge.
[Tazz] The entrance right here in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale,
they're going bonkers for Edge.
[singer] ♪ Scream if you want it ♪
♪ 'Cause I want more ♪
["Derailer" playing]
[Chimel] And weighing in at 350 pounds, A-Train.
[Michael] Well, he's formerly known as Albert,
but the A-Train recently jumping on the fast track
to success in a vicious way.
Two weeks ago, A-Train seizing his moment.
It was a battle calculated attacked with a steel chair on Rey Mysterio
following the A-Train's victory.
[Tazz] Well-- well, A-Train wanting to get noticed here on SmackDown--
what a smack down, and I tell you what, Cole,
A-Train, you got attention, you got noticed.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio needed knee surgery.
But later that night, the A-Train would attack Mysterio's buddy, Edge,
perhaps costing Edge a chance to wrestle for the WWE Championship.
[Tazz] Well, the A-Train trying to put Edge and Mysterio
in the same hospital bed, but it didn't happen.
Edge fought back in this, but man, what kind of damage was done
to that already torn MCL of Edge.
[Michael] Yeah, it was last week on SmackDown,
you saw Albert with another attack to the knee with that steel chair.
And as Tazz mentioned, the A-Train causing Edge a torn MCL,
the type of injury that does not need surgery,
but for Edge tonight, Tazz, it is about revenge
not only for his fallen friend, Rey Mysterio, but also, well, for himself.
[Tazz] I don't know if Edge wants to match power here with A-Train.
I almost called him Albert, by the way, but I got it right.
[Michael] Well, Albert goes-- A-Train goes 6'7", 350 pounds.
Edge of course with the quick advantage in this matchup,
but there's the big knockdown by the former football star
-from the University of Pittsburgh. -[Tazz] Played with the San Diego--
San Diego Chargers a little bit too, you know.
[Michael] A big right hand by the A-Train and this man is absolutely huge,
a 62-inch chest and a hairy back, as the crowd will let you know.
[crowd chanting] Shave your back!
[Michael] The "shave your back" chants have started tonight in Fort Lauderdale.
But there is the strength of the A-Train and Edge,
what a kick to the back of the neck.
For Edge, the strategy has to be to take the big man off his feet.
[Tazz] Well, absolutely. Edge needs to use his quickness
as opposed to that big power advantage A-Train has.
[Michael] Oh, and A-Train with those humongous tree-like legs.
[Tazz] A-Train blocked that. He would've had a squished yam bag,
if you know what I mean.
[Michael] For A-Train, the moment is now.
The A-Train wants the main event, into the steel post for Edge.
For the A-Train, it is an opportunity to seize the moment.
For Edge, it's an opportunity to continue to climb the ladder.
[Tazz] Well, I guess his strategy pinpointing a body part,
in this case, the left shoulder of the A-Train…
clap here, if Edge gets a little lower.
[Michael] Edge trying to take the big man down,
the 350-pounder down to Edge's size.
There's the dropkick to the knee and A-Train down, center of the ring.
Much like the strategy that Kurt Angle will have to entail later tonight.
Here is the hook to the leg by Edge and A-Train gets the shoulder up.
And again, we heard Brock Lesnar. The impact tonight.
What will Brock Lesnar's impact be when Angle meets Big Show later on?
[Tazz] I don't know, Cole. Brock Lesnar, in my opinion,
always makes a damn impact.
And now Brock is promising an impact. What's gonna happen?
[Michael] Edge making an impact, the cover, and A-Train kicks out.
Again, keep in mind if Brock Lesnar helps Kurt Angle win that title,
Kurt Angle's all but promised Lesnar a shot at the WWE title.
-And look at the A-Train. -[Tazz] Wow. Powerslam.
[Michael] The cover on Edge, hooks the outside leg,
and Edge barely gets the shoulder up, that's--
[Tazz] What do you mean all but promised, he promised. Angle--
He said if he's in the corner, I mean, if Brock does the right thing for Angle,
he's in the corner, you know what I mean?
[Michael] Well, we don't know where Brock's gonna be.
As the A-Train with those clubbing blows to the side of the head of Edge.
[Tazz] Referee needs to just stay away from the A-Train.
-He's not in good mood. -[Michael] He's never in a good mood.
[Tazz] Neither am I, but I'm not in there choking Edge illegally on the bottom rope,
-not that I'm one for the rules. -[Michael] Uh-oh, look at this.
[Tazz] We've seen Edge-- A-Train do this already before-- oh, wow.
[Michael] That rope right into the throat of Edge
and A-Train is in control.
The cover on Edge, there's two and Edge kicks out.
Tell you, in order to kick-out with a 350-pounder on you,
that takes a lot of effort.
[Tazz] Especially when the 350-pounder has got his forearm driving into the side
of your cheekbone on that pin cover.
[Michael] Let's take one more look at the A-Train nearly decapitating Edge.
[Tazz] This would tear your esophagus and your larynx
right out of its socket. It's in a socket, right the larynx?
[Michael] Yeah. I don't-- I don't think so.
-[Tazz] Well, thank you, Dr. Cole. -[Michael laughs]
-Thank you, Dr. Tazz. -[Tazz] I hear you.
[Michael] I'll tell you, we mentioned this before.
For A-Train, he realizes his moment's now.
He needs to seize this opportunity. He wants to be in the main event.
And A-Train hoping to defeat Edge tonight to continue to build that momentum.
[Tazz] I mean, A-Train's getting people's attention,
especially the general manager, Stephanie McMahon, of SmackDown.
-[Michael] And Edge… -[Tazz] A nice way
-to get out of that rear chinlock fast. -[Michael] …battles out.
And shots to the chest of A-Train, misses with the right hand
-and Edge begins to battle back. -[Tazz] Speed, quickness of Edge,
ducking those big clubbing hands of A-Train.
[Michael] You can never doubt the heart and resilience of Edge.
As he hammers away on the A-Train.
Edge of course involved in that Fatal 4-Way elimination matchup,
went the whole way on a bum knee, a knee made bad by the A-Train.
Ooh, and Edge knocking the A-Train down.
Edge with revenge on his mind, heel kick under the chin.
[Tazz] Might wanna try and get a cover if you're Edge.
A-Train up pretty quick.
-[Michael] Oh, look at this. -[Tazz shouting]
[Michael] A-Train planted by Edge.
Cover, Edge hooks the leg, could have the big man.
A-Train gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Well, the longer the match goes
obviously the match would be in Edge's favor
because of time and weight differences,
-you know, Albert-- oh. -[Michael] Albert?
-[Tazz] A-Train needs a lot-- -[Michael] What do you mean, conditioning?
[Tazz] What's that?
[Michael] Why did you say Edge is in better condition?
[Tazz] Well, I'm not saying that.
I'm saying that A-Train is slugging around a lot more weight than Albert is,
kinda like you and me, know what I mean?
[Michael] Look at that shot by Edge, great counter.
Edge, an eight-time Tag Team Champion.
-[Tazz] This isn't a tag match. -[Michael] No, not at all.
[Tazz] Okay. Good. This is a lot of money.
-What a unique Edge-O-Matic. -[Michael] A-Train in trouble.
Here's the hook on the leg and A-Train just kicks out.
[Tazz] I wish he wouldn't pull those tights like that.
I almost lost my eyesight.
A lot of hair in the house, you know what I'm saying?
[Michael] Edge gotta be wondering at this point in time
what he needs to do to keep the 350-pounder down.
[Tazz] Keep the pressure on and that's what Edge is trying to do,
and he's going to top rope here,
going for some kind of a big high impact move.
[Michael] Edge slowly to the second rope, now to the top rope goes Edge.
A-Train wobbly, center of the ring, Edge's person-- what a counter.
The bicycle kick to the chin.
Here is the hook to the leg, he's got it-- and somehow Edge kicked out.
[Tazz] Did you see that wicked counter with that bicycle kick?
Edge-- now take a little look at it.
Edge probably going for that missile dropkick,
but, bam, right in the-- right in the kisser, baby, wow.
[Michael] Now, and A-Train with a steel chair in hand.
We've seen what he has done with this in the past.
[Tazz] Yeah, he's good with a chair in his hand.
[Michael] Edge countered before A-Train could use it.
[Korderas] Get back in the ring!
[Michael] A baseball slide to the A-Train,
but again I can't get over the athleticism of the big man
-with that bicycle kick counter. -[Tazz] Yeah.
[Michael] And Edge again going to the top rope.
[Tazz] Edge is probably go for this again, maybe the missile dropkick. Oh!
[Michael] A crossbody, lateral press, hooks the leg,
and A-Train just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] That was close. That was one hair away.
Well, actually a lot of hair, look at the back.
But one away. Oh, look at this.
It looked like he was setting up A-Train for the Edgecution. Oh, no.
Wow. What a powerbomb.
Here is the cover on Edge who gets the shoulder up,
and again you cannot deny the heart of this kid, Edge.
[Tazz] Well, I mean, everybody in that locker room,
everybody in this arena knows, Edge ain't got no quit in him.
[Michael] He's got a torn MCL and now what's A-Train doing?
[Tazz] Oh, A-Train is gonna cause some damage,
I think he's gonna be a rocket scientist--
Well, the ref doing his job and giving up some--
[Michael] And a spear-- a spear by Edge, the cover,
-hook to the leg… -[Tazz] He's got it, that's it.
[Michael] …and A-Train kicked out of the spear.
[Tazz] Impressive kicking out of the spear.
[Michael] Big ups to referee Jimmy Korderas
trying to get that steel chair away from the A-Train.
Once again, A-Train right back to that steel chair.
-And a shot to the bad knee. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] The referee is gonna disqualify the A-Train,
but the damage may be done.
Keep in mind, folks, Edge has a torn MCL at the hands of the A-Train.
And that knee attacked again with that steel chair.
[Chimel] The winner of this match, as a result of a disqualification, Edge.
[Tazz] Well, A-Train not trying to hide his actions. Oh!
[Michael] That chair bouncing off the skull of the A-Train.
[Tazz] You got to wonder, right,
I mean, if A-Train was feeling the pressure from Edge--
[Michael] Oh, look at this. Look at Edge.
Edge is zoned in on that steel chair.
-[Tazz] Oh, man. -[Michael] Oh, lays into the A-Train.
[Tazz] Oh, man, oh, man. That would knock an average man out.
Oh, the A-Train.
[Michael] Edge has snapped. Edge has gone berserk.
[Tazz] Will someone get the damn chair from Edge?
Tired of being the nice guy, gets tired of doing the right thing.
[Michael] Edge is doing the right thing.
This is for his buddy, Mysterio. This A-Train.
["Never Gonna Stop" playing]
[Michael] This A-Train tried to end Mysterio and Edge's career.
[Tazz] Do you see that chair, Cole? That chair's-- oh, look at that.
That baby is all bent up. Man, Edge. Edge, looking intense right now.
[Michael] Edge has snapped and he had every right to be.
Edge laying the A-Train out
after the A-Train once again went to the steel chair.
Let's take another look at the end of the matchup.
Here is what caused the disqualification of the A-Train.
[Tazz] Oh, deliberate. I mean, A-Train not even caring, the ref is right there.
But look at Edge's retaliation, Cole.
Oh, man, oh, man. Look at that.
[Michael] Did you see the look in the eyes of that man, Edge? Revenge tonight.
[Tazz] Nasty thud.
Wait, please, please, please listen to me.
Please, this is the wrong move to make.
Paul, did you hear what Brock Lesnar said tonight?
He said he's here to make an impact.
I know what that means.
I know that that son of a--
Brock Lesnar is gonna be in Kurt Angle's corner.
Do you know what that means to me?
What does it mean about being a WWE Champion?
Where does the respect come in to play?
I can't get respect.
I'm gonna walk in to Stephanie McMahon's office…
-No, no, no, no, no. -…and I'm gonna speak my mind--
No, no, no, no, this is the problem.
You're so worked up over Brock Lesnar, you're gonna walk in to Stephanie's office
and she is gonna feel like we're trying to intimidate her.
This is how this whole thing went awry.
You and I went to go see Stephanie
and she thought I was trying to muscle in on her.
And that's how Brock Lesnar's suspension got lifted.
You can't go there with me.
If you go to Stephanie's office with me,
Stephanie is gonna feel like I'm trying to put pressure on Stephanie
and McMahons don't react to physical intimidation.
What you have to do in order to make this work
is go back in your locker room and concentrate on Kurt Angle
and let me, as a businessman, reason with Stephanie.
No pressure, no muscle, no fuss, no muss.
I can handle this.
Please, please go back into your locker room
and I will handle our business.
You're the champ, I'm the agent, I got this under control.
-You better handle this. -Of course.
[sighs]
[singer] ♪ Latino heat ♪
[Tazz] I don't know, Cole. We've seen Heyman last week on SmackDown.
His negotiating tactics, 'cause of his big mouth,
I think, that helped Stephanie lift Brock Lesnar's suspension.
[Michael] And the question tonight still is where will Brock Lesnar be
during the Big Show-Kurt Angle matchup?
["Latino Heat" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 228 pounds,
one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] This matchup is rapidly developing as bad blood
between two very great friends.
It all-started two weeks ago in the Fatal 4-Way elimination matchup
to determine the number one contender for the WWE title.
First, Chris Benoit would eliminate Eddie Guerrero with the Crossface.
But what followed was a shame,
Eddie Guerrero, Tazz, had already been eliminated.
This was illegal.
He attacked Benoit from behind.
[Tazz] Well, I'll tell you what, everybody and their mother knows
you have to see that interview by Chris Benoit
on SmackDown two weeks ago.
How passionate Benoit is about getting a title shot.
WWE Championship title shot, and Eddie Guerrero and Benoit's opinion,
and I guess mine too,
Eddie Guerrero screwed that up for Chris Benoit.
["Whatever" playing]
[Chimel] And from Edmonton, Alberta, weighing in at 229 pounds,
Chris Benoit!
[Michael] Tazz, for Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero cost him his dream,
the one thing that Chris Benoit lives for in his professional career,
a chance to wrestle for the WWE Championship.
[Tazz] That's what it's all about.
If you're in that locker room,
I don't care if you're on the Raw side or the-- or the SmackDown side,
you wanna be the best, you wanna be the champ.
And that's what a guy like Chris Benoit has trained so many years for,
to be on top in the best company going.
[Michael] You're looking into the eyes of the two most intense men,
in my estimation, in World Wrestling Entertainment today.
[Tazz] This one-- this one here
is gonna be one for the ages, as they say.
I don't know what the hell that means, but I know the expression.
[Michael] The winner of this matchup, either Eddie Guerrero or Chris Benoit,
will be in line, most definitely, for a title shot down the road.
[Tazz] Well, Eddie Guerrero is shooting a low signal right there,
but couldn't get Chris Benoit off his feet,
Benoit just clubbed him in the back of the head.
You know, Cole, in my opinion these are two of the best ever,
ever in between those ropes, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] Well, Chris Benoit is focused.
Chris Benoit claims that nothing will stand in his way to get a title shot.
For Eddie Guerrero, he is not going to be a stepping…
-[Tazz] Nice. -[Michael] …stone to Chris Benoit.
And here, shoulders down, I thought for a moment.
But Eddie Guerrero wisely keeps the shoulders up.
[Tazz] Nice key lock-- key lock rolling through to a cover.
Guerrero kicking out now, they're just reversing
onto-- look at that-- look at the mat work right there
and the high crotches and the single.
Now a leg lock-- leg bar right there by Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] This is all about pride,
this matchup between these two men
and you know Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit began their careers
as respected rivals in Japan and Mexico over a decade ago.
-Let's go! One, two! -[Michael] When they went to WCW
and now to the WWE, they became best friends. In fact, Chris Benoit--
oh, what a shot!
Chris Benoit was there for Eddie Guerrero,
to help Eddie Guerrero battle his demons and his problems, but all of a sudden
these personal issues, Tazz, have developed between these two men.
Issues, well, that I can't figure out where they've come from.
[Tazz] Well, I've been up and down the roads in cause
with Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit over the years.
I've known both these men for a long time.
I mean, you're right, they were best friends, like brothers,
but that-- brothers no more, you know what I mean?
See right there, Eddie Guerrero had a side headlock
but Chris Benoit trying to lock the leg with a leg bar.
I like-- that's good technique, trying to, you know,
put some pressure on Benoit--
on Guerrero's leg to release the tension of the headlock.
[Michael] Again, I cannot figure out why this relationship is at
where it's at today,
both of these men try to hinder each other's careers.
You saw Guerrero costing Benoit a shot after he was eliminated
-at the WWE title. -[Tazz] All right, Cole,
I think you're setting the stage.
I think you're liking the whole--
What are you, like Noah's Ark with the stories?
-You remember that guy? -[Michael] It's interesting that he--
Oh, a big back body drop.
[Tazz] You're like, I don't know, one of those story guys with the books.
-[Michael] Aesop. -[Tazz] With the--
[Michael] Oh, look at this now, chinlock by Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] You got to smoking jacket and a pipe at home?
[Michael] As Benoit neutralizes "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero.
And a family affair, we saw Eddie Guerrero--
-saw Héctor Guerrero earlier today. -[Tazz] Yeah. Héctor Guerrero.
Another great Guerrero, I mean, I wonder if Mando is floating around here
or Grandma Guerrero, you know, she is the big--
she's the ringman of the crew, you know that, right?
-[Michael] Yeah. -[Tazz] She's the tough one.
[Michael] Chris Benoit continues to apply the pressure on Eddie Guerrero
in one of the most anticipated matches
of this Armageddon pay-per-view here tonight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
A joint production of Raw and SmackDown, Michael Cole and Tazz here at ringside.
We're gonna go to J.R. and The King in a little bit.
[Tazz] It's actually, Cole, it's a joint promotion
of SmackDown and Raw, it's the other way around.
[Michael] Oh, and look at Eddie Guerrero now quickly,
gonna work on the left arm of Benoit.
[Tazz] Yeah, he's got right there short-arm scissors, beautiful,
beautiful tough armbar, very tough to get out of.
Very tough to get out of. Short-arm scissors, great move.
It can finish a man off.
[Michael] And Chris Benoit trying to battle out
-Eddie Guerrero to his knees. -[crowd chanting] Eddie, you suck!
[Michael] This crowd is all over "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero.
And look at Chris Benoit, roll through but Guerrero kept the hold locked in.
[Tazz] Well, right now, all the leverage, or leverage
as my Great-Grandfather Tazz used to say,
that's the first Tazz,
a little leverage on the whirl right there.
Now he still does.
I don't know about Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] But Benoit continues to try to roll through and Eddie keeps it locked.
[Tazz] Well, Eddie's got his hand on his-- on the instep of his own boot,
which keeps the hold tight.
See right there, Eddie's hand is on his own boot.
-Right now-- -[Michael] And Chris Benoit
-has reversed it. -[Tazz] How about a pin cover, ref?
-How about a pin cover? -[Michael] Shoulders down,
shades of Bob Backlund,
-the former WWE Champion. -[Tazz] No doubt, no doubt.
[Michael] Wow!
And Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit,
he battles out but the damage may have been done
as he tries to get the blood flowing again to the left arm.
[Tazz] It's just about the only way I've ever seen anybody
got out of a short-arm scissors.
[Michael] Oh, here's the cover, Benoit-- Eddie Guerrero kicks out yet again.
[Tazz] That's the mat sense right there of The Rabid Wolverine, you know,
drop a guy right on the back of his head, go for a pin cover.
-[Michael] Ooh! -[Tazz] Here comes those knife edge chops,
just weaken the man's knees.
[Michael] And Eddie Guerrero, Benoit in the corner.
And chops for Latino Heat as well.
Snapmare takedown by Eddie Guerrero.
And quickly, the legs wrapped around the neck and the head of Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Well, the calf right there of Eddie Guerrero
across the throat, to choke Chris Benoit out.
Now, Chris Benoit has gotta try and get some separation
between his throat and Eddie Guerrero's boot.
[Michael] And I was talking to Eddie Guerrero earlier today
and he was jacked up with this matchup, Tazz.
He could not wait to battle Chris Benoit one-on-one in the ring.
[Tazz] Oh, this is-- I mean, both these men have so much in common.
That's well-documented.
Look at Benoit using his head.
And remember, Chris Benoit is coming home from a broken neck
and he used his neck and his head, his head to force Guerrero to the ropes.
[Michael] Benoit reversed things, Guerrero had to go to the ropes to break things up.
-And look at this. -[Tazz] Oh, man!
[Michael] Face-first goes Eddie Guerrero,
quickly back to his feet but now down to one knee.
-Benoit-- -[Tazz] Oh!
[Michael] Uh-oh. Benoit wrapped all up.
[Tazz] Yeah, I think Chris got a little overzealous there,
a little over aggressive.
Which is very rare for Chris Benoit to do during a match.
[Michael] But what isn't rare is how Eddie Guerrero
took advantage of that situation.
[Tazz] No doubt, and Guerrero is looking like he's gonna fly here.
[Michael] Latino Heat top rope, Chris Benoit on his feet.
[Tazz] Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
[Michael] Knocking Benoit down!
[Tazz] Eddie Guerrero leaving it all right here at ringside.
Might have jammed up his right knee.
Guerrero, he looked like he was holding it for a second.
[Michael] This match has been a strungle-- a struggle, I should say, for both men.
Everything has been earned thus far.
And Eddie Guerrero I thought was in control
-after this maneuver but maybe not. -[Tazz] Look at the height.
Look at the height right there,
splat right on The Rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit.
[Michael] And that forearm to the side of the head of Chris Benoit.
And Eddie Guerrero perhaps
senses that he is gaining major control of this match,
and now working on the left knee of Benoit.
[Tazz] Well, he is in control now, Cole, for sure, Eddie Guerrero is.
Benoit, you know, just took a lot out of him when he--
when he received that Crossbody from the top rope.
And obviously, Eddie Guerrero, "Latino Heat,"
pinpointing that knee joint with his knee.
[Michael] He's pinpointing the knee joint.
Benoit finally was able to grasp the head
after trying two or three separate times.
[Tazz] Yeah, but the lock is still on. Eddie Guerrero's still got that leg bar.
[Michael] But this is like a game of chicken here.
-Come on! Damn it, get off! -[Michael] As Eddie Guerrero
keeps the pressure on the leg, Benoit does all he can to try to rearrange
-the facial features of Guerrero. -[Tazz] Genius.
[Michael] Oh! And a shot to his back of the neck.
And another kick and another one to the kidneys,
but Guerrero yet to let go of the left leg.
[Tazz] I don't know, bro. I've never seen chickens kick like that.
I tell you what, that'd be a lot of protein.
[Michael] And Benoit again.
And now, Benoit on his belly
and the pressure continues for Eddie Guerrero.
Perhaps weakening that leg area for the…
-[Tazz] Listen to the screams of both men. -[wrestlers groan]
[Tazz] Guerrero trying to put the pressure.
Benoit loaded with pain.
Look at that. You don't see that often.
Guerrero-- Benoit screaming from hurt.
[Michael] And Benoit, as Eddie tried to lock up both legs,
Benoit saw the opening and crawled to the bottom rope.
[Tazz] Smart. That's mat sense.
That comes from experience.
The other guy would exert a lot of energy, try and get out of it.
Why not use the ring? The ring's a weapon also.
It could be a good friend, and right there it was for Benoit.
[Michael] But again, a little wasted motion by Eddie Guerrero.
Even though Benoit got to the ropes, Guerrero kept the pressure up.
[Tazz] Uh-oh, he's gonna go backwards here.
If Guerrero falls backwards, he could-- whoa!
-[Michael] Snap that knee. -[Tazz] Oh, no doubt about it.
I've had people do that to me.
That'll take a couple weeks off your career, believe me.
[Michael] Benoit trying to use that right leg to battle out,
but Guerrero with that little wasted motion.
And you could feel the cockiness now,
the confidence starting to build in Guerrero,
as he wrenches the leg again, as Benoit writhing in pain.
[Tazz] That's what makes Eddie Guerrero, Cole, so deadly.
Like you said, the cockiness, the confidence.
Once he feels he's got his man literally on the ropes or hurting…
[Michael] Here's the cover, hooks the leg-- Benoit,
his shoulders were down for a two count.
[Tazz] No one is better at going for the killing, wearing a man down,
like "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero is.
[Michael] And there we go. Here's the confidence.
[Tazz] There you go. That's it. Exactly.
[Michael] Oh, a shot to the ribs
-of Benoit. -Come on, Eddie. Come on.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero starts to feel like he's in control of the matchup
and there's little that can stop him.
-[Tazz groans] -[Brian] Let's go, get him out of here.
[Tazz] You could hear the grunting and groaning.
These-- both men, smash-mouth style,
physical style, and that's what this is about.
Getting physical, hurting a man, and getting one up on him.
[Michael] And just when you think Benoit is gonna battle out of it,
Eddie Guerrero shuts him right down again.
-Oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
Right there, Guerrero's whole body right across Benoit.
[Michael] And Benoit with a shot to the face!
Benoit, look out!
Perhaps going for the Crossface,
-Guerrero rolled through. -[Tazz] Uh-oh, German!
[Michael] German suplex to Eddie Guerrero,
and the arms are still locked around the waist.
[Tazz] Go with the hands, the hands! Whoa!
[Michael] A second German suplex from the master.
[Tazz] That Benoit so strong when he clasps those fingers together!
[Michael] A third one!
[Tazz] Man, right on the head, right on the noggin.
Guerrero's trying to, you've see a moment ago,
grab the back of his head.
-Oh, man! -[Michael] And a fourth one from Benoit
to Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Guerrero's gotta try and break that grip of Chris Benoit!
[Michael] Try and break the grip?
I don't even think he knows where the hell he is.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz laughs] I hear you.
Fort Lauderdale appreciates it, and so do I.
[Michael] Standing ovation from these fans here in Fort Lauderdale
for five straight German suplexes from Benoit to Guerrero.
[Tazz] And every suplex one after the other better than the next.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. -[Tazz] Goodnight, Irene.
[Michael] Benoit, you see him-- oh.
[Tazz] Well, my mother used to do that to me when she used to get mad at me, though.
[Michael] Benoit, still favoring that left leg.
Damage may have been done by Guerrero.
Will it affect Benoit climbing to the top rope?
[Tazz] You know what time it is, Cole. Wolverine's gonna fly.
Wolverine's got wings.
Oh, not now, I guess maybe later then.
-Well, who knows? -[Michael] How smart is that of Benoit?
He saw Guerrero rolling out of the way
and Benoit, instead of going for the high-risk maneuver,
comes down off the rope and delivers yet another German suplex!
[Tazz] That's number six.
-Uno, dos, tres, cinco-- -[Michael] Cuatro, cinco, seis.
[Tazz] Oh, right, six!
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
That is a seventh German suplex.
And Eddie Guerrero says, "I've had enough. Get him off me, ref."
[Tazz] Well, ain't no sign of Chris Benoit letting up the attack,
and why should there be?
Come on, Eddie Guerrero cost Chris Benoit a shot
at the WWE Championship.
[Michael] And you know what the title means to Chris Benoit and Guerrero.
[Tazz] Oh, there it is. Another German--
[Michael] A German suplex of his own to Benoit!
[Tazz] That's number one right there.
[Michael] Guerrero's arms are locked and the hands are still hooked.
That's a second to Benoit.
[Tazz] Nice technique by Guerrero!
[Michael] And a third!
[Tazz] Remember, Chris Benoit is coming off--
Well, not coming off a broken neck, but had a broken neck and neck surgery.
-Those Germans will take you out. -[Michael] And so will that.
Snap suplex from Latino Heat.
Benoit, prone, center of the ring.
Eddie Guerrero has thrown everything at Chris Benoit
except the proverbial kitchen sink.
[Tazz] Eddie Guerrero not wasting no time to go to the top
to finish off Chris Benoit.
-One, two… -[Michael] Eddie Guerrero, top rope,
-Frog splash press. -[Tazz] Oh, my God, right on the ribs.
[Michael] Lights out, ladies and gentlemen.
This one's over.
Hook to the leg and Benoit-- Benoit kicked out of the frog splash!
[Tazz] Not just physical toughness by Chris Benoit, but the mental toughness.
The mental toughness to get the energy to kick out.
[Michael] And look at the frustration building now
on the face of Eddie Guerrero.
-Eddie Guerrero cannot believe. -[Tazz] He hit him.
"I saw it."
[Michael] The referee said, "I saw it. He kicked out."
Look at Eddie, knocking Benoit through the second rope.
Both men are down, both men are physically exhausted.
Guerrero is wondering what he has to do to take Benoit out.
[Tazz] Well, he can't beat the man outside the ring, that's obvious.
I just think Eddie Guerrero didn't want Chris Benoit to get to his feet,
so Guerrero just tackled him.
[Michael] That was a great move.
As Eddie Guerrero continues the assault to the kidneys,
the frustration building in Guerrero,
as Guerrero saw Benoit catching his breath
while Eddie was arguing with the referee.
[Tazz] Well, look at this. This is where Guerrero's temper
sometimes it gets the better of him.
He still goes back in the ring to argue with the ref,
you know, the ref…
[Michael] And this allows Benoit valuable time
to regain his composure and his breath.
[Tazz] Boy, that was really good.
[Michael] And Benoit, slowly to his feet.
[Tazz] But, wait, wait-- hey!
[Michael] Chavo, Eddie's nephew and his tag team partner,
just blasted Benoit with the tag title.
[Tazz] Oh, yeah, and that shot with that title
connected with that very tough Canadian, Chris Benoit's head.
[Michael] You think after kicking out of the frog splash,
Chavo Guerrero thought that Uncle Eddie may need some help?
[Tazz] Oh, check this shot out.
[Michael] Oh, wow.
Right into the temple.
[Tazz] Look at Benoit, man.
-Cole, he's out. -[Michael] Deadweight.
[Tazz] Chris Benoit is out, knocked out cold.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero exerting a lot of energy
just moving Benoit's lifeless carcass into the ring.
Here's the hook to the leg and Benoit got the shoulder up.
Chavo cannot believe it.
[Tazz] Can't believe it. How the hell did he do that?
Chris Benoit thought he was knocked out.
-Get on him! -[Tazz] Maybe he's out of his feet
or out on his back.
[Michael] Again, Eddie Guerrero taking his frustrations out on the referee.
Telling Brian Hebner that was a slow count.
Didn't look like it to me, Benoit kicked out.
[Tazz] It looked like a good call by Hebner.
[Michael] Chris Benoit-- there's the counter,
shot to the back of the head of Eddie Guerrero.
-And Guerrero, takedown. -[Tazz] Nice!
-[Michael] Uh-oh. -[Tazz] Drop toehold, drop toehold.
Looking for that Lasso from El Paso and Guerrero's got it, Cole.
[Michael] A submission maneuver is locked in.
-Listen to Benoit. -What do you say?
[Benoit] No! [screams] No!
[Michael] You hear Benoit. And Benoit makes to the bottom rope.
[Tazz] Yeah, that Lasso is hooked in.
Benoit, again, using the rope as his-- as his--
as a partner, as a friend to break the count.
[Michael] Benoit at the rope, forces Guerrero to break the hold.
And now, Eddie Guerrero once again back on the attack of Chris Benoit.
Both of these men physically exhausted.
Guerrero thought he had this match one, two, or three different times.
[Tazz] Both men exemplified a lot of mat work in the beginning.
It takes a lot out of you and look at those intense kicks
right to the hamstring by Guerrero to Benoit.
[Michael] Benoit reverse whip-- oh, a chop knocking Guerrero off his feet!
[Tazz] He just dropped him, dropped Guerrero.
[Michael] And another one.
[Tazz] Man, those are shots on the head.
[Michael] What impact.
[Tazz] And Benoit with that great conditioning.
Fourth quarter, sucking it up here.
[Michael] Powerbombs Eddie Guerrero!
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Michael] But does Benoit
have enough left to capitalize?
[Tazz] Well, if Chris Benoit can mount a cover here…
Oh, I guess not, Benoit wanting to go on the top rope.
We've seen Benoit try this earlier, but wait, Guerrero again, with the ref.
[Michael] Now, look at Chavo with a shot to Benoit.
[Tazz] Someone's got to get Chavo the hell out of here.
[Michael] Chavo has no business being out here.
-[Tazz] This is-- -[Michael] Look out.
Benoit, good shot to the kidneys.
[Tazz] Chavo, Chavo-- oh, right across the throat!
[Michael] Chavo hung up on the top rope.
Benoit, climbing to the top rope.
Eddie Guerrero counters.
[Brian] Come on, let's go. Get him down.
[Michael] For Benoit, this is much like a two-on-one match with Chavo involved.
[Tazz] I don't know if Chavo is gonna be instrumental anymore.
[Michael] As Benoit-- oh, Eddie off the top rope.
[Tazz] Here we go, Cole.
Eddie-- Chris Benoit looked for this before
and it's time for the Wolverine to fly!
-[Michael] Connects with a headbutt! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Benoit may have injured himself, as well.
[Tazz] Sometimes you got to do that to get a win.
Chris, to the top.
Chris Benoit on the top of--
[Michael] Oh, and look at Eddie. What a reversal by Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Switching, trying to go for that Lasso.
[screams]
[Michael] And Eddie Guerrero has it locked in.
[Tazz] Yeah, the Lasso from El Paso is locked in.
Look at Benoit's body all contorted.
Benoit gets on his back, that's a good way to relieve that pressure on the knees.
[Michael] Benoit had to get to the back.
Here's the counter. Look at this.
Eddie Guerrero squirming like a snake,
-but Chris Benoit… -[Tazz] Crossface!
[Michael] …trying to lock in a Crossface.
-[Tazz] Not yet. -[Michael] He doesn't quite
-have it locked in, though. -[Tazz] That's right.
You got to extend that arm and get that arm of Guerrero between his legs.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero doing a great job countering the Crossface.
Benoit switches to the other side.
-[Tazz] Oh, he's got it! -[Michael] The Crossface locked in!
The desperation in the face of Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Roll through.
[Michael] And Eddie just got himself in more of a predicament.
[Tazz] Chris Benoit like a…
-[Michael] And Eddie Guerrero taps out! -[bell ringing]
["Whatever" playing]
[Michael] What a match.
[Chimel] Here is your winner, Chris Benoit!
[Tazz] A classic right there. We witnessed it.
Big time wrestling.
great stuff, Chris Benoit with the Crossface,
forcing Guerrero to tap out.
[Michael] The scene in the ring paints the picture of this matchup.
Both men physically exhausted, but what resilience, what heart,
what courage as Chris Benoit continues the pursuit of his dream.
Benoit has put himself right back in to the title picture.
[Tazz] Let's take another look.
We're gonna see that humongous headbutt right there.
There's a Wolverine, ladies and gentlemen, a Wolverine with wings.
Bingo. Hits his mark.
[Michael] And then Chris Benoit,
with the Crossface locked in on Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Yeah, Eddie Guerrero's trying to roll through right there.
[Michael] But he got himself in more trouble.
[Tazz] Oh, yeah, like a pit bull.
Chris Benoit hanging on, by rolling through,
might have put some more pressure on his neck and shoulder.
[Michael] Chris Benoit showing amazing heart here tonight.
Ooh, I love that Chris Benoit.
[Heyman] You know, I love that Chris Benoit, too.
I mean, I've been thinking about adding Benoit to my stable of clients
for the longest time, and I wanna thank you, Stephanie,
for having me wait until the end of that match.
-Just so I could see, Benoit versus-- -Okay.
Hey, Paul, let me spare you the time, okay?
Brock Lesnar's suspension is lifted as of tonight.
Brock Lesnar's suspension is lifted as of right now.
And there's nothing you can do about it.
You so don't understand me, Stephanie.
Paul, I so don't wanna understand you.
I'm here for such a bigger issue than you lifting Brock Lesnar's suspension.
And what is it?
Well, you know, I'm a big fan of yours,
but lately, a lot of people have been questioning some of the business decisions
that you've been making.
-Really? -Really.
Can you get to the point?
Well, yeah. I mean, you know, the whole suspension thing aside,
think about this.
Tonight, the WWE Championship will be decided in a match between my client,
the Big Show, and Kurt Angle, mano a mano, like two gladiators getting into the--
Yes, Paul, I am very aware of the WWE Championship match tonight.
Thank you.
Then you're also aware of the integrity involved in being the WWE Champion
-and the honor and the prestige-- -Oh, wait, wait, wait.
The integrity, the honor, and prestige?
You mean that was behind, say,
the way that the Big Show won the WWE title?
[chuckles] Paul, listen.
If Brock Lesnar wants to be in Kurt Angle's corner tonight,
then that's up to Brock Lesnar.
And you and I are both gonna have to wait and see what Brock's decision is.
I wanna thank you for your time.
Oh, you're more than welcome.
It's always a pleasure to do business with you.
-Hmm, likewise. -[Heyman] Mm-hmm.
[Stephanie] Hmm.
But if Brock Lesnar is in Kurt Angle's corner tonight…
-Yes? -…no more Mr. Nice Guy.
The Big Show will break Brock Lesnar's neck.
[Michael] Armageddon in Fort Lauderdale exploding tonight
at the Office Depot Center.
So many questions still to be answered,
including where will Brock Lesnar be tonight for the title match
between the Big Show and Kurt Angle?
And Dawn Marie plans to make an impact as well.
For weeks, Dawn Marie has been tormenting Torrie Wilson over her, well,
threatened marriage to Torrie's dad, Al.
Oh, Torrie, Torrie, don't hit me, okay?
I know you don't like me.
I know you don't wanna talk to me,
and you have every single right to be upset with me.
As you know, your dad Al is overseas
and I just wanna let you know that he is not the only Wilson
in your family that I'm interested in.
[upbeat music playing]
[Dawn] It's you, Torrie.
It's you.
Your eyes are so beautiful,
and your body is so voluptuous,
and your skin is so soft.
Wait a minute.
You are engaged to my father,
yet you're making him out to be such a total fool?
And it's all over me?
[Dawn scoffs] I have a proposition for you.
If you do something for me, I won't marry your father.
As much as I love your father,
I won't marry him.
Tonight, I'm in room 357.
Hopefully, you'll be there.
[tense music playing]
Hi, Torrie.
I guess you love your father after all.
Now, do everything I want you to do, the wedding will be off.
I guess you don't love your father after all.
[echoing] That's better.
Even though it is true that I spent the night with Torrie,
I just want you to understand,
every time that I looked
into Torrie's eyes,
I saw yours.
And every time I kissed
Torrie's lips…
I felt like I was kissing yours, Al.
What's it going to be?
I still wanna marry you.
[Dawn] I wanna marry you too, Al.
Despite what that b**** Torrie wanted me to do tonight,
I'm gonna still marry you here on SmackDown.
And no one,
no one is gonna tell me I can't be your wife.
[Michael] There's Torrie! Oh, it's on-- [screams]
-[Tazz] Here we go. Oh, man! -[Michael] Torrie Wilson is enraged.
[Tazz] You can't blame Torrie.
[Michael] Torrie expected Dawn to call off the wedding.
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Michael] And Dawn didn't do it.
[Dawn] You enjoyed it, Torrie! Admit it!
You enjoyed every second of it!
On Sunday night,
I'm gonna show the whole world
how much you enjoyed
what happened in that hotel room.
-[Tazz] Well, here we go, Cole. -[Michael] I'll tell you one thing.
I believe that this Dawn Marie is the actual predator,
that Torrie compromised herself to save her dad Al from marrying Dawn,
but you heard it.
Dawn Marie, well, she said she's gonna show this footage tonight.
-And look at Dawn and Al, hand in hand. -[Tazz] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Al Wilson, I heard he's got a soft heart.
[Tazz] Yeah, he's got a head to match.
You know, Cole, let me tell you something.
I'd rather pass a kidney stone than watch this guy, Al Wilson, on TV.
[Michael] What about Dawn Marie?
[Tazz] I like watching Dawn, but Al, Al's got the IQ of lint.
-[Michael] I can't get over this guy. -[Tazz] That's not good, by the way.
Well, what about him? He's a goof.
[Michael] I can't believe he's even out here.
[Tazz] He's a goof, but he's got something going for him.
How's he got a tomato-- I mean a young lady like Dawn?
-How'd he do this? -[Michael] I have no idea.
[Tazz] Hope he doesn't talk, though. Don't let him talk, Dawn.
-Just talk and show us the footage. -[Michael] Yes, let's see the footage.
Everyone's been buzzing about what really happened
in room 357 between Torrie Wilson and me.
There have been so many questions about that night,
like how far did Torrie really go?
[Michael] You asked me that question.
And just how hot is that footage
you're about to show?
[Tazz] Oh, it's hot, it's hot.
All right. Let's see it, Dawn. Come on, put it on!
And was Torrie Wilson
everything I said she was?
Was she a sexual predator?
[Michael] Come on, enough of the talk.
[Tazz] I heard they went all the way, Cole. All the way!
Well, the fact is, Torrie Wilson isn't here tonight. [chuckles]
That's because she was embarrassed.
[Tazz] But she's still got the footage, right?
She's ashamed.
She's hiding.
But I'm not hiding.
I'm right here, in the flesh.
To show you all what I promised.
So if you will, please, I present
what happened in 357!
-[Michael] Here you go. -[Tazz] Let's do it.
-[door closes] -Hi, Torrie.
I was beginning to lose faith in you.
[Torrie sighs]
I guess you love your father after all.
Now, if you do everything I want you to do,
the wedding will be off.
[chuckles] I guess you don't love your father after all.
[crowd clamoring]
That's better.
You look a little uncomfortable.
Champagne?
It'll make you feel better.
[crowd cheering]
Feeling a little frisky tonight, aren't we?
You like strawberries, Torrie?
[Torrie sniffs]
Oh, come on, Torrie.
Those aren't the rules.
They're sweet.
You'll like them.
I promise.
Your body is so strong,
soft.
But I can't see it.
[crowd cheering]
You're so beautiful…
and sexy.
[crowd cheering]
Hmm.
Attagirl.
You smell like strawberries.
[crowd cheering]
Torrie…
all men want you.
But they can't give you what I can.
Only a woman knows how to make another woman feel good.
Let me show you.
[crowd cheering]
[Dawn] Freeze the footage.
-Freeze the footage. -[Michael] What the hell?
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa. What is she talking about?
[Michael] She said freeze the footage.
-[Tazz] What's up with that? -[crowd booing]
Yeah.
You people like that?
[crowd cheering]
I know that I did.
How hot was that?
I think we've seen enough.
-[Tazz] Shut up, Al. What's-- -[Michael laughs] He's an ass.
Dawn, that's my daughter.
I can't let this go on any further.
Oh, Al, it's going to go further.
[Tazz chuckles] Yeah.
Your daughter went further.
Do you all wanna see exactly
how far Torrie went?
[Michael] Yeah.
[Tazz] Easy, Cole. She'll show us.
-It's just a little like, you know, tease. -Roll the footage.
[Tazz] Just a little tease.
[Al Wilson] Stop. Stop it!
-[Tazz] What? -[Al Wilson] I mean, stop it now. Damn it.
Dawn, stop it.
-[Tazz] What is he doing? -[Al Wilson] You can stop this.
[crowd cheering]
[Al Wilson] I don't-- Dawn, stop it.
I mean, stop it.
[Tazz] What the hell is he-- shut up.
I had enough of this. Please.
Oh, Al…
-[Tazz] I'm gonna smack Al. -…stop it?
But the people wanna see more.
[crowd cheering]
[Dawn] Don't you?
-[Tazz] That was the announce team. -[Michael] Right.
[Tazz] Both of them.
[crowd clamoring]
I don't give a damn if they wanna see more.
-[Michael] Okay. -[Tazz] Al, shut up.
What is he talking about?
Dawn, you have to stop this.
[crowd chanting] We want more! We want more!
You have to stop it.
Please.
I'm putting my foot down, damn it.
Please.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
If my fiancé, Al Wilson, wants to stop the footage,
then we're gonna stop the footage.
-[crowd booing] -[Tazz] Come on.
Because there's absolutely nothing I wanna do in this whole world
to upset my little Bobo.
[Tazz] Bobo? He's Schmo-Schmo.
[crowd chanting] Asshole! Asshole! Asshole!
[Michael] Well, that's the thing about Al.
No, he is not an asshole.
[Tazz laughs]
-He just looks like one. -Besides, I've proven my point.
I've proven that Torrie Wilson was everything I said she was.
She's nothing but a sexual predator.
[Michael] What?
And, Al, being that you're so aggressive,
-why don't we go back to our hotel room… -[Tazz] Oh.
…and make a little footage of our own? Come on.
[Tazz] You know, I just figured out, Cole. They deserve each other.
They really do. Now, go watch your tape.
Do your wacky little thing at your hotel.
Ugh.
[upbeat music playing]
[Jerry] Is that-- is that it?
We're not gonna see the rest of the footage?
Thanks to Al. You know what, J.R.,
I gotta admit, I watch SmackDown every Thursday night
and one of the things I don't like about SmackDown is Al Wilson,
and now I hate him even more.
I'd go in there and wring his neck.
I can't stand up right now.
[Ross] I don't think I'll probably ever look at a strawberry the same way again.
[Jerry] I hate that guy.
Can we make some sort of arrangements?
Can we see that later?
Where's the rest of it?
[Ross] Well, all I--
[Jerry] We're just getting to the good part.
[Ross] We gotta--
we gotta get back focused on Armageddon.
Here's one way of doing it.
Shawn Michaels, the World Heavyweight Champion,
warming up for his 2 out of 3 Falls Match.
Folks, you're gonna see at least
two matches for the price of one tonight, and maybe three if it goes three falls.
-[Jerry] Look out. -["Slow Chemical" playing]
[Jerry] Wow.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring, weighing 320 pounds, Kane!
[Ross] Well, certainly, the Big Red Machine,
coming right through hellfire and brimstone…
[fireworks popping]
[Ross] …has a score to settle with Batista,
who beat Kane three weeks ago,
thanks to Batista's adviser,
-"Nature Boy" Ric Flair. -["Animal" playing]
[Jerry] Wow.
[Howard] To be accompanied by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
weighing 318 pounds, Batista!
[Ross] Batista at 318,
making his WWE pay-per-view debut here.
And, certainly, Ric Flair can be, legitimately and illegitimately,
a great resource for Batista.
[Jerry] Old Naitch.
Old Naitch in the corner.
[Ross] It's like the earthmover versus the bulldozer.
Strength and power versus strength and power.
[Jerry] The unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
[Ross] Kane has the advantage and experience.
But, again, Flair has proven to be a difference maker in the past.
Will he be here tonight in this battle of these two big bulls?
[Jerry] I think that freak Kane has a little bit of height advantage too.
And I'm glad he's tall, but that's even more of him to dislike.
You're really-- you're a big Kane fan, aren't you?
[Ross] Always admired his athletic ability, his toughness.
[Jerry] Oh. Oh. Oh.
[Ross] And he's been through-- through hell.
His life has not been ideal.
[Jerry] Oh, certainly, it has not.
[Ross] Twisted counter hook by Kane who blocks,
right into the swinging neckbreaker, taking down Batista.
And Kane now with those right hands.
This is not gonna be a catch-as-catch-can classic.
I think you can easily see these two big men
imposing their physical will on each other.
[Jerry] Look at Nature.
You see, like the great thing about Nature is he's always thinking.
He's thinking that, you know, it's not gonna be easy--
or not gonna be that difficult to outthink Kane.
I mean, because, like you said, Kane is brute force.
He's all power.
It's not-- it's all brawns and no brains for Kane.
And so that's where Batista is gonna have the advantage with Naitch in his corner.
[Ross] Batista busting up Kane with that right arm and Kane counters,
got back into a predicament of his own.
Hard slam on the 318-pound Batista,
who again is making his pay-per-view debut here in the WWE.
Hook to the leg by Kane, got a near-fall.
Kane is-- I tell you, he is an amazing competitor.
He's a former WWE Champion.
But Batista just hoisting Kane up and hung him on that top rope.
[Jerry] You ever seen anybody with the strength
-that's able to do that to Kane? -[Ross] I really haven't.
Batista's strength is absolutely amazing.
-And a right arm spear takedown on Kane. -[Ric] Come on, ref.
-Two. -Learn to count. Damn it!
-Get on top of your game, will you? -[Ross] Flair wanting the referee--
-want him to count faster. -Come on, keep it back there.
[Jerry] He's an intimidating factor out there.
He's a calming factor on Batista, as you saw just a moment ago.
He's gotta-- he's gotta keep to this--
-[Ross] Suplex. -[Jerry] Batista under control.
[Ross] The hook of the leg and, again, Kane powering out.
[Jerry] First, gotta keep Batista under control.
But he's also in there to intimidate the referee.
Keep that referee from making a slow count.
[Ross] Flair's always said he's the dirtiest player in the game,
and perhaps he's teaching those techniques and tendencies to Batista.
[Jerry] Of course he will.
[Ross] Kane fighting back with a right hand of his own.
[Jerry] Flair will teach Batista everything that Batista knows,
but he won't teach him everything he knows.
That's Flair's little trick that he saves for himself.
Watch it here.
[Ross] And Batista sidestepped Kane.
Took the Big Red Machine over the top rope all the way to the floor
in this one-fall matchup here at Armageddon.
We thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen,
for being with us and inviting us into your homes.
We certainly appreciate it.
[Jerry] Look at this. Look at Naitch.
He's taking matters into his own hand. Whoa!
[Ross] The referee didn't see a thing.
And look at Flair, trying to rile up Kane,
and Kane taking everything that Flair's got…
[Jerry] Oh, no. Look out, Naitch.
[Ross] …much to the chagrin of the former 16-time world's champion.
[Jerry] Naitch is in big trouble. Oh, Batista to the rescue.
[Ross] And Batista pulling Kane off of Flair
and then taking Kane down with that-- with that clothesline.
[Jerry] See, that was probably--
Naitch probably intentionally sacrificed himself
to let his man get the upper hand.
That was smart thinking.
[Ross] It certainly puts Kane at a disadvantage,
much like one would assume it will put Shawn Michaels
perhaps at a disadvantage tonight,
'cause you gotta believe Flair is gonna be here at ringside tonight
when Triple H challenges Shawn Michaels for the world title, 2 out of 3 Falls.
[Jerry] Oh, but you can bet if Kane has anything to say about that,
Flair will be in no condition to be at ringside
for that big 2 out of 3 Fall main event.
Boom, look at that.
[Ross] Great flexibility by Kane,
delivering the power and knocking down Batista.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] Sidewalk slam on Batista.
High-impact.
We've seen a lot of it in this match
between these two big, powerful super heavyweights.
[Jerry] Oh, and this is what's so unusual about Kane.
He's a big, powerful, super heavyweight
but he don't mind going to the top rope and flying every chance he gets.
[Ross] Oh, Kane looking to score with a clothesline,
but Batista has been well prepared by Ric Flair,
able to step out of the way.
[Jerry] You don't get to call him Naitch, do you?
Flair, I mean.
[Ross] I can. I call him a lot of things.
[Jerry] Right.
[Ross] And Batista, so much strength,
so much that Kane--
[Jerry] Kane held on him. He did not allow Batista--
Kane used some strength of his own, he did not allow Batista to slam him.
[Ross] And a low blow by Kane.
Flair, that time, distracted the referee
and Kane took advantage of the position of the official,
struck with a low blow.
And now Kane, for the second time, going back to the top.
-And this time connects. -[Jerry] Flying time.
[Ross] The Big Red Machine was flying, connected on Batista.
-[Jerry] Now look at Naitch. -[Ross] Got the cover and Flair,
again, distracting the referee.
[Jerry] I told you he can intimidate a referee.
With the best of them.
[Ross] And that was a bad break for Kane.
We'll see if it manifests itself as this one progresses.
[Jerry] Look out, Batista.
Bad things are about to happen to you, son.
-Oh. -[Ross] Batista,
that huge arm and that elbow right to the side of the head.
Three shots right to the side of Kane's head.
And Batista catching Kane walking in,
sidewalk slam, and Kane kicked out.
There's no doubt in my mind,
that move would have defeated 99% of the men in the WWE.
[Jerry] And I'm sure Batista has defeated a lot of men with that very move.
That's why the frustration on his face
when Kane wasn't there for the three-count.
Look out. Chokeslam. Man.
[Ross] Kane hooked up that Chokeslam
and took Batista down
-with more impact now. -[Jerry] Now, look at Naitch. [laughs]
Every time Batista's in trouble, Naitch is there to save the day.
-[Ross] Absolutely. -[Jerry] Uh-oh, look out. Oh, no.
[Ross] And Kane bringing Flair inside the ring.
Flair has saved Batista's backside
a couple of different times in this match.
[Jerry] Be careful, Flair. You know you gotta be out there with Triple H.
Oh.
[Ross] A big shot right to the face by Kane.
And Kane has had enough of the Nature Boy.
Batista though goes downstairs.
[Jerry] He probably had enough of Batista but he hasn't had all he's gonna get.
[Ross] And sit-down powerbomb…
-[Jerry] Kane could not block that one. -[Ross] …by Batista.
-Flair with the distraction and-- -[Jerry] He got him.
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] I can't believe it.
-[Jerry] He got him. [laughs] -["Animal" playing]
[Jerry] Batista and Naitch.
[Howard] Here is your winner, Batista.
[Ross] Well, it might as well have been a "handicap" match.
Batista with another victory over Kane.
And, again, Ric Flair--
[Jerry] He outsmarted Kane. You gotta admit it.
He outsmarted Kane.
You're a dead man.
[Ross] Flair proving to be a-- once again, a difference maker in this matchup.
-Yeah! -[Ross] I can't believe this.
And neither can Kane.
This one is not over, King.
[crowd cheering]
Hey, Funaki.
Where's Brock Lesnar's dressing room?
-That way. -That way.
-That way? -Yes.
Thank you.
["Insert Bass Here" playing]
[Jerry] What's up with that?
[Cena] ♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Everybody knows I got a master's degree in thuganomics ♪
♪ Word life ♪
♪ So kick that beat off ♪
♪ So me and B-Squared can kick The freestyle a capella ♪
♪ No beat ♪
♪ No beat, listen up ♪
[music fades out]
♪ Surprise, we right here Before your eyes ♪
♪ All you women want me I'm the envy of all you guys ♪
♪ That's 'cause you rely On flippin' burgers and servin' fries ♪
♪ Your girl's with us I'm about to find her bra size ♪
♪ It's a new era A new message that we sendin' ♪
♪ It starts tonight Right here at Armageddon ♪
♪ No sweatin' I don't care who I piss off ♪
♪ From Stephanie McMahon Straight over to Eric Bischoff ♪
♪ We never soft We never leave a man standin' ♪
♪ You either deal with me Or with Bling Bling Buchanan ♪
♪ We the man, son ♪
♪ And we attackin' this arrangement ♪
♪ The new centerpiece Of World Wrestling Entertainment ♪
♪ And for all of you foes who would think That you can throw blows ♪
♪ Y'all wind up like Marcia Brady sayin'
♪ "Oh, my nose" ♪
♪ And I'm out ♪
[Jerry] Wow. Eat your heart out, Eminem.
[Ross] Lot of attitude from John Cena
-and his sidekick there. -[Jerry] Bling Bling.
[Ross] B-Squared. Yeah, Bling Bling, whatever that is.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, momentarily,
the WWE Women's Championship on the line
in a Triple Threat match.
And, folks, this one really escalated back at the Survivor Series
in the first-ever women's hardcore title match.
Hardcore rules for the women's world title at the Survivor Series.
How is Trish gonna survive this?
It's been over three years since the WWE sanctioned
a hardcore rules women's title match.
[upbeat music playing]
-[Ross] Did she get it? She got it. -[Jerry] You gotta be kidding me.
[Ross] This witch, this Jezebel is the new Women's Champion.
[Jerry] She loves it.
[Ross] She's sick.
There's a new Women's Champion, Victoria.
-She is a deranged Jezebel. -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
She is colder than the other side of the pillow.
Big and strong and powerful, and she is so hungry.
She just loves punishing anybody.
[Jerry] What is wrong with this Victoria?
[Ross] She's biting her.
[Jerry] She's biting her nails off.
[Victoria] These people didn't come to see you.
They came to see me. I'm the champion.
[Ross] She must be jealous of every female on Raw.
Hey, that's my outfits.
[tense music playing]
You psycho bitch.
[angry music playing]
[Victoria] I'll show you psycho.
[Ross] Jackie just doesn't care.
She is tough. There it is right there, the kick.
-[Jerry] What? Look at that. -[Ross] It is the knockout shot.
Victoria can't believe it.
Victoria has lost to Jackie.
[Jerry] She's livid.
[Ross] There is something dark and sinister
in that woman's background, let me tell you.
Jackie has-- absolutely has no fear.
But you can see the fire in Trish's eyes.
Three very physical, very aggressive women
get it on Sunday in a Triple Threat match for the women's title.
-The Women's Champion… -[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] …going down. It's broken.
It is gonna be physically combative this Sunday at Armageddon.
[crowd cheering]
["Time To Rock & Roll" playing]
[woman laughs] Oh.
♪ Oh, it's time to rock and roll ♪
[Jerry] Well, you said it, J.R.
Let's get physical.
Oh, wouldn't you love to get physical with Trish?
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is a Triple Threat match
for the Women's Championship.
Entering the ring from Toronto, Canada,
Trish Stratus.
[Ross] She is a gangbang player as the former Women's Champion.
Certainly Canada's greatest export, King, and…
["Pretty Mean Sister" playing]
[Howard] From Dallas, Texas,
Jacqueline.
[Ross] Another former Women's Champion, Jackie.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Ross] Has had a lot of matches with men
and won a lot of them.
As a matter of fact, she didn't beat Steven Richards last week,
but she came close.
She's a tough veteran Texan.
[Jerry] I'd like to come close with either one of these young ladies.
Do you like-- do you like cleavage, J.R.?
Uh-oh.
["Brainsick" playing]
[Howard] Introducing the Women's Champion,
Victoria.
[crowd cheering]
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] Victoria jogged into the ring.
Now, remember, ladies and gentlemen, this is every woman for herself.
The first woman to score a pin or submission
-wins the match and the title. -[Jerry] Whoa.
Look at Jackie.
[Ross] And we've seen enough of these Triple Threat matches
to know that the champion, Victoria in this case,
does not have to be involved in the decision to lose her title.
[Jerry] Slow down, girls. Let me enjoy it. Savor the moment.
[Ross] For the cover, and Jackie pulling Victoria off Trish.
Again, the first person, the first lady here,
specifically to score a pinfall or submission wins the match,
wins the Women's Championship.
[Jerry] So if Trish pins Jackie, she's the new Women's Champ?
-[Ross] Yeah. -[Jerry] Oh, ow. The puppies.
[Ross] Nice leg sweep by Jackie, taking out Victoria.
And Victoria with a kickout.
Jackie earned this match by beating Victoria. Nice move.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Ross] In a non-title match a couple of weeks ago.
Again, every woman for herself.
And Trish, the young beauty from Toronto, turning the--
[Jerry] Stratusfaction.
-Hey. -[Ross] Oh, look at this.
[Jerry] Oh, no. Oh. No, Trish.
[Ross] Double suplex by Victoria and Jackie.
And Jackie going for the cover
and right to the head by this…
-this Jezebel. -[Charles] Off the hair. Off the hair.
[Jerry] The only thing worse if she had been wearing spiked heels.
Why are you calling her Jezebel?
-[Ross] 'Cause she is an evil woman. -Two! Get out.
[Jerry] Do you think she's horizontally accessible?
[Ross] Well, I don't know about that. That's your department.
I'm sure she is.
[Jerry] Or is she maybe permanently PMS-ing.
[Ross] Well, I'm sure if she is,
you'll do the appropriate undercover work to find it out.
And now Trish is in a bad spot here, obviously.
-Trish on that top turnbuckle. -[Jerry] Trish doesn't have a bad spot.
Oh, wow.
[Ross] Superplex. And crashing and burning.
-Jackie can win it here. -One, two!
[Ross] Jackie's got the-- got the near-fall.
[Jerry] She's gonna take advantage of the situation.
Have you ever known a woman that wouldn't?
-[Ross] Absolutely not. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Ross] And referee Charles Robinson now got the count, the roll-up by Trish.
She got a near-fall.
[Jerry] This is truly every Diva for herself here.
[Ross] And I'd like to see some sort of psychological profile of Victoria
and find out what has transpired in her life to make her so evil-- so evil.
[Jerry] Physical profile ain't bad either.
[Ross] I thought you might interject that.
[Jerry] One of the many services I provide out here, J.R.
[Ross] Well, we certainly appreciate it too.
[Jerry] And here we go. Oh, baby.
-Make a wish. -[Ross] And now Trish and Jackie. Man.
And now Jackie, the veteran in this matchup,
taking Trish to the outside, leaving Jackie and the champion.
[Jerry] Oh, this could do it.
[Ross] Jackie's got the cover and Victoria,
she may be an evil, witchy woman but she is…
-[Jerry] I like her wrestling attire. -[Ross] …she is tough, I'll tell you.
[Jerry] What kind of material that is?
[Ross] And a crossbody by Trish and Jackie rolls through it.
Gets the cover and got a near-fall there.
Again, because of the structure of these Triple Threat matches--
[grunts]
[Jerry] Oh, man. Oh, man.
Right in the ovals.
Here she comes.
Oh.
[Ross] The champion doesn't need to be involved to--
in the decision to lose the title.
[Jerry] And if Victoria wants to be a part of this decision,
she better get herself back in the ring if she's able.
[Ross] Victoria has been eliminated for the time being.
[Jerry] Oh, look at this.
[Ross] And Trish--
and that is some horizontal action.
[Jerry] Uh-huh.
Oh. Chick Kick.
Another one.
[Ross] Trish fighting with everything she's got to try to regain that title.
[Jerry] Oh, a big one.
[Ross] And a shot right to the head.
And Trish now with a neckbreaker.
[Jerry] These girls are unbelievable.
[Ross] Trish is building this momentum in a very, very physical match here
between these three young women.
[Jerry] I love these physical women.
[crowd clamoring]
[Ross] Would you let them beat you up?
-[Jerry] What? -[Ross] Let them beat you up?
-[Jerry] I'd call the match. -[Ross] I'm just wondering.
-[Jerry] Oh, look out. -[Ross] Oh, man.
Jackie have-- she may have taken Victoria--
and that was-- that Chick Kick, that's gotta be it there.
-Trish trying to-- -[Jerry] Get her. Get the cover.
[Ross] Trish has still got her-- well, her head's a little woozy here.
Got the cover and here comes Victoria.
[Jerry] Boy, if Trish had just been-- if she had just had her wits about her
to get on Jackie there, she would've had this thing.
[Ross] Trish could not climb aboard her.
Seems a little foggy.
[Jerry] J.R., come on. You're killing me. Climb aboard?
Oh.
[Ross] Forearm shot by Trish, taking down Jackie, and again,
-Trish with the cover. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
-What was that? -[Ross] What the hell was that?
The-- I think the title belt.
-One, two, three. -[Ross] Title shot
and Victoria walked right in the back door.
Trish did the work.
[Howard] The winner of this bout
and still Women's Champion, Victoria.
[Jerry] Well, the ref obviously didn't see.
-I didn't see it… -[Ross] I didn't either.
[Jerry] …to be honest with you.
[Ross] Now Victoria wearing that-- wearing Trish's hat.
She is obsessed with Trish and I'd love to know exactly why.
[Jerry] Watch this though. I think we're gonna see now.
Oh, there it was.
[Ross] Then she got rid of the evidence so the referee couldn't see the weapon.
["Brainsick" playing]
[Ross] And that's how Victoria retains the Women's Championship.
[Jerry] Well, she may be evil, she may be a Jezebel, but she's still pretty hot.
[Ross] Well, there'll be another day for Jackie and Trish
and the Women's Champion, I'll promise you that.
[Jerry] Take that hat.
I know it's hard for you to talk about, Brock.
I know that the memory of Survivor Series still stings, Brock.
[sighs]
You know damn well you're about to beat the Big Show and retain the WWE Title.
Brock, you did the unthinkable.
You hoisted a 500-pound man
up over your shoulders and leveled him with an F-5.
That's incredible, Brock. You had him beat.
The ref was about to count one, two, three.
But then Paul Heyman got involved
and interfered and cost you the WWE Title.
[scoffs] Brock,
if you're in my corner tonight,
you're gonna be 20 feet away from Paul Heyman.
Twenty feet away from him.
You're gonna be 20 feet away from the man that you put your trust and loyalty into.
You'll be 20 feet away from the man
that screwed you out of the WWE Title, Brock.
That's right.
If you're in my corner tonight,
you'll be 20 feet away from retribution.
Kurt,
I don't exactly know how much you were involved
with getting my suspension lifted last week,
but you won't regret it.
Does this mean you're gonna be in my corner tonight?
I said you won't regret it.
Well, maybe this will help make up your mind, Brock.
You think about it.
-[sighs] -[Tazz] Oh, this looks like
a perfect chance.
[Michael] F-5. Oh, my God.
No way. No way.
[Tazz] F-5.
[Michael] Lesnar has F-5ed 500-pounds.
And here comes the new referee.
[Tazz speaking indistinctly]
[Michael] Wait a minute.
[Tazz] What the hell is going on?
[indistinct chatter over TV]
[Michael] Brock has Show beaten and Heyman pulled-- what the heck's going on?
[Tazz] Wait a minute. I can't believe-- what the hell was that?
[Michael] Will that footage influence the decision of Brock Lesnar tonight?
[Tazz] I don't know. If I'm Brock Lesnar, this is my view.
If looks be,
I'll tell you what, I'd be in Kurt's corner.
But that's me.
[Michael] Well, Brock Lesnar promises to make an impact.
His blood has gotta be boiling.
It's decision time for Lesnar to come up.
Up next, it's the new WWE Champion, the Big Show,
against the number one contender, Kurt Angle.
[Heyman] In a lifetime, there comes along a man so special
that everyone realizes this guy is different.
This one is head and shoulders above the rest.
A man that can conquer all his fears.
My new client,
the Big Show.
We screwed Brock Lesnar.
We liked doing it.
If we could turn back the clock,
we would screw you all over again.
Brock, if you so much as lay a hand
on Paul Heyman, the Big Show,
or any other SmackDown superstar tonight
then I'll be forced…
to suspend you.
That's bull****
[tense music playing]
Brock, you're suspended.
[Heyman] So enjoy your suspension
and, tonight, you can watch Kurt Angle,
Edge, Eddie Guerrero,
and Chris Benoit battle for the right
to be the number one contender at Armageddon
for the WWE Title.
-[Michael] Here comes Kurt Angle. -[Tazz] Angle Slam.
[Michael] With the Angle Slam from the top rope,
halfway across the ring.
-[Tazz] It's over. -[Michael] The cover.
[Tazz] That's it. Goodbye.
[Michael] And Kurt Angle is going to Armageddon to meet the Big Show.
Wait a minute.
It's the champion, the Big Show.
[Tazz] Whoa.
[Michael] Chokeslam to Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Big Show and Paul Heyman
sending a message immediately to Kurt Angle.
[Michael] Big Show telling Kurt Angle
this is what's waiting for you at Armageddon.
Brock, we can help each other.
I can help you get your suspension lifted
if you can help me beat the Big Show.
Even you couldn't beat the Big Show with Paul Heyman in his corner.
If you can get my suspension lifted, Kurt…
Yeah?
I'll think about it.
[Stephanie] As of Armageddon, Brock Lesnar's suspension will be lifted.
[Michael] The WWE Title is on the line.
Can Kurt Angle beat the Big Show
Sunday at Armageddon?
[Tazz] With Paul Heyman in the Big Show's corner,
Kurt Angle's championship dreams might be just that,
dreams.
[Michael] But Kurt Angle may indeed have the wild card.
[Brock] I can't wait to see it in person.
["Crank It Up" playing]
♪ Well, it's the Big Show ♪
♪ Yes, it's a big bad show tonight ♪
[Michael] He is the largest man in the WWE
and he is the WWE Champion.
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the WWE Championship.
Making his way to the ring,
being accompanied by his agent, Paul Heyman,
weighing in at 500 pounds,
the WWE Champion,
the Big Show.
[Michael] That's Paul Heyman, the agent for the Big Show,
his eyes a little bit wider than normal tonight.
Paul Heyman wondering when Lesnar is gonna come out of the chute.
[Tazz] Oh, if your name's Paul Heyman, you better be one paranoid SOB
'cause that big, bad, nasty Brock Lesnar
is about to be ringside with Kurt Angle.
You never know what Lesnar is gonna be up to.
Heyman is wearing dark pants. You know what I'm saying?
[Michael] Those two men screwed Lesnar out of the title
-last month at Survivor Series. -["Medal" playing]
-[Tazz] And soon we're gonna find out. -[Chimel] And the challenger
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
weighing in at 237 pounds,
Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Well, there's no Brock, Cole.
I don't see him.
I don't see Brock.
[fireworks exploding]
[Michael] There is no Brock Lesnar,
but there is the number one contender,
the only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history.
Kurt Angle is focused tonight.
[Tazz] The Big Show with that massive size
and that great-- well, I hate to say great.
That evil genius mind of Heyman in his corner.
He's gonna be tough to beat.
-But Kurt Angle-- -[bell ringing]
[Tazz] Kurt Angle can do it. Kurt Angle has been WWE Champ before.
[Michael] You mentioned Paul Heyman and I gotta ask the question.
Do you think perhaps Kurt Angle,
as he tries to take the Big Show down to his size,
may be psyched out a little bit tonight?
The Big Show pinned Kurt Angle
to pick up a victory Thursday on SmackDown
in a tag team matchup thanks to Paul Heyman.
[Tazz] Yeah, Paul Heyman's a trump card.
But all I know, I've never seen-- oh, nice armdrag out of that waist lock.
[Michael] And Big Show continues the pressure.
There's the leg scissors by Kurt Angle.
This crowd behind Kurt Angle here tonight in Fort Lauderdale.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Angle!
[Michael] If you're Kurt Angle, how do you combat seven-foot,
five hundred pounds of the Big Show?
[Tazz] Not like that.
I mean, Kurt's gotta, you know--
and he's trying to go back to his amateur background,
the stuff that made him a six-time national champion.
You know, something about Kurt Angle people don't know,
he always wrestled up a weight,
when he was, you know, an amateur, but not an amateur no more.
Oh, my God. Big Fireman's Carry.
-Look at this elbow. -[Michael] Look at the Big Show.
The strength and Kurt Angle dumped over the top rope
-and I believe right onto Paul Heyman. -[Tazz] Well, right.
-[Michael] Yes, indeed. -[Tazz] That's a great thing.
I would love to see a replay of that and I'd like the footage too.
[Michael] And you see Kurt Angle--
Big Show is worried about his agent
-and Kurt Angle took advantage. -[Tazz] Oh.
[Michael] Now, there-- that is a great mindset by Kurt Angle.
Big Show is worried about his agent
and Kurt Angle snuck up behind Big Show.
[Tazz] Kurt lands right on-- right on the head of Paul Heyman.
There's a lot skin on that head, if you know what I'm saying.
[Michael] And Kurt Angle caught in midair
as he came off the top rope
coming straight to the Big Show.
And you know, Tazz, you talk about all this amateur background,
but what good is that against a man the size of the champion?
[Tazz] Well, once a man is on his back or on-- stuck on the mat,
once you get a guy down on the mat, it don't matter how big he is.
But that right there, my friend, matters how big he is.
[Michael] Yeah. But you know, that's not the case now.
Kurt Angle may not get the chance to get Big Show on the mat
because right now the champion is dominating Kurt Angle.
-[Tazz] Oh, believe me, Kurt-- -[Michael] Look. One hand.
-[Tazz] Oh, man. -[Michael] One hand.
Over the top rope.
The strength of the Big Show.
With one hand, he threw Angle over the top rope.
The Big Show wasn't even in the ring.
[Tazz] That's a former WWE Champion
in the red, white, blue on the outside that's getting manhandled.
He's also the only ever gold medal winner
and he's getting manhandled, giant-handled.
Look at this. Look at the power. One hand.
Kurt Angle flying like a-- like a bald eagle.
[Michael] Kurt Angle-- well, he asked a pretty good question last week.
I don't even know if the question was a statement.
Kurt Angle's saying basically that,
"I don't know if I can beat the Big Show without Brock Lesnar out here."
That's a pretty good point, because Big Show with a clothesline
is picking Kurt Angle apart.
And I don't believe I've ever seen Big Show focused
as he is in this matchup right now.
Paul Heyman has done wonders-- he has done wonders with this man.
[Tazz] The power behind those blows.
I mean, people can't understand.
People can't believe it.
I've wrestled the Big Show before.
Trust me, TV does this man-- this giant no justice.
[Michael] I mean, Big Show has got a 64-inch chest.
He's got a 22 5E shoe.
-[Tazz] Kurt Angle, I don't-- -[Michael] Here's the cover
on Kurt Angle, who kicks out,
just getting his shoulder up.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle just getting ragdolled right here.
[Michael] A 64-inch chest.
[Tazz] That's big. I mean I got a 63-inch chest.
[Michael] And look at Angle trying to battle back.
Those blows seemingly doing little with Kurt--
-[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Michael] What a sidewalk slam.
Hook of the leg and, oh, Angle just kicked out at two and a half.
[Tazz] Every time Big Show lays his body across Kurt Angle's,
that's, you know, tons of weight.
-How much does he weigh, 500 pounds? -[Michael] Yeah, 500 pounds.
[Tazz] Five hundred pounds across your chest and you got to kick out.
-[Michael] And look at those hands. -[shouts]
[Michael] Oh, he's like palming a basketball
with those hands on Kurt Angle's head.
[Tazz] Look at the size of Big Show's head.
Look at that head. That's wider than a typewriter.
[Michael] I tried one of Big Show's rings on today,
I can almost put three of my fingers into his ring.
[Tazz] Does Big Show know you touched his jewelry?
[Michael] Oh, he showed me.
Oh, look at Big Show as he continues this vicious assault on Kurt Angle.
But again, I got to go back to the question,
Paul Heyman, the wonders that he has done with this man.
How focused is Big Show since coming over to SmackDown?
Oh, great counter.
[Tazz] That's what Paul Heyman does so good,
he gets people motivated and finds out what brings the best out of you.
Hides your weaknesses, brings out your strengths.
If you're gonna handle-- Where the hell is Heyman?
[Michael] The Big Show catching Kurt Angle,
there it is, the Final Cut.
-Hook to the leg on Kurt-- No. -Two!
[Michael] He didn't hook the leg
and it allowed Kurt Angle to get the shoulder up, perhaps a mistake.
[Tazz] There's something great going on right now.
I think Paul Heyman's knocked out.
And if Paul Heyman's knocked out that means he has to shut up.
That's a good thing.
[Michael] But we talked about Paul Heyman being the wild card.
At this point in time, it doesn't even matter.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA
[Michael] This crowd is totally behind Kurt Angle tonight.
-[Tazz] I think they're chanting USA but… -[Michael] They are.
[Tazz] …I don't think the Big Show is a foreigner, but whatever.
Hey, we're in Florida, it's hot over here, you know.
[Michael] And Big Show with those massive arms and hands
locked around the waist of Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Small of the back, those big meat hook, frying pan paws.
[Michael] And the bear hug does what to your opponent?
[Tazz] It just squeezes the life out of you,
takes your air out of you.
I mean that's high.
Big Show has Angle's, you know, crotch area
right around his midsection and he's got him real--
[Michael] That's like five feet off the ground.
[Tazz] No doubt about it.
[Michael] Oh, look at Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle biting the Big Show, total desperation,
but perhaps it gives Angle the opening that he needs.
[Tazz] Kurt didn't learn that from the US national team, that's for sure.
-I like that. -[Michael] Kicks to the midsection,
Kurt Angle, realizing that he's battling for survival here.
Delivers an elbow to the face of the big man.
And now on the back of the Big Show, Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Big chinlock, trying to choke out the Big Show.
No matter how big you are, you got that throat,
you're gonna cut the air off to the man's brain
and that's what Angle's trying to do.
[Michael] Kurt Angle is holding on for dear life.
The big man is down to one knee.
The Big Show's face is flushed.
The Big Show may be losing it here.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle from that amateur background's got that great grip,
great hand strength.
Very tough to break that man's grip, Kurt Angle.
[Michael] And Big Show trying to make it back to his feet.
[Tazz] Look at that power, power.
[Michael] One hand and he rips Kurt Angle over the top.
And it buys Big Show some valuable time to regain his composure.
[Tazz] Big Show barely snapmaring Kurt Angle off his body
and Kurt went flying.
That's how big and strong the Big Show is.
[Michael] Shot to the midsection by Kurt Angle.
Wow, planting the Big Show, a Tornado DDT.
[Tazz] I don't know if-- I don't know if Kurt got all of that though, Cole,
but the Big Show looks like he's hurt.
[Michael] Both men are down in the middle of the ring.
The champion is in deep trouble, but can Kurt capitalize?
[Tazz] Well, here's my point, Cole,
right now the Big Show is the same size as Kurt Angle.
[Michael] Right. But can Kurt Angle capitalize?
[Tazz] I don't know that.
I can't tell the future, you know what I mean?
[crowd chanting] Angle! Angle!
[Michael] This crowd is starting to build momentum for Kurt Angle
who is crawling to his feet.
The champion's stirring as well.
Can Kurt Angle take advantage?
Can Kurt Angle become a three-time champion here tonight?
Oh, with one hand, Big Show shoving Angle away.
-But there's the quickness of Angle. -[Tazz] There you go.
[Michael] And a shot to the knee.
[Tazz] Yeah, that's what Kurt needs to do. Take the base out of the Big Show.
[Michael] The intense Kurt Angle with the right hand,
shot to the face of the Big Show.
[Tazz] A straight-up kick right to the face.
[Michael] You don't see Kurt Angle fly often,
but Kurt Angle is indeed going to the top rope.
[Tazz] We don't see that often either.
[Michael] A high-risk maneuver. And a missile dropkick.
The Big Show is down.
-Here's the cover. Will we crown… -[Tazz] The champ! The champ!
-He got it. Oh. -[Michael] …a new champion? No!
Big Show just escaping before a count of three.
[Tazz] Kurt needs to keep that pressure on him.
We might have a new champ if Kurt can keep it on him.
[Michael] Big Show with a shot to the midsection,
that might've been Kurt Angle's one chance.
[Tazz] Look at that athleticism.
[Michael] Wow! Boot across the top of the head.
Kurt Angle, cover again, hook to the leg.
Can he do it? No.
[Tazz] I think Big Show tried to catch Angle.
[Michael] "Tried to" was the operative word.
[Tazz] Right. That's what I said, he tried to.
[Michael] He caught a boot in the head.
And Kurt Angle, as you like to call him, a vicious pit bull,
leveled by a massive clothesline.
[Tazz] That's the equalizer.
That's all it takes, one shot from that big telephone pole-like limb.
[Michael] And you make a great point.
Look at all the energy that Kurt Angle exerted
just trying to get the upper hand of the match,
with one clothesline, the Big Show is back in control.
[Tazz] That's what makes the Big Show damn dangerous.
That's why he's the champion, Big Show.
[Michael] And Kurt Angle battles out, right hands.
Big Show missed his clothesline and Kurt Angle--
[Tazz] Sidewalk slam again, oh, counter.
-[Michael] No. Not-- great counter. -[Tazz] Angle Slam.
Angle Slam! Angle Slam! Angle Slam!
Kurt Angle will become champion.
-He's got it. He's got it. -[Michael] Hook to the leg.
-[Tazz] Can this be it? -[Michael] No.
-Big Show kicked out. -[Tazz] Man.
That might've been Angle's last shot there, Cole.
That might be it.
He couldn't pin Kurt-- Big Show with that Angle Slam.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] But wait a minute.
Straps are down.
[Michael] The straps are down and the ankle lock is locked in.
[Tazz] Oh, it's in.
[Michael] And Big Show reversing and with one hand
changes the momentum of the match.
[Tazz] Right around the throat.
Big frying pan hand, oh.
[Michael] Kurt Angle reversal, pulls the big man through.
The ankle lock again.
[Tazz] Right back on it, right back on it.
[Michael] Will the Big Show-- will the champion tap out?
[Tazz] It don't matter if you're a giant or not, you might have to give up to this.
[Big Show grunts]
[Michael] Big Show trying to use the referee, Mike Chioda,
to get to the ropes.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's got a lot of ankle and leg to grab.
[Michael] Big Show is desperate.
Big Show trying to roll that 500-pound frame, and he does.
[Tazz] He rolled through and kicked out.
Kicked the ref down in the process.
[Michael] Well, referee is down.
The Big Show is down, Kurt Angle is down.
-[Tazz] Wait a minute. Heyman's up. -[Michael] But wait a minute, Heyman's up.
[Tazz] He's right in front of us here. Is he gonna…
That sneaky, slimy scumbag. What is he doing?
[Michael] He's got a steel chair in his hands.
[Tazz] Oh, I see he's got a steel chair.
But where's the ref? Referee is down.
[Michael] I'll tell you one thing. All three men are down
and Paul Heyman, he tossed the steel chair into the ring.
[crowd chanting] We want Brock!
[Tazz] You hear the people, Cole.
They want Brock.
[Michael] Big Show is stirring.
The steel chair was sent into the ring by Heyman
to be used by Big Show.
But nobody has made it to the chair yet.
[Tazz] You know, with the crowd chanting "We want Brock"…
-[Michael] Oh. -[Tazz] …two seconds ago
but he's not-- he remains to be seen.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Steel chair. -[Tazz] Oh, man.
-[Michael] And a shot to the skull. -[Tazz] Oh, man.
[Michael] The Big Show, the giant has been slain.
[Tazz] Big Show's got to be knocked out. Got to be it.
[Michael] And Kurt Angle-- he's got it, no, Big Show…
-[Tazz] Oh, one hand. -[Michael] …just got out.
[Tazz] One hand, the Big Show.
[Michael] Paul Heyman cannot believe it.
[Tazz] He realized how close that championship was gone.
-Ankle lock. -[Michael] The ankle lock again
-and Big Show is tapping. -[Tazz] The ref--
[Michael] Big Show is tapping, but the referee is down.
[Tazz] Mike Chioda is down and out.
-But Kurt Angle may break the… -[Michael] Wait a minute.
-[Tazz] A-Train. -[Michael] The A-Train.
The A-Train.
[Tazz] What the hell?
-[Michael] No. -[Tazz] The backbreaker.
[Michael] Backbreaker to Kurt Angle.
The A-Train who teamed with the Big Show last week
seizing the moment again.
[Tazz] I don't even think Heyman expected the A-Train out here.
[Michael] Paul Heyman just said, "What the hell was that all about?"
Right here in front of us. That's what Paul Heyman said.
-[Tazz] Well, A-Train and Big Show running mates, running buddies.
Watching Big Show's back, A-Train is.
[Michael] But the damage was done, the A-Train with that vicious backbreaker.
[Tazz] This is bad, Cole.
This is bad, Brock Lesnar nowhere to be seen.
A-Train nailing that backbreaker on Angle, the ref's out.
[Michael] Paul Heyman…
looking on at Kurt Angle,
looking on at his client, the Big Show.
-[Tazz] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[Michael] The Big Show
is going for the kill off the Chokeslam.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Wait a minute.
-Wait a minute. -[Tazz] Lesnar.
[Michael] It's Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] F-5, F-5.
He's done it before, he's gonna do it.
[Michael] F-5 to 500 pounds…
-[Tazz] Damn! -[Michael] …of the Big Show.
Lesnar now wants Heyman.
[Tazz] Heyman, move your ass and get out of dodge.
-Go get him, Brock. -[Michael] The Big Show is down.
Kurt Angle is down.
Kurt Angle is stirring.
[Tazz] F-5 on the Big Show with ease.
[Michael] Kurt Angle is crawling.
Oh, come on.
Kurt Angle is crawling toward the champion.
[Tazz] Former Olympian can feel it, Cole.
I can feel it too.
[Michael] Kurt Angle with the cover, the hook of the leg.
-[Tazz] One, two… -[crowd] One, two…
-[Tazz] …three. -[crowd] …three.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Angle is the new WWE Champion.
["Medal" playing]
[Chimel] Here is your winner
and the new WWE Champion,
Kurt Angle.
[Michael] For the third time,
Kurt Angle has climbed to the top of the mountain.
Payback from Brock Lesnar tonight
as Lesnar screws the Big Show and Paul Heyman.
[Tazz] Lesnar, Brock Lesnar, the difference maker,
Kurt Angle capitalizing on it.
Congratulations to Kurt Angle.
He is the new WWE Champion.
[Michael] Look at the true emotion,
the true elation on Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Right here, Big Show goozling Angle.
[Michael] We would think the match was over here,
the Chokeslam, but from out of nowhere,
the newly reinstated Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] Look at this power, Cole. Look at how strong Lesnar is.
He's a freaking animal. Man, look at that.
[Michael] And then Kurt Angle would crawl,
literally crawl to a victory.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle ever the opportunist,
taking advantage right there
of the big giant known as the Big Show.
[Michael] Brock Lesnar made an impact.
Was it Brock's hatred of Paul Heyman
-or Kurt Angle's promise of a title shot… -Thank you.
[Michael] …or both, which drove Brock Lesnar to do this tonight?
[Ross] Well, certainly a great victory for Kurt Angle.
Thanks to Brock Lesnar, Angle the new WWE Champion.
As we're looking at a chilly New York City
but inside, King, at the world of the WWE's home
in New York City in the heart of Times Square,
it is a live place to be.
And there's Rob Van Dam.
And Rob, coming up next is the HBK-Triple H 2 out of 3 Falls match
for the World's Heavyweight title.
We'd like to get your thoughts on who you think will win tonight.
J.R., I've been in the ring with both of these guys, obviously.
I know what they're capable of.
No doubt, it's going to be a classic.
But, dude,
I think HBK has Triple H's number.
And personally, I would love to see it
because no one enjoys watching Triple H
get his ass beat more than
-Rob Van Dam. Yeah. -[crowd] Rob Van Dam.
[Ross] Well, thanks very much.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are just moments away,
the first fall of this 2 out of 3 Falls match, King,
will be in a Street Fight.
[Jerry] Oh, you got that right. I don't know.
I got to think that that favors Triple H.
[Ross] And then the second fall will be inside a steel cage.
[Jerry] Well, I don't know.
I got to think that that favors Triple H, J.R.
[Ross] And the third fall, if necessary, the Ladder Match.
Let's take you back, folks, to Survivor Series
when this personal animosity escalated off the page.
The first ever Elimination Chamber match is down to two men,
Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
[Jerry] I love it. These guys hate each other.
Oh, he got him.
[Ross] Sweet Chin Music.
The cover, the cover.
-He's got it. -[Jerry] No. What?
[Ross] Shawn Michaels,
Shawn Michaels is the World's Champion.
[Shawn] Triple H, how does it now feel to be the one
sitting in the hospital bed watching me
as the new World Heavyweight Champion?
[Triple H] You got something I want, Shawn,
something that belongs to me.
[Ross] What the hell is Triple H--
-[Jerry] What's he doing here? -[Ross] What the hell is he doing here?
[Jerry] These two guys, they hate each other.
They're trying to completely destroy each other.
Oh, no.
[Ross] Oh, my God, no, the backbreaker on the chair.
Shawn Michaels, look at his face.
My God, what has Triple H done to our champion?
[Triple H] Hey Shawn, you put your tail between your legs,
you go home because I am gonna force you
to admit it to yourself that now I am the man.
That now I am the one that is twice as good as you.
[Eric] Shawn, Hunter, after everything that you two have been through,
it's clear to me that your world title match at Armageddon
cannot be just a regular match.
Your world title match at Armageddon will be to 2 out of 3 Falls.
The first fall is gonna be a Street Fight.
The second fall will take place inside a steel cage.
And if it goes to a third fall,
well then, Hunter, you're gonna have a chance to compete in a match
that Shawn Michaels made famous,
a Ladder Match.
[crowd cheering]
[Eric] Shawn, Hunter, the end is near.
["The End" playing]
♪ The end is here ♪
[Triple H] Hey, Shawn, face facts, now I am the man.
I will cripple your ass.
HBK is dead.
[Shawn] You're gonna find out, Hunter,
that The Heartbreak Kid is alive and well.
You're gonna see The Showstopper.
[Ross] You talk about hatred, pure unadulterated hate
between Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
♪ The end is here ♪
["The Game" playing]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ All about control And if you can take it ♪
♪ All about your debt And if you can pay it ♪
♪ It's all about pain And who's gonna make it ♪
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is for the World Heavyweight Championship
and is scheduled for the best 2 out of 3 Falls.
The first fall will be a Street Fight.
The second fall will be held inside a steel cage.
And the third fall, if necessary,
will be a Ladder Match.
At this time, accompanied by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair,
here is the challenger,
from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing 272 pounds,
Triple H.
[Ross] Triple H is the number one contender
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Cerebral Assassin is a calculating career killer.
And tonight, The Game wants to win the world title
and he would love to end Shawn Michaels's career
-here tonight, once and for all… -[Jerry] Well…
-[Ross] …at Armageddon. -[Jerry] You're right.
We've heard it over and over, the end is near.
And The Game may be the end of Shawn Michaels.
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ It's all about control And if you can take it ♪
[Ross] This is such a personal matchup.
Yes, it's for the richest prize in our business, as far as I'm concerned,
the World Heavyweight title,
but Shawn Michaels and Triple H at one time were best of friends.
They were like brothers.
♪ I am your pain And I know you can't take me ♪
[Ross] But that-- those days are long gone.
[Jerry] They've come to an end.
Uh-oh.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
♪ I think I'm cute ♪
♪ I know I'm sexy ♪
♪ I got the looks ♪
♪ That drives the girls wild ♪
♪ I got the moves ♪
♪ That really move them ♪
♪ I send chills ♪
♪ Up and down their spine ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
[Jerry] Well, let me just say this, J.R.,
it looks like HBK,
it looks like The Showstopper.
[fireworks popping]
[Jerry] But is it really?
Or is it just Shawn Michaels?
[Ross] Well, I'll tell you what, King…
[Howard] From San Antonio, Texas,
weighing 225 pounds,
the World Heavyweight Champion,
HBK,
Shawn Michaels.
[Ross] Remember we went on Raw last week with Shawn Michaels
jumping off that semi,
driving his elbow into the black heart of Triple H
who was in-- appropriately, in that-- in that dumpster.
I think-- I think that answered our question.
Is it gonna be Shawn Michaels or is it gonna be HBK?
And senior referee Earl Hebner
will be officiating this hugely important matchup.
[Jerry] Well, I don't think it truly answered the question, J.R.
Sure, that was HBK.
That was The Showstopper jumping off the top of that semi.
But if you ask me, that was Shawn Michaels who had to lay in wait
and hit Triple H with a shovel
to get Triple H into that position.
Now, what's gonna happen when they face each other
nose-to-nose tonight?
[Ross] The only way to find out is to step back
and watch this 2 out of 3 Fall matchup.
Shawn Michaels, a proud athlete with the soul of a warrior.
[Jerry] I can't believe that Shawn Michaels
had the audacity to taunt Naitch.
You don't taunt Ric Flair and get away with it.
-He's mocking him. -Get out.
-[Jerry] Hey, wait a minute. -Get out.
[Ross] Oh, referee Earl Hebner just made--
[Jerry] What? He got him.
[Ross] He got Flair.
I think he just made the biggest call of the match already.
The bell hasn't sounded.
[Jerry] Ric Flair's been ejected?
[Ross] Flair can go take a shower.
I'm telling you, he is out.
-[Jerry] You know what, that-- -[bell ringing]
[Ross] Triple H is absolutely livid.
[Jerry] That is unfair to Flair.
[Ross] Well, I don't know if it is or it isn't,
but it's the referee's call.
The referee's call is final. And Triple--
[Jerry] Well, what did Triple H do to deserve--
or what did Flair do to deserve that?
[Ross] I don't have any idea.
-It doesn't matter. -[Jerry] Oh, yeah.
[Ross] The call was made.
And this is the first fall in this match.
It's a Street Fight.
There's no disqualifications, there's no count-outs.
The match will continue until one man either loses by pinfall or submission.
Anything goes in a Street Fight.
[Jerry] They aren't exactly wearing their street clothes.
I did hear that HBK used to walk down the street dressed like that.
[Ross] But again, these weapons are--
[Jerry] Oh, boy, here we go.
[Ross] Well, it's all legal. These two men can use anything.
[Jerry] Street Fight, that's right.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Shawn Michaels
drive that semi in here
up against the ring and try to jump off of it.
[Ross] Well, stay tuned.
You never know.
Triple H pulling that trash can from under the ring.
Again, it's legal in this environment.
And Shawn Michaels…
-Shawn Michaels dove over the top… -[Jerry] Nobody home.
[Ross] …and Triple H able to--
he stepped right out of the way
and Shawn Michaels…
[Jerry] Was Triple H just a step quicker than Shawn Michaels there, J.R.?
[Ross] Whether he was or he wasn't, it's certainly a very smart move
from The Cerebral Assassin.
It's just hard to put into words
what this comeback for Shawn Michaels has meant for so many of us.
Away from-- away from the ring for over four years, King,
after severely injuring his back, back in 1998.
[Jerry] I realize all that.
But was it a smart decision to make that comeback?
I mean, could it cost him his health in his, you know, in his later years?
[Ross] Well, I think you're--
you know the answer, yes, it could and it may,
but it's something Shawn Michaels had to do.
-[man] Kick his ass! -[Ross] As Triple H is choking away,
that big boot right in the throat of Shawn Michaels is legal,
there's nothing the referee can do about it.
The referee in this fall,
only here to count the pinfall or ring the bell for a submission.
[Jerry] They can stay out of the ring
and fight all over this building if they want, right?
[Ross] That's the way I see it.
-That's the way that the… -Come on.
[Jerry] They could-- They could go out on the street.
[Ross] Hence, the Street Fight environment.
I can't believe Shawn Michaels is coming back after over four years
not only just to be good but to be great.
Shot right back to the face.
To become the World's Heavyweight Champion.
And quite frankly, King, I don't know of another athlete in the world
that could have done that. Four years' hiatus--
-[Jerry] Look out. Oh. -[Ross] Shawn Michaels
with a crossbody, tried to connect with Triple H,
but instead connected with the trash can.
[Jerry] Got that right.
It's a Shawn Michaels move, if you ask me.
[crowd clamoring]
[Ross] Triple H for so long lived, in his view anyway,
in the shadow of Shawn Michaels in the late '90s.
I find it interesting that before Shawn Michaels was injured,
Triple H had two title reigns.
When Shawn Michaels got hurt and had to sit down for four years,
Triple H has had ten different title reigns.
[Jerry] Look at this.
Well, I think that--
what you just said proves Triple H's point.
Once Shawn Michaels was out of the way,
Triple H became the man.
[crowd chanting] We want tables!
[Ross] Yeah, but it's not the way Triple H truly in his heart,
in his heart of hearts, wanted to become the man.
[woman] Watch out, the table's coming!
-[Ross] In any event, Shawn Michaels… -[Jerry] You're the one--
[Ross] …setting this table up.
[Jerry] You're the one that said Triple H had a black heart.
Well, if that's the case, he don't care how he becomes the champion,
as long as he's the champion.
[Ross] Good point.
-[Jerry] Wait a minute. -[Ross] Facelock by Shawn Michaels
with that table set up.
The first fall of this 2 out of 3 Fall Match, a Street Fight.
[Jerry] Blocked.
[Ross] Triple H, the bigger and stronger of the two,
is the number one contender.
His size and strength came into play there.
[Jerry] That's why I say,
oh, these Street Fight rules favor Triple H in this-- in this contest.
[Ross] I'll tell you something else, King,
because it's anything goes in this first fall, in my view.
The first fall of this potential three-fall match
is the most important fall of this entire contest.
[Jerry] Do you think in your mind whoever scores this first,
whoever wins this first fall is gonna win this entire match?
[Ross] I think because of the Street Fight.
Because you've gotta believe that whoever prevails in the first fall
is gonna punish and pulverize their opponent
to where that opponent may not be able to recuperate,
no matter how resilient both these men are.
[Jerry] You got a good point.
But believe me-- oh.
-[Ross] Oh, man. -[Jerry] Man.
[Ross] The Cerebral Assassin,
he's big and strong, and he's smart.
He got his foot up, saw it coming, and shoved that trash can
right back in the face of the World's Heavyweight Champion.
[Jerry] You gotta hand it to The Game.
So far, every one of these big high-risk--
well, these patented HBK maneuvers has been thwarted.
Been thwarted by The Game, almost every single one of them.
[Ross] Michaels gotta speed up the pace of The Game,
and he comes with a crossbody.
The Game trying to-- he's trying to roll through and does…
[Jerry] And another.
[Ross] And got-- no, he got a near-fall.
That is that power and strength advantage.
And Triple H focusing on a--
on a bad wheel there, apparently,
that quadricep all taped up.
[crowd clamoring]
[Jerry] Obviously in a lot of pain, giving him a lot of problem.
But that's not gonna stop Triple H, believe me.
[Ross] His mentor and adviser Ric Flair
has been ejected from this contest.
[Jerry] Unfairly.
You can probably cut Triple H's right leg off at the knee
and he'd still compete here tonight.
[Ross] Well, he-- we've seen him come back through a great injury.
[Jerry] Now what?
[Ross] Torn quadriceps,
the trachea injury that he sustained at Survivor Series.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] And a hard right hand,
knocking Shawn Michaels down.
[Jerry] I can tell right now that The Game has something devious in mind.
Oh, here it is.
[Ross] Wait a second here.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Two tables set up from the outside.
Shawn Michaels…
-[Jerry] Again. -[Ross] …he's trying to--
he's trying to counter The Game.
-[Jerry] He did. -[Ross] He does.
That took a lot out of the champion.
But he floats over, hooks the far leg,
and got a near-fall out of it
in this first fall, Street Fight.
Remember back at SummerSlam,
Shawn Michaels's first match in over four years,
was a Street Fight.
It was against The Game
with that Harley Race-like high knee,
and Triple H lost the match
in a non-sanctioned match at SummerSlam
to Shawn Michaels in the same basic environment.
[Jerry] I realize that.
Also, look at this.
Where's Triple H going now?
But Triple H has gotta be smarter than…
well, just that last move I saw from him.
He's gonna have to avoid doing things
that can further injure that right leg of his.
[Ross] You know, I…
You gotta wonder if Triple H is able to separate his will
to be the World's Heavyweight Champion
from his personal animosity
for the man he considered his best friend.
And that's a shot right to that lower back.
And you've gotta wonder, King,
how vulnerable is Shawn Michaels's lower back
and will Shawn Michaels's back
become a crucial factor in the outcome of this match?
[Jerry] Well, it looks like it's becoming a target, that's for sure.
Nobody knows better than Triple H
the damage that HBK or Shawn Michaels's back has suffered through the years,
much of it at the hands of Triple H.
[Ross] Remember the sledgehammer attack
after Shawn Michaels beat Triple H at SummerSlam.
[Jerry] Remember what we've seen Triple H do to Shawn Michaels
using just one of these metal chairs.
-[Ross] It's all legal. -[Jerry] Think we're gonna see it again.
[Ross] And it's all legal in a Street Fight.
And look at Shawn Michaels.
Shawn Michaels countering in midair.
-[Jerry] Oh, look at this. -[Ross] Then attacks The Game.
And The Game now will find out just how it feels
to have that lower back punished as never before.
[Jerry] Well, that looked like The Showstopper to me.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels, we know he can be as controversial,
he can break as many rules inside the ring as anybody.
And a hard Irish whip
right after that backbreaker on the chair at Triple H's lower back,
that huge muscular back saving him his…
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Ross] And another hard shot.
And Michaels giving everything he's got to send The Game
for that very uncomfortable ride with an even worse landing.
[Jerry] But for the moment, The Showstopper has shown up.
Let's see if he can stay for the party.
[Ross] The longer this first fall goes
in this barbaric environment of a Street Fight
and no disqualification,
and right back to the back goes Shawn Michaels.
He won't waste any motion now.
But the longer this fall goes,
this is gonna continue to shorten the career
and take more and more out of both men.
[Jerry] I'm surprised that Shawn Michaels doesn't go after that leg.
I mean, that bandage on Triple H's right leg
should just be like a big red bull's-eye.
[Ross] Yes. But that back's gotta be the most vulnerable part
of the anatomy for The Game right now.
-Oh. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Ross] And you could see it, you could feel it.
[Jerry] I believe that garbage can metal
leaves a print of a bull's-eye on Triple H's back.
[Ross] Again, right on that lower back,
and Shawn Michaels, whose lower back caused him to retire essentially
for over four years.
And now, The Game can see exactly how that--
-how that whole thing-- -[Jerry] HBK.
Sweet Chin Music! Oh, it's blocked.
[Ross] It's blocked! Oh, man.
What a counter by The Game,
blocked the Sweet Chin Music.
And then torquing that knee and twisting the knee,
taking it down with that 265 pounds right on the knee joint.
[Jerry] I used to never see that happen to HBK.
You'd never see The Showstopper get that big super kick blocked, would you, J.R.?
You ever remember that? Look at this.
[Ross] Not very often.
But is that a testament that he's a half a step slower
or just The Cerebral Assassin's ability to counter?
[Jerry] Well, it's probably a little bit of both.
And if HBK or The Showstopper is half a step slower, believe me,
The Cerebral Assassin is gonna take every advantage of it.
-[Ross] Man. -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Earl] What do you say?
[Ross] The Game driving that knee right into the trash can and…
[Jerry] He had to submit.
-[Ross] Well, then… -[Jerry] The referee's asking.
What if he has to give up, J.R.?
[Ross] First fall would be over and Triple H would win it.
[Jerry] And do you know how long then Shawn Michaels
would last inside that steel cage?
About 30 seconds.
[Ross] I don't like his chances if that were to occur.
And again, The Game, the well-named Cerebral Assassin
focusing on that left knee of Shawn Michaels.
-Ah, God. -[Ross] Michaels attempted
the Sweet Chin Music.
It was countered into a corkscrew-like takedown by The Game,
twisting and turning on the knee joint as he dropped 265 on him.
[Jerry] You know what, you gotta realize,
if there's anybody in this game
that knows the moves of Shawn Michaels, it is The Game, it's Triple H.
[Ross] Well, there's no doubt about that.
They travel together. They train together.
They strategize together.
At one time, they were virtually inseparable,
and a chop block by The Game.
[Jerry] They formed DX together.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
[Ross] Referee again asking Shawn Michaels
if he wants to give it up, and you heard the reply.
It was a "no" emphatically.
And again, Triple H focusing on that one body part.
Boy, I tell you what, Shawn Michaels has the advantage
with the quickness and speed coming in here.
[Jerry] This will nullify it, won't it?
[Ross] It certainly will nullify it.
It is more of the smart tactics
by the number one contender.
You know, Triple H seems to me that he needs
to be the World's Heavyweight Champion to exist…
-[Jerry] Well… -[Ross] …in the WWE. He needs it.
[Jerry] …we heard Shawn Michaels say that.
Shawn Michaels certainly believes that.
That's what this is all about.
[Ross] Look at this.
Page out of the-- from Nature Boy.
[Jerry] Naitch may have gotten ejected, but he's enjoying this right now.
I'm sure he's watching on the monitor.
[Ross] Figure-four leglock applied by The Game on Shawn Michaels and…
-[Jerry] Boy. -[Ross] …Nature Boy,
Flair's handiwork coming to the front here.
[Jerry] Obviously, Flair has taught this great maneuver to Triple H.
[screams]
What do you say? What do you say?
[Ross] Michaels, I'm sure, came in here wanting to protect his back,
not thinking perhaps that his knee may be the focus now from Triple H.
And you would think back on the strategy
with Michaels having all that speed and quickness.
There's a-- The Game's got the cover!
Referee Earl Hebner found two.
-What do you say, Shawn? -No, no, no, no.
[Ross] And the pain's gotta be shooting through Shawn Michaels's body
from the-- from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.
[Jerry] Oh, you can't imagine, J.R. I've had this applied to me many times.
You can't imagine the pain that you feel from this.
I mean, just seeing it does not do it justice.
[Ross] Especially when you consider what happened…
-[Earl] What do you say? -[Ross] …preceding this figure-four.
The figure-four alone is bad enough.
The trash can,
the leg takedown,
and Shawn Michaels trying to crawl on his back,
trying to get to those ropes,
-which would at least cause a break. -Come on, Shawn.
-Come on. -Shawn, what do you say?
-[Jerry] Exactly. -Tap.
[Jerry] And Triple H
is not referring to Shawn as HBK.
He's not referring to him as The Showstopper.
He's calling him Shawn Michaels.
Come on, Shawn. Tap.
-What do you say? -[Ross] Triple H
sliding back to the center of the ring, in great position,
and Shawn Michaels's shoulders are down.
So much pain, you almost forget the shoulders are down.
They're down again and he got another near-fall.
-And Triple H, I don't think I can recall… -What do you say, man? What do you say?
[Ross] …someone remaining in this figure-four for this length of time, King.
[Jerry] Well, let me tell you something.
Well, there may be a reason for that.
You know, this is personal.
I don't think that Triple H just wants to beat Shawn.
I think he wants to drag this thing out.
I think he wants to humiliate him in the process.
Now, Shawn Michaels trying desperately to turn the-- reverse the pressure here.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels reverses the figure-four,
and The Game quickly gets himself unhooked
before the pressure becomes so great on his knees.
He would be in the same position Shawn Michaels was in.
[Jerry] Look at this. The damage, I believe, is done, J.R.
-[Ross] Michaels… -[Jerry] And now,
here comes that trash can lid again.
[Ross] Michaels has lost his speed and quickness advantage here.
The Game back up to his vertical base with that weapon.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Ross] Good God,
scrambled brains and eggs.
[Jerry] Now, who's-- who is smarter than Triple H?
Where did you think-- where did everybody…
[Ross] There's the cover. This has gotta be it here,
-and Shawn Michaels-- -Two, two.
-[Ross] Well, I tell you what-- -[Jerry] Where did you think
and where did everybody in this arena and where did Shawn Michaels think
that Triple H was gonna hit Shawn with that trash can lid?
In the knee, right?
[Ross] Yeah, I would've guessed that.
[Jerry] But where did he blast him?
He scrambled his brains, just like you said.
[crowd clamoring]
[Ross] And look at the shot of this trash can.
Listen to this.
[Jerry] Wow.
[Ross] That's scrambled brains and eggs, let me tell you,
with that shot right to the head.
And now they're on the outside.
And again, in this first fall,
the Street Fight, can't be disqualified, can't be counted out.
Shawn Michaels barely able to stand
and his bigger, stronger, more powerful adversary,
The Game now imposing his will
-on the World's Heavyweight Champion. -Shut up.
[Jerry] Oh, look at Triple H
imposing a little bit of will on the referee as well.
I don't know why the referee bothers to tell him to get back in the ring.
They can go anywhere they want now.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels's Texas-sized heart
cannot be measured in inches and pounds…
-Come on, Shawn. -[Ross] …but he is still a human being.
And when your-- when your body starts going,
when it becomes dismembered and dismantled
as Triple H is doing here,
he's still a human being
and I can't see Shawn Michaels being able to survive
in this Street Fight much longer.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Wait a minute. This is a Street Fight.
You know, where are these guys about to go?
Oh, man.
Can see where Shawn's going.
-[Earl] Hunter, what are you doing? -[Ross] Michaels head-first…
on that sheet metal.
[Jerry] Metal wall.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] King, Triple H is thinking about something here. I don't know…
[Jerry] He's got an evil mind, J.R.
-[Ross] He's got a sick mind. -[Jerry] If I were you, Shawn,
I would-- I would stumble, stagger,
do whatever, crawl if you have to
and get away from that fire, get back towards the--
[Ross] Proud of it. Uh-oh.
That 2x4 has got-- that's barbed wire.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Ross] Triple H has got a 2x4 loaded with barbed wire
and he's gonna hit Shawn Michaels right in the face with it.
What the hell is he-- is Triple H waiting on?
-[Jerry] I don't know. -[Ross] He's having second thoughts?
[man] Kill him.
[Ross] Is he showing that he's got a heart?
[Jerry] He does have a heart.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, wait a minute.
Well, maybe he's just got a better idea.
[Ross] What the hell is…
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Triple H is mesmerized by that fire.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK! HBK!
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Ross] Oh, my God.
You gotta be-- oh, my God.
You-- that's-- the 2x4 is on fire.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Ross] It's surrounded in barbed wire.
And The Cerebral Assassin
with his sights set on becoming
-the World's Heavyweight Champion. -Don't do that!
[Jerry] He did, in his own sick mind, Triple H had a better idea.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels scores a kick.
It may have been low, but maybe not.
In any event, Shawn Michaels…
Oh, wait a minute.
Now, Shawn Michaels has got that…
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Ross] My God. My God.
Shawn Michaels just hit The Game right in the face with that barbed wire.
[Jerry] That flaming barbed wire.
[crowd chanting] Holy shit!
[Ross] The flaming barbed wire wrapped around that 2x4.
[Jerry] That was sick.
[Ross] It was damn sick.
And Shawn Michaels…
[Jerry] Not only did he wanna rip Triple H's face off,
-he wanted to set him on-- look at him. -[Ross] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[Jerry] You see the blood.
[Ross] Look at this. This is…
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Ross] That is heinous.
That is heinous. And that's how high the stakes are.
And The Game has been busted open…
-[Jerry] Well… -[Ross] …at the hands of the 2x4,
the burning 2x4 and that barbed wire.
[Jerry] And now, I gotta-- I gotta face the fact here.
Shawn Michaels would never-- he's never pulled a stunt like that.
This is definitely HBK.
This is definitely The Showstopper now, J.R.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels, he did it to The Game
before The Game could do it to the champion.
And straight right hands by Shawn Michaels.
His bad back, his knee has gotta be killing him.
And look at The Game trying to create a little distance.
The Game said, "I don't know if I want any more of this."
[Jerry] And that barbed wire ripped the forehead of Triple H and that--
those flames, they just seared the flesh on his face.
Come on.
[Ross] Triple H's head bouncing off that steel ringpost like a basketball.
And the bloody number one contender now,
who had a distinct advantage…
[Jerry] Can't tell, but see if we can get a close-up.
Has Triple H's face been burned?
Burned over his eyes or his face is burned?
That could be worse than the blood.
Oh.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels with that trash can lid again.
[Jerry] I don't like to agree with you very often, J.R.,
but now that I think about it, you're right.
Whoever wins this first fall after this abuse
they've both been put through is gonna have a huge advantage.
[Ross] I say that because of the Street Fight rules
in this first fall.
And you see what these two men are taking out of each other,
out of themselves, out of their body and soul in this first fall alone.
[Jerry] Trying to absolutely destroy each other.
[Ross] All to become the world champion.
[Jerry] Oh.
-[Ross] My God. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] Jiminy, God Almighty.
That was a drop toehold
and Michaels's face crashing into that steel chair.
[Jerry] He's out. He doesn't have a clue where he is.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels, DDT.
The Game with a thunderous DDT,
taking down the World's Heavyweight Champion
in this Street Fight.
-Two. -[Ross] This first fall
of a potential three-fall match continues.
[Jerry] Could either one of these guys last three falls?
[Earl] Four.
[Ross] Triple H losing a lot of blood.
Five.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Jerry] One more look, J.R.,
just Shawn's head bouncing off that chair.
Oh, my God. Did you hear that?
[Ross] That is a sickening thud of a man's skull
against a steel folding chair.
You can't-- this doesn't sound any nastier than that.
And here comes a Pedigree.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Ross] The legal low blow
in a Street Fight.
[Jerry] You're right.
[Ross] The Game going for that Pedigree.
[Jerry] It's all legal.
[Ross] And Shawn Michaels
had elevated himself right in The Game's face,
his bloody face and the world's champion,
the number one contender are both down.
[Jerry] Oh, look at this.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels is up.
[Jerry] No. HBK is up.
Shawn Michaels is down.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels nipped up
and The Game another chop block right on that bad knee.
And now The Game trying to load Shawn Michaels up, Pedigree.
[Jerry] He got him.
[Ross] Got him with a Pedigree.
A Pedigree by The Game, the hook to the leg.
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] And Triple H wins the first fall.
[Howard] The winner of the first fall,
Triple H.
[Jerry] How big is that, J.R.?
How huge is that?
[Ross] It's very big.
We've always talked about Shawn Michaels's toughness,
his resilience.
He's a fearless competitor.
But now, he's got a bad wheel.
-And he's getting-- -[Howard] And now, the second fall
will be contested inside the steel cage.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Howard] To win the fall…
[Jerry] Here it comes.
[Howard] …you must win it by either pinfall
or escape through the door or over the top.
In either case of escape,
both feet must touch the floor.
-[Ross] So, the cage is-- -[Jerry] They don't get any rest?
They don't get any…
-[Ross] They're gonna get enough-- -[Jerry] …recover?
[Ross] The only time-- the only time they're gonna rest
is as this cage is lowering.
Pinfall or escape is the rules, as you heard.
[Jerry] Boy, and look at Triple H. How smart is he?
He's loading up this ring with weapons that he could use during this cage match.
[Ross] And this is gonna be another bloodletting if you ask me.
Shawn Michaels on one leg now,
down one fall.
Triple H may make it two out of three.
And Triple H's finest hour was a--
will be close to two years. It'll be two years in February
when he beat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin two straight falls in a three-fall match.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] It's underway.
-[Ross] The cage still being lowered. -[Jerry] It could be over.
[Ross] This will maybe-- this one--
this whole thing now may be academic, King,
with that first fall taking so much out of both men.
Well, The Game is obviously hurting,
but nothing compared to Shawn Michaels
who is down and has a--
is essentially gonna try to fight this match on one leg.
[Jerry] You're right.
Shawn Michaels is here with us now.
No doubt about that.
HBK and The Showstopper have left the building.
[Ross] Well, I wouldn't say that. I--
[Jerry] They left with that Pedigree, J.R., just like I told you.
[Ross] Well, we'll see about that.
It's not over yet.
Somebody's got to win two falls.
And right now, The Game is up one fall to none.
[Jerry] Well, I told you, if you remember back,
that the Street Fight--
that first fall being a Street Fight favored Triple H.
And now the cage favors Triple H.
[Ross] Well, Shawn Michaels beat The Game in that Elimination Chamber
back at the Survivor Series.
[Jerry] And that was a little different. That wasn't a Cage match.
Oh, look out.
[Ross] It was Eric Bischoff, our general manager,
adaptation of the-- of the cage and a catapult.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
Let's face it.
Shawn Michaels's head right into the steel cage. It's over.
He's history.
[Ross] Triple H has been an amazing competitor.
-He lined up Michaels-- -[Jerry] Uh-oh, uh-oh.
[Ross] Oh, Shawn Michaels is now busted open as well.
Shawn Michaels has been lacerated
-and that was-- -[Jerry] This steel cage,
it'll rip you worse than that barbed wire if you're not careful.
[Ross] Well, Triple H might have placed
Shawn Michaels up for that post in the middle,
-those support beams. Those braces. -[Jerry] The metal braces, sure.
That's because he's a Cerebral Assassin, J.R.
[Ross] Well, thanks.
Oh, man. Shawn Michaels now…
[Jerry] Let's watch his head go right into the cage here, J.R.
Oh, man.
[Ross] Right into that support beam and a shot now to the face.
And Triple H is a-- he's a breath or two away
from taking this thing two straight falls
and becoming once again the World's Heavyweight Champion.
How can even Shawn Michaels regroup
and take two falls from The Game?
[Jerry] Oh, look at this.
[Ross] That's clever.
That's like-- I mean, it's a cheese grater.
You're leaving Shawn Michaels's epidermis all over that cage.
-[Jerry] What? -[Ross] That's his skin.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] The outer layer.
[Jerry] Well, poor Shawn Michaels.
[crowd clamoring]
[Jerry] It's a shame to see this.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels who dominated the WWE
until he was injured in 1998.
[Jerry] That was HBK.
That was The Showstopper.
This is Shawn Michaels.
We knew this was gonna happen, J.R.
[Ross] No. We, who's we? Got a mouse in your pocket?
How did we-- I didn't know it was gonna happen.
-[Jerry] I did. -[Ross] I don't-- I'm not counting
Shawn Michaels out yet.
I still believe. I still believe Shawn Michaels.
-His heart is beating and he's got the… -[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK!
[Ross] He's got the soul of a warrior. He's not gonna quit.
[Jerry] Listen to these fans. They're dreaming.
They're hoping that HBK can come back.
Sorry, folks.
[Ross] We thought it would be Shawn Michaels's back
being a big factor in this match.
That has not been the case.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] And Michaels a step off. He's been beat up.
He's been battered. He's been fried.
-[Jerry] And look out. -[Ross] Reverses The Game.
And The Game went face-first.
[Jerry] Okay. Okay. He still got a little bit left.
Shawn's still got something left there.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels came-- coming back and becoming the world champion.
One of the great stories of all time in the WWE.
And him retaining it here, perhaps would even top that.
After what we have seen in the first fall,
Shawn Michaels off a Lou Thesz press
and Shawn Michaels now with straight right hands
on the number one contender, Triple H.
[Jerry] That's vintage HBK, I got to admit, vintage Showstopper.
But you wouldn't ordinarily see HBK just get flipped off like that
after that Thesz press and pounding those fists
into his opponent's head-- hey, he's gonna get out.
[Ross] Triple H trying to escape.
-He can win this match by escaping -[Jerry] It's over. Get out.
[Ross] If Triple H goes over the top
and both feet hit the floor, it's over
and then The Game wins it two straight.
Shawn Michaels trying to bring Triple H back in the ring.
And then you talk about no man's land,
these two on the top rope.
And Michaels sliding right down the cage.
[Jerry] Gotta keep a hold of his foot.
[Ross] Losing more skin and more hide…
-[Jerry] Get the foot, Shawn. -[Ross] …is the world's champion.
Shawn Michaels has got to stop The Game or it's over.
He's got to bring The Game back into the cage or it's over.
[Jerry] Triple H's body is out, but Shawn's got a hold of his hair.
[Ross] Triple H, both feet have got to touch the floor.
And Shawn Michaels…
[Jerry] Hey, look. Look who just…
look who just showed up back at ringside.
[Ross] That's Ric Flair back at ringside,
but the focus is on the top of this cage.
Man, whoever--
if somebody falls to the floor
and obviously, both feet would touch, this one's over.
-Look at Shawn Michaels. -[Jerry] Oh, oh, oh.
That's even worse. He's hooked.
-[Ross] Shawn Michaels-- -[Jerry] Could break his ankle.
[Ross] His other knee now getting tweaked there,
getting twisted in that cage.
Shawn Michaels trying to pull himself back up.
[Jerry] What is…
you see Triple H directing traffic. He's telling--
[Ross] What the hell is Flair doing?
[Jerry] Hey.
He's doing what he's told to do by Triple H,
but I don't know what Triple H told him to do.
[crowd clamoring]
[Ross] I know that apparently Triple H told Flair to get the tables out.
But Michaels--
Shawn Michaels now, if he escapes,
he wins this second fall, King.
[Jerry] Yeah, but Triple H has got a handful of hair.
[Ross] Triple H holding on.
[Jerry] What is this?
[Ross] Holding on again and now pulling Michaels.
[Jerry] What is Flair doing?
He's setting up a third table, J.R.
[Ross] But what happens if The Game is--
if The Game goes off the top of the cage
and goes through those tables, he wins this match.
It's escaping.
If you escape the cage and both feet touch the floor, it's over.
That counts as an escape.
[Jerry] Maybe The Game is trying to figure a way to…
I don't know, break his fall
if he rolled down and climbed down on those tables, I don't know.
[Ross] Michaels has got The Game back inside the cage now.
Flair set up three tables.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] That's bad.
[Ross] That's not what Flair wanted to see.
It's not what Triple H wanted to feel.
[Jerry] Look at this, Earl Hebner is livid that Flair is back out here.
But I don't think there's a thing he can do about it
as long as he's inside in that cage.
[Ross] Earl has got bigger fish to fry here now
-in trying to adjudicate this contest. -[Ric] Move! Move!
[Jerry] What now?
[Ross] And Shawn Michaels,
HBK, that's a Showstopper move.
[Jerry] Okay. I'll give him that.
He pulls one out every now and then.
He reaches way down deep and pulls one out.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] You see, this is part of the HBK persona
-that is not good. -Hey.
-[Jerry] He's wasting time. -Come on.
-[Jerry] What's Flair doing? -[Ross] What the hell is--
Flair, well, that son of a bitch does not belong in that cage.
[Jerry] Don't call him that.
[Ross] He has no business being in there at all.
Shawn Michaels is now--
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] It's two against one.
[Jerry] Wait a minute.
Shawn Michaels is beating the hell out of poor Ric Flair.
[Ross] If Triple H escapes, it's over.
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Ross] Out the door.
Triple H was halfway out the door and now Flair has got a chair.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] And Shawn Michaels took Flair's--
oh, my God.
[Jerry] It's one against two and one is winning.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels just went deep on two occasions,
to the opposite field on Flair.
-[Jerry] Oh, look out, Flair. -[Ross] Now Flair is bleeding.
Flair just got just exactly what he deserves.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. Watch it. -[Ross] Look at Flair's face.
[Jerry] Oh, Flair, his face.
[Ross] The former 16-time world champion
has gotten too close to the fire
and he'll realize you better not hook, Flair,
what you can't kill.
[Jerry] Oh, this is bad.
[crowd] One, two, three, four, five
[Jerry] Come on, referee. Do your job, eject him,
come on, get Flair out of there. For his own good.
[Ross] Flair is a bloody mess,
but you can't be disqualified in a cage match.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And the-- and The Game who just got back to his feet.
[Jerry] He won the first fall with a Pedigree.
Triple H-- oh.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels countered the Pedigree in a back body drop.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Ross] The Sweet Chin Music on Flair.
[Jerry] It's a handicap match.
[Ross] And, oh, he got the shot in.
The Sweet Chin Music on Triple H.
[Jerry] It's a handicap cage match.
[Ross] Oh, Shawn, you gotta cover him.
You gotta cover Triple H.
[Jerry] No, I think Shawn wants to--
he wants to inflict some punishment.
He wants to humiliate Triple H.
[Ross] This could be a huge mistake for Shawn Michaels in this cage match.
There's no doubt he can pin Triple H right here.
[crowd clamoring]
[Jerry] What's he got in mind?
What's Shawn Michaels gonna do here?
[Ross] Michaels down one fall to none in this potential three-fall match.
We're in the second fall in this cage match.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Ross] Well, just as The Game wanted to cripple Shawn Michaels,
to put The Showstopper back in a wheelchair.
[Jerry] This is not smart.
Why don't you just go ahead, climb out of the ring,
win this fall, take your chances on the third,
try to remain the champion? But no, HBK had to show up.
-The Showstopper had to please the people. -[Ross] Oh, my God. Oh, King.
[Jerry] He's gotta defy it all that right here.
[Ross] This is…
[Jerry] Oh, my…
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Right through the table.
-Right to the black heart. -[bell ringing]
[Ross] And Shawn Michaels evens it all up
-at one fall apiece. -[Howard] The winner of this fall,
evening this bout at one fall apiece,
-Shawn Michaels. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And now…
[Ross] And now it's a Ladder Match.
[Jerry] We've said if necessary. It's just become necessary.
And I said that--
I said that the Street Fight favored Triple H
and I said the cage match.
[Howard] And now, the third and deciding fall
will be contested as a Ladder Match.
[Jerry] Shut up, Howard Finkel. We know that.
The second fall, the cage match I thought favored Triple H,
but even I have to admit,
the ladder match favors Shawn Michaels.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels had the first Ladder Match--
My God. Look at Flair.
[Jerry] Oh, he's a wreck.
[Ross] Flair is a-- his face is a crimson mask.
[Jerry] Ugh.
-Hospital time. -[Ross] Get his ass out of here.
My God, this is amazing.
-This is scary. -[Jerry] Look at this.
[Ross] What kind of internal injuries could that move have…
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] …had on both men?
[Jerry] On both men is right but…
-[bell ringing] -[Jerry] …Shawn Michaels able
to immediately hook the leg of Triple H and get the pin.
[Ross] And the World's Heavyweight Championship
has Ric Flair being escorted back to the locker room.
He's gonna need some medical attention.
Shawn Michaels…
bringing that huge ladder in the ring,
Michaels has been bloodied, so is The Game.
We are down to the final and deciding fall
and will determine who would be the World's Heavyweight Champion.
[Jerry] And look, J.R.
The World Heavyweight Championship belt is being hoisted up in the air,
high up in the air.
Well, better get that belt up there before Shawn gets it.
If he gets it now, it's over.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels, stacking that ladder in the corner,
and it's Michaels and The Game.
It is a true gut check,
here deep, deep in the fourth quarter
of this World Heavyweight Championship match.
[Jerry] Fourth quarter? It's the third fall, J.R.
Look out.
[Ross] Oh.
Man, that ladder is-- as we have said, that steel, the steps, the posts,
the cages, the ladders, so unforgiving.
The steel doesn't give a damn about an individual's anatomy.
[Jerry] Well, believe me, Shawn Michaels doesn't give a damn
about Triple H's anatomy and vice versa.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Ross] These two men have proven
-their innate toughness… -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
-[Ross] …time and time again here. -[Jerry] Look out.
[Ross] And Michaels ramming that ladder right to the head of The Game.
[Jerry] That's about like getting hit by a car I would think.
Oh, man.
-[Ross] Much like getting a-- -[Jerry] Look out.
-Oh. -[Ross] Oh.
Throwing that ladder out on The Game, a little adding insult to injury.
The Game is still bleeding profusely,
the number one contender almost like a junkie,
needing that World Heavyweight Championship
to simply survive in his life.
[Jerry] Well, that's on-- that's Shawn Michaels's assumption.
[Ross] Well, look at this. The ladder down.
Oh, this is gonna be ugly here.
Oh.
[Jerry] Oh. Oh.
-[Ross] Triple H tried to-- -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Ross] He tried to twist his body away from that ladder…
-[Jerry] But he still-- -[Ross] …but to no avail.
[Jerry] That probably made it worse.
His side landed right on the edge of that ladder. Ugh.
[Ross] And now Shawn Michaels has got a-- he's got a worn leg.
He's done everything he could do physically and mentally
to survive the first two falls of this--
the slobberknocker of slobberknockers tonight here at Armageddon.
[Jerry] What's he gonna do?
[crowd clamoring]
[Ross] Well, King, who do you think showed up here?
Tell me, is it Shawn Michaels or is it The Showstopper?
[Jerry] All right. All right.
Well, he arrived late, but Showstopper's here now.
[Ross] You're damn right he's here.
And his heart's beating stronger than ever.
And Shawn Michaels, what is he doing?
He can't reach the-- that title belt from there.
[Jerry] I'm telling you.
Or maybe he wants to hit them both.
-[Ross] Oh-- -[Jerry] Grab that belt in one fell swoop
-and fall right on-- no, look out. -[Ross] Oh, my God.
Oh. Shawn Michaels, going for a big splash
and The Game able to barely,
and I mean by inches, avoid most of the contact.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] And that may come back and haunt HBK.
[Jerry] He had the chance.
If he'd only,
oh, taken that same amount of time…
Look at this one more time.
Oh, that's like-- oh.
That's the Wile E. Coyote camera.
[Ross] Man, what a-- what an abrupt stop that Shawn Michaels--
[Jerry] That was just like he just landed with a splat, J.R.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels's carcass came.
And now The Game…
-[Jerry] This is it. -[Ross] …is looking for a Pedigree
and got his Pedigree again,
the bloody challenger for the World's Heavyweight title.
[Jerry] I told you it was Shawn Michaels that was here tonight.
I told you all along.
[Ross] You didn't say that. You just--
You change your mind more than an old lady.
[Jerry] What?
Look at this now.
-[Ross] Triple H-- -[Jerry] This is what Shawn Michaels
should've done just a few moments ago.
If he'd taken that same amount of time and just set that ladder up
instead of trying to do that huge splash on Triple H
and grab that championship belt,
he'd still be the World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Triple H is not gonna waste any time.
He's going right after the prize.
[Ross] Triple H has got that ladder
right under the World's Heavyweight title belt.
This is the third and deciding fall.
We're all even at one fall apiece here at Armageddon.
The number one contender now,
slowly on that bad leg.
[Jerry] Well, what do you expect?
You think he's gonna be able to climb up that ladder with ease?
I'm surprised either of these guys can stand up or walk.
[Ross] I am too. I wasn't complaining.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Ross] And Shawn Michaels now
trying to grab both feet of The Game.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Shawn Michaels holding on to what may be the last step
before losing the World's Heavyweight Championship
if he can't get The Game off that ladder.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Ross] And he does.
-Shawn Michaels-- -[Jerry] He got The Game off the ladder.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels jerking the number one contender down.
-Oh. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Ross] Oh. What a-- what a shot.
And this-- this has gotta be over now.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels's Sweet Chin Music takes The Game to the outside.
[Jerry] Does he have enough left?
Does Shawn-- does HBK or The Showstopper
have enough left to get up now that Triple H is incapacitated?
[Ross] We've talked for years about Shawn Michaels's resiliency,
his will to win.
And what better-- the supreme test is here and now.
With a bad wheel,
losing blood,
having the hell beat out of him in that Street Fight,
Shawn Michaels is just three or four steps away…
[Jerry] He's gonna make it.
[Ross] …from getting to the top of the ladder.
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels is gonna do it.
[Ross] Can you believe this?
[Jerry] Triple H is not even in sight.
[Ross] The comeback after four years was extraordinary.
-[Jerry] Three-- -[Ross] And now this.
-[Jerry] Three more steps. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] He's gonna do it.
Shawn Michaels is gonna do it.
-[Jerry] He's got it. -[Ross] He's touching his title--
-Oh, wait. Oh, my God. -[Jerry] No. Oh.
-Good God Almighty. -[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Shawn Michaels taken off that ladder,
going through three tables.
The tables set up by Triple H's adviser, Ric Flair.
[Jerry] Is he even breathing?
I don't think he's breathing.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels has crashed and burned
thanks to The Game and that 12-foot ladder.
[Jerry] I don't think Shawn is breathing. He's-- Check him.
[Ross] Triple H doesn't give a damn
if Shawn Michaels ever takes another breath,
if he ever holds his title,
if he ever sets foot in a wrestling ring as long as he lives.
-[Jerry] You're right. -[Ross] The Game only cares about himself
-and being the World Heavyweight-- -[Jerry] This is all he wants to hold.
-Right there, he's got it. -[bell ringing]
[Ross] And The Game has done it.
["The Game" playing]
[Ross] By golly.
-My God, what a match. -[Howard] Here is your winner
and new World Heavyweight Champion,
Triple H.
[Jerry] Get the paramedics, get some help for Shawn Michaels.
[Ross] Both these men may never be the same.
[Jerry] Help Triple H. He's bleeding profusely.
[Ross] Both these men may never be the same.
And look at The Game embracing the World's Heavyweight title belt
like it was a lifesaving organ.
♪ I am the game And I make the rules ♪
♪ So move on outta here ♪
[Ross] My God, I'll tell you what, folks.
You got your-- you got your dollars' worth here tonight out of this event.
[Jerry] Unbelievable.
[Ross] The Game has lost some blood.
He may have taken months off his career too.
[Jerry] Can we see this again?
[Ross] This is what changed the whole thing around.
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels thought he had it,
now he's trying to hold on for dear life.
-And-- oh. -[Ross] Oh, my God.
[Jerry] That looked even worse the second time.
[Ross] Off the top of that ladder,
and here you are looking at it again.
There is Shawn's face.
[Jerry] Oh. Ugh.
[Ross] That may have ended
Shawn Michaels's career.
And it was done at the hands of The Game, King.
-[bell ringing] -[Jerry] But the hands of The Game
are able to grasp the biggest prize in the game.
He's the World Heavyweight Champion, J.R.
[Ross] It is a-- what an amazing performance by both men.
But tonight,
Triple H is the World's Heavyweight Champion once again.
And tonight, ladies and gentlemen, at Armageddon,
Triple H is just that damn good.
[music concludes] hat damn good.