[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] Lines will be drawn.
Sides will be chosen.
Armageddon.
An epic war…
between the kings of the earth
at the end of the world.
Where warriors stand on the front line,
ready to fight for glory,
for a dream,
for what is this.
To wage war, to the bitter end.
For gold.
And when it's all over…
[woman] Will anything remain?
[rock music playing]
[fireworks explode]
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Many of the scintillating final battles of 2008
between foreseen good and evil culminate tonight
on the WWE extravaganza known as Armageddon.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[singer] ♪ Oh, yeah ♪
["Live For The Moment" playing]
[bell rings]
[Justin] This match is set for one fall.
Originally from Cameron, North Carolina,
weighing 236 pounds, he is the ECW Champion,
Matt Hardy.
[crowd cheering]
[Todd] You're looking, ladies and gentlemen,
at the ECW Champion, Matt Hardy.
Alongside Matt Striker, my name is Todd Grisham.
And, Striker, Matt Hardy's never been one to back down from a challenge,
including tonight.
The time-tested battle of right versus wrong comes to us this evening.
The repercussions of Armageddon are going to be felt for quite some time.
[singer] ♪ I can dry up a sea, yeah ♪
[Todd] Well Matt Hardy has had a run-in with the Moscow Mauler, Vladimir Kozlov.
It started a few weeks ago and it got really heated
Friday night on SmackDown.
[Striker] The undefeated Vladimir Kozlov made the challenge to Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy accepted,
and after the cutting Edge this Friday on SmackDown,
Matt Hardy paid the ultimate price at the hands of Vladimir Kozlov.
Matt Hardy defending his brother Jeff's honor,
brings us to where we are right now, Armageddon,
the undefeated Vladimir Kozlov
against the ECW Champion, Matt Hardy.
[singer] ♪ I can slap a tornado ♪
[Todd] There is Matt Hardy, your champion,
and tonight, one of the biggest challenges of his career.
["Pain" playing]
[Justin] And his opponent, from Moscow,
weighing 302 pounds, Vladimir Kozlov.
[Todd] The facts are pretty straightforward and simple,
Vladimir Kozlov has not been pinned eight months since joining WWE.
[Striker] Undefeated, named the breakout star of the E Era,
achieving a Slammy Award,
and he is physically dominating, the undefeated Vladimir Kozlov,
and he has his sights set on Matt Hardy.
["Pain" continues playing]
[Todd] Kozlov's English isn't exactly fluent,
but it hasn't had to be yet.
[Striker] Well, Kozlov speaks a mixture of Ukrainian and Russian,
but he speaks with actions in the ring, as we will see in a moment.
[inaudible]
I'll destroy you tonight. Like I did before.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
-[Elias] Ring the bell. -[bell rings]
[Todd] Certainly one of the most intimidating stares in all of WWE,
the icy cold eyes of the Russian.
[Striker] Let's remind our fans, Vladimir Kozlov jumped the barricade,
neglected to go through the proper channels
coming over from SmackDown to ECW.
General manager Teddy Long of ECW cites the fact
that Vladimir Kozlov has never had a match in an ECW ring.
Therefore, this is a non-title contest, but it goes beyond that.
This is personal.
-[Vladimir grunts] -[crowd cheering]
[Todd] It all started because basically
Matt Hardy did a favor for his brother, Jeff,
Vladimir Kozlov had to beat Matt Hardy in less than 12 minutes and 13 seconds.
He could not do it
and was not named the number one contender for the WWE title.
[crowd chanting] Hardy. Hardy. Hardy.
[Elias] Hey! Get off, Kozlov. One. Back up.
-Two-- back now! -[Vladimir shouts indistinctly]
[Todd] The strength from the Russian.
Very few men can go toe to toe strength-wise with Vladimir Kozlov.
What's your game plan here if you're Matt Hardy, Striker?
[Striker] Well, Matt-- wait, hang on a second.
[Todd] The roll-up shoulder's down for a brief second, if that.
[Striker] Matt played a cat and mouse game with Vladimir Kozlov.
Matt knows that Vladimir is prepared for that strategy.
I expect Matt to come at Vladimir with everything he has.
[Todd] Another roll-up, a two-count this time,
and all of a sudden, Kozlov is a little bit rattled it seems.
Matt Hardy's game plan working pretty well.
[Striker] Until right there of course.
There you see those throws and those strikes,
that's indicative of Vladimir Kozlov's background in something called sambo.
As Matt Hardy strikes the ring post there.
[Elias] Back him out of there.
[Striker] You see Vladimir using his head as a weapon, his shoulders,
that battering ram that we may see here tonight,
that's what's kept the Moscow Mauler undefeated.
[Todd] Not only sambo, but judo, kickboxing,
anything Vladimir Kozlov has tried to do,
he's been very successful, in fact, the best in the world.
And he says WWE is next.
[Striker] Look at this, just brute force as bone meets steel,
and I don't need to tell you what's going to win there.
Look here now. This is a submission maneuver.
It's a bicep cover with a key lock.
Vladimir Kozlov is looking to inflict punishment.
[crowd chatters]
[Todd] Matt Hardy's had hundreds,
if not thousands of matches over his career,
has he faced a superstar quite like Kozlov?
[Striker] It's a great question.
Some would say
that Vladimir Kozlov is Matt Hardy's toughest opponent ever.
Personally, I think it's the striking power of Kozlov
that's the difference between Vladimir Kozlov
and say, Mark Henry
that Matt Hardy has had some issues with in the past as well.
[Vladimir grunting]
[Todd] Kozlov programmed to fight since he was a young boy.
Rumor has it, the former USSR targeted him at a young age
and put him in training camps at the age of six.
[Striker] That-- that's contributed to the straightforward
traditional Eastern European style of Vladimir Kozlov.
He just comes straight at you like a tank rolling through the Red Square.
[Vladimir grunts]
-[Todd] Oh. -[Striker] Wow.
Jerk a shoulder right out.
[Todd] Shoulders are down for Matt Hardy,
the first cover attempt by Vladimir Kozlov.
Armageddon being viewed in over 80 countries around the world
by our WWE Universe, including Spain, Germany,
Brazil, Syria, and on SKY Sports in the United Kingdom.
[Striker] Sure they're watching in Kiev and other places around the world.
[crowd chanting] Hardy. Hardy. Hardy
[Striker] Todd, this past Friday on SmackDown,
Eve got a word in with Vladimir Kozlov.
Kozlov is cyborg-like.
He seems void of any emotion,
ooh, including remorse.
[Todd] Well, right now he's eliciting the emotion of pain
as Hardy continues to fire away.
But how about that for a head-butt right into the chest?
[Striker] There's those battering ram-like strikes from Vladimir Kozlov,
that what makes him hard to prepare for.
You-- hang on a second here, it could be it.
[Todd] Hooking the leg is Kozlov.
[Striker] He's gotta hook him deeper, use all his weight on top of Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy's the ECW Champion.
[Vladimir yells]
[Matt groans]
[Todd] Perhaps the most famous US-Russia sporting matchup was back in 1980
with the US defeating the Soviet Union in Olympic hockey,
the "Do you believe in miracles?" match,
and while a win tonight by Matt Hardy wouldn't be described as a miracle,
it'd certainly get a lot of people's attention.
[Striker] Well, hang on. I beg to differ.
No one has been able to defeat Vladimir Kozlov.
So on a wing and a prayer,
a miracle might be what Matt Hardy needs.
[Todd] ECW Champion, Matt Hardy has vowed to try
and be the greatest ECW Champion ever,
and that includes taking on all challengers.
And Vladimir Kozlov may have just defeated Hardy, but a kickout at two.
[Striker] Vladimir is diligent in his strategy here.
Look at that, just beating upon Matt.
He's working on that left arm going back to that hold as we know,
Matt likes to use the Twist of Fate, Matt likes to use the Side Effect,
how does an injured left arm compromise Matt Hardy's attack tonight?
[crowd chatters]
[Todd] Kozlov's style certainly won't win any beauty contests,
he's all about brute strength and force.
And right now, it's doing the job against Hardy.
[crowd chatters]
[Striker] He's like a trained machine, Vladimir Kozlov.
Programmed to be a great star, great for superstardom.
I'm sorry, Todd, go ahead.
[Todd] I was going to say, it looks like Hardy contemplating
tapping out there as the Russian hooking that arm.
And Hardy looks exhausted and beat-down right now.
[Striker] See the welts and the bruises on the arm,
we have no idea what's going on internally in that AC joint,
the labrum, the shoulder, the tendons.
Hang on.
[Todd] Hardy getting a reprieve.
Buying some time and immediately
wandering over to that corner.
What does Hardy have in store now?
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] Oh.
What kind of toll does that take out of Matt Hardy though?
See, he was reluctant, apprehensive there.
That arm's got to be hurting Matt.
[Todd] And now it's Kozlov being deposited outside.
[Striker] Smart move. Smart move.
See, I admire Matt Hardy's heart, but the question is judgment here.
Take a second and-- oh.
[Todd] Hardy slamming Kozlov's forehead
right into that steel ring post, and again.
And that'd be-- maybe the only thing that can get Kozlov's attention.
Flesh on steel.
[crowd chatters]
[Striker] Matt has to turn this around now.
This has to be the opening for the champion.
[Todd] It's the Side Effect.
Hardy with his best opportunity to get the win of the match.
The leg is hooked, and a two-count.
[Striker] Matt hooked with the left arm, I wonder if he hooked with the right arm
could he have kept the big Russian down.
[Todd] You could see that left arm has been cut open.
Flesh exposed.
[Striker] That's resorting to some aggressive tactics here.
There's a personal issue here.
Let's not forget, this is about Matt Hardy defending his brother's honor,
and that Vladimir Kozlov questioning Matt's manhood.
[Todd] Hardy, look like he was setting up for the Twist of Fate.
Kozlov escapes. Oh, God.
[Striker] An open palm strike to the neck.
[Todd] And no emotion shown at all by Kozlov.
Two.
Did he get the rope in time?
I believe he did. Hardy stays alive.
[Striker] Vladimir should pull him out to the middle of the ring.
Championship presence for Matt Hardy.
[Todd] He's trying to now, and does.
[Striker] That shoulder has to be dislocated.
What does that feel like?
-[Todd] Hardy. -[Striker] The roll-up.
This is it, no.
[Todd] Hardy exhausting all options at this point
to somehow, some way get a win
over the previously unbeaten, Vladimir Kozlov.
[Striker] Todd, have we ever seen any superstar
take Vladimir Kozlov to this limit?
[crowd chatters]
[Striker] Oh.
-Other than The Game, Triple H-- -[Todd] Whoa, hold on, hold on.
Hardy hit the top of that ring post,
the exposed ring post.
[Striker] Hardy might be out on his feet.
-[Todd] I think he is. -[Striker] Good observation.
[Todd] That wasn't the turn buckle, that was the ring post,
and Vladimir Kozlov now is in complete control.
[Striker] Yeah, Matt's rubbery leg, good observation.
[Todd] Up and down goes Hardy.
And ladies and gentlemen, that's gonna do it,
I think for the ECW Champion,
Kozlov wins again.
[Justin] The winner of this match, Vladimir Kozlov.
[Striker] Wow.
Vladimir Kozlov displayed power and aggression,
that's the ECW Champion laying flat on his back.
Vladimir Kozlov has sent a message, still undefeated.
A great, great fight out of Matt Hardy,
take nothing away from Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy giving all he could give, but in the end,
Kozlov and that steel ring post proved to be too much.
[Striker] Could have been the beginning of the end here,
Matt going for a Twist of Fate, that left arm compromised here.
The toe going into the face of Vladimir Kozlov,
and then the beginning of the end as the tide turns,
Matt Hardy's head will bounce off the ring post.
Just watch.
Right there, right underneath the chin,
Matt was out, that battering ram-like
head-butt knocking the wind
out of an already dazed and confused Matt Hardy,
and then this-- what is this? A chokeslam mixed with a spinebuster?
Two of the most effective moves in our industry,
spells the end for Matt Hardy.
[Todd] So Kozlov's power surge continues,
and you've got to ask the question,
if the ECW Champion can't slow him down,
then who can?
["Pain" playing]
You know what, it's fitting,
Matt makes all those accusations about me, then two days later,
he's getting demolished by a Russian.
Babe, karma is a wonderful thing.
Yeah, it is. It is.
But listen, babe, I should probably go, I have to get ready for my match.
-Okay, be safe. -Okay.
-Good luck. -Uh-hmm. Thanks, babe.
Bye.
See you later, Edge.
Vickie, can I-- can I ask you a question?
Sure.
How did you two do it?
Do what?
You know, how did you two take out Jeff Hardy in that hotel
the night before Survivor Series?
Chavo, I have told you a thousand times,
Edge and I were not involved.
Vickie, Vickie, come on, it's me, Chavo, right?
Come on. We're family.
We're familia, familia sticks together.
-You should tell me. -Chavo, Chavo,
stop asking all these annoying questions
and go fetch my cup of coffee that I asked for five minutes ago.
Two sugars.
Oh, wait, Chavo, wait, I'm sorry.
Look…
make that two Splendas.
I'm trying to watch my figure.
I got it.
But you know, Vickie…
if you two did have something to do with it,
I promise, I wouldn't tell a soul.
I promise.
Oh, Chavo, that's great, but there's nothing to tell.
So, coffee,
please. Now.
Well our general manager's nephew brings up a great provocative question.
Who did it?
Well, that's the question, and we're going to ask you,
the WWE Universe, that exact question
and get your opinion on who you think did it.
Who do you think did it by the way, J.R.?
[Ross] You know, I'm not gonna speculate on our--
but tonight, we're asking folks, the WWE mobile text voting.
They've got four options there as you see, ladies and gentlemen to text.
There's an Edge option, a Triple H option,
the big Russian Kozlov and other.
[Tazz] Well, yeah, oddly both Triple H and Edge had motive,
but so did Kozlov, or maybe it's somebody else, who knows?
We'll find out what the universe thinks.
[giggling]
Hornswoggle.
Okay. Okay.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, calm down.
Eve, I'm really sorry, nights like this, he gets real excited.
-I'm really sorry. -That's okay, I understand.
-Calm down. -All right. Well, happy holidays
to the both of you. Happy holidays, little guy.
Merry Christmas.
-[grunts, laughs] -[shrieks]
Hey, listen, son, um…
I need you to stay back here tonight.
Listen, I don't want you getting hurt,
and the safest place for you would be just to stay right here.
No, no, no, no, no. Listen, you'll be safer back here.
Okay?
[Lilián] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 2008 King of the Ring,
and the Intercontinental Champion, William Regal.
[Michael] Along with Layla, of course Regal will face the winner
of this Intercontinental Championship tournament.
[bell ringing]
The following is the final match
in the Intercontinental Championship tournament.
-["Booyaka 619" playing] -[singer] ♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
-♪ 619, 619 ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[singer] ♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
♪ That's my pueblo ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
♪ That's my pueblo ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
♪ Rey Mysterio ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
[Lilián] Introducing first, from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 175 pounds,
Rey Mysterio.
[fireworks explode]
[Michael] Well, current champion William Regal asked Stephanie McMahon
to establish this tournament to make sure his next challenger is deserving.
[Jerry] Well, I don't think William Regal's going to be disappointed.
As a matter of fact, every contender in this tournament was deserving.
[Michael] And this is the road to the finals
of this Intercontinental Championship tournament.
Rey Mysterio defeating Kofi Kingston and also The Miz to get here.
His opponent CM Punk getting by John Morrison and Snitsky.
["Booyaka 619" continues playing]
[Michael] For Rey Mysterio, a former world champion,
he looks forward to this match tonight, King,
because it takes him one step closer to perhaps battling for a championship
he's never held before, that's the Intercontinental title.
[Jerry] Well, there you see it.
Held by William Regal-- well, actually, held by Layla,
but of course the champion, William Regal.
I remember when we were in Manchester, England,
William Regal standing victoriously before all of his countrymen
telling them that he was going to proudly go all over the world
and defend that Intercontinental title.
[Michael] Vowing to bring prestige and honor in his words
back to that championship.
[Jerry] Well, to me, that young man could bring a lot of prestige and honor
to the Intercontinental title as well.
[crowd chatters]
["Cult of Personality" playing]
[Lilián] And from Chicago, Illinois,
weighing in at 222 pounds,
CM Punk.
[Michael] Well, CM Punk is no longer one-half of the World Tag Team Champions.
CM Punk and Kofi Kingston losing the gold last night
at a WWE live event in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
You go to WWE.com for all the details.
Great pictures, King, and we're going to take a look
at how it all happened last night.
[Jerry] All right. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
the two-time Slammy Award-winning team of Miz and Morrison
added some more gold to their-- well, they're on a roll, these guys.
There's the double-team action there on CM Punk.
[Michael] And Miz and Morrison, as they say, take their rightful place
at the top of the WWE Universe, as the new World Tag Team Champions.
I can't wait to hear the dirt sheet on WWE.com this week.
[Jerry] There they are with the World Tag Team titles
and sporting the Slammy as well.
["Cult of Personality" continues playing]
[Michael] For this matchup here tonight at Armageddon
is for an opportunity to battle William Regal
for the Intercontinental Championship.
Two former world champions meeting for the first time ever,
CM Punk and Rey Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Jerry] All right. A show of mutual respect.
You know, Mike, I have been looking forward to this match all week
because, I mean, we talk about Armageddon,
so much of Armageddon is about, as J.R. said, the perceived good
against evil and ending those conflicts, but tonight, this match,
these are two good guys, both of these guys.
Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, I mean, you can't find better athletes,
can't find better people.
[Michael] First cover of the matchup, and Rey Mysterio rolls through.
Punk versus Mysterio.
You see Rey Mysterio and you notice, King, his wrist is not taped here tonight.
He had torn ligaments in that wrist a couple weeks ago
after an assault by Mike Knox.
And look at Mysterio roll through on Punk and a kickout.
The reason for not having it taped,
I don't think it's healed quickly, perhaps psychological?
[Jerry] Well, we always know.
I don't know if-- I don't know if Rey would have worried about it
in this particular match.
But, usually if you go into a match and you've got an injury,
you've got some part of your body taped up,
it's like a bull's eye, it's like a target for your opponent.
[Michael] CM Punk.
This had ought to start things off against Mysterio.
Again, the Intercontinental Champion, William Regal, looks on at ringside,
he will face the winner.
CM Punk got a big night this past Monday night on Raw,
he won the Slammy Award for the "Oh my God" moment.
[Jerry] Yes, he did, but you know, you can't help but think that,
you have to know that losing the World Tag Team titles
has to be on his mind.
[Michael] Mysterio floats through and CM Punk,
great chain wrestling as we start this matchup off
between these two former world champions.
CM Punk won the world title back in June,
his first night on Raw after the draft, cashing in Money in the Bank.
[Jerry] What a night that was.
[Michael] Held that world title till September.
And he really had it taken away from him after a punt from Randy Orton.
Who will ever forget this Cinderella story of Rey Mysterio
winning the world title a couple years ago at WrestleMania.
Here's a cover by Punk, and a kickout by Mysterio.
Another cover, you expect the fast-paced matchup.
[Jerry] Oh, without a doubt, I would suggest this-- these covers
and pinning combinations here. I would suggest that William Regal--
-Whoa, a cover. -[Michael] Nice cover, Punk kicks out.
[Jerry] William Regal might wanna pay a little more attention.
He seems to be talking and I don't wanna say flirting,
but he seems to be more interested in Layla
than his future opponents here.
[Michael] Mysterio trying to quicken the pace.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Michael] Drop toe hold, Punk in trouble.
Could be a new area code in Buffalo, and CM Punk with a deep armdrag.
And Punk countering Rey at every turn,
going for the Go To Sleep to try to put Mysterio away early.
And there's an armdrag of his own for Mysterio.
-[Jerry] Oh, look out. -[Michael] Oh.
Rey Mysterio launched out of the ring right at the feet
of the champion, William Regal.
See Layla sticking that title right in Mysterio's face.
Mysterio landing hard over the top rope.
[crowd chatters]
One…
-[Michael] WWE official begins to count. -…two…
Mysterio needs to make it back to the ring before ten,
or Punk will win this matchup.
[Jerry] I'd say Rey needs to watch his-- look at this.
[Michael] Punk over the top.
[Jerry] I was gonna say, Rey needs to watch his back
with William Regal behind him,
better keep his eye on his opponent, CM Punk.
[Michael] You see Punk taking a looking at the Intercontinental Champion.
Punk and Regal have a long rich history.
[Jerry] Watch this as-- oh, you said it right.
[Michael] And look at Punk goes for the cover in the ring,
hooks the leg and a kickout.
[Jerry] Not once, but twice, Rey was landing hard
on the floor outside the ring.
[Michael] Punk and Regal have had some run-ins in the past.
Regal defeating Punk earlier on this year to win The King of the Ring tournament.
Oh, and a tilt-a-whirl, knee to the spine, kickout by Mysterio,
but Punk has been dominating this section of the matchup.
Well, looking to Rey, wait, to wear Rey Mysterio down.
[crowd chatters]
[Michael] Had the opportunity to talk to both Mysterio and Punk earlier today.
He said, just having a chance to battle for the Intercontinental title,
so important, both of them and both of their careers.
[Jerry] How big it's gonna be for one of these young men to win this chance.
[Michael] Hey, look it. May have it here, and Mysterio has to kickout at two.
Mysterio just hasn't been able to get on the horse yet, King.
[Jerry] Well, you know, talking about who's gonna--
how-- what an honor it is to battle for the title,
I think it's an honor for both of these guys to be facing each other.
Do you realize it's the first time these two superstars have ever faced each other?
[Michael] Yup. Becoming world champs.
And Mysterio trying to turn the table.
[Jerry] Certainly, these guys trying to--
-[Michael] Oh, and Punk. -[Jerry] Oh. And-- uh-oh.
[Michael] Mysterio in a bad way.
And CM Punk looks to take advantage.
-[Jerry] Wow. -Hey!
[Michael] And Punk goes to work with his feet,
his feet just as dangerous as the rest of his body.
And, oh, Mysterio, did you see that?
[Jerry] Able to move, lift his body weight up
out of that way of that oncoming knee.
-And look at this. -[Michael] Oh, moonsault.
-Punk's knee-- -[Jerry] Beautiful.
[Michael] Punk's knee had hit the turn buckle,
-stunned for a moment. -[Jerry] Beautiful.
[Michael] Mysterio capitalizes, could pick up the win
and a kickout at two.
[Jerry] Oh, that was so pretty.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] You know, you gotta know
that William Regal is impressed by Rey Mysterio,
that move that he just saw.
[Michael] We mentioned earlier, Regal wanted this tournament
to set up a deserving challenge.
Oh, scoop slam, Punk could quickly win this,
hooks to the leg, two-count, getting--
oh, kickout again at two and a half.
[Jerry] Watch this one more time.
Look at this.
Perfect. Perfectly executed moonsault.
That was as well perfectly executed scoop slam there by CM Punk.
[Michael] And at some point, I don't know if it was the moonsault
or the scoop slam, King,
but Mysterio may have reinjured that wrist.
And CM Punk saw the opportunity.
And now looks like he's going to target the injured wrist.
Remember the torn ligaments of Mysterio.
[Jerry] We talked about that earlier.
It may have been a mistake for Rey not to--
not to have an extra bit of support by taping that wrist up.
[Michael] Mysterio just trying to claw to the bottom rope
and force Punk to break the hold.
Well, he's gained some rest from the pain.
Does he get there? He's a fingertip away.
[Jerry] He's touched it, but Punk does a great job.
[Michael] And now Mysterio in a world of trouble.
[Jerry] Well, Rey gonna have to tap out here.
[Michael] Mysterio crawling desperately
trying to-- he does make it to the bottom rope.
One, two.
Break. Now rope break. Come on.
Let's get him off the rope break. Come on. Come on.
[Michael] Regal looks very intrigued.
[Jerry] Well, and Rey looks like he is in a lot of pain,
I think you're right about that wrist.
-Rey ducks under, look at this. -[Michael] But Mysterio--
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Look at Mysterio.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Michael] And Mysterio with the arm bar,
and Punk may tap out.
Punk in trouble, Mysterio in the pressure.
And Punk who prides himself on his self-discipline's going to need
all the discipline he has in his body here.
[Jerry] And Punk, like you said, in a lot of trouble,
his only-- his only hope is to be able to make it to those ropes.
[Michael] Great counter by Mysterio, Punk has to force the break.
[Jerry] Boy, watch once again. Witness the athleticism of Rey Mysterio,
look at this move, turned it right into that arm bar.
Almost got the submission.
[Michael] Yeah. Both athletes showing the wear and tear of the match.
Mysterio needs to up the tempo, up the pace a bit.
And he's trying to do it here.
[Jerry] Look at this.
[Michael] And Punk,
I believe dropkick was aimed to put Punk in the 619 position.
[Jerry] I think so.
Didn't work for Rey, but gives Rey a minute there,
little bit of time to shake some life back into that wrist.
[Michael] And the breath taking Rey Mysterio to the top rope.
[Jerry] No R&R for-- wanted for Rey Mysterio, incoming.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio puts himself in position to win this matchup.
[Jerry] And Rey landed right on CM Punk, but I don't know if it--
if it was the top of CM Punk's head or the point of his shoulder,
went right into the sternum of Rey Mysterio.
Look at this. Look at that exposed chest.
Look at the shoulder, point of CM Punk's shoulder.
Look at this.
[Michael] That's what the high-risk maneuvers will get you,
but Mysterio, with the upper hand.
-[Jerry] He's coming again. -[Michael] Seated senton.
Catches Punk, and Mysterio starts to quicken the pace.
Crossbody, lateral press, Mysterio may have him, two-count,
kickout by CM Punk just rolled his shoulder up.
[Jerry] You don't get a second to breathe against Rey Mysterio.
He's coming at you from every direction.
-[Michael] All for an opportunity to be… -[Jerry] And look at this.
[Michael] …the number one contender for the Intercontinental title.
Rey Mysterio roll through, shoulders down, Punk's in trouble, two-count again.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. Reverse. -[Michael] Punk reverses,
shoulder's down for Mysterio, did again, he did kickout.
[Jerry] No. Wow.
That was close.
[Michael] Fast-paced action back and forth between Mysterio and Punk
-in their first meeting ever. -[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
[Jerry] I can't see Regal's face. He's sitting right in front of us.
All I see is the back of his throne.
I'd like to know what his reaction is to this match right now.
[Michael] And Punk went for the high knee.
Oh.
And this time, Punk connects with a knee to the jaw,
-and CM Punk… -[Jerry] Bulldog.
[Michael] …with a running bulldog maybe setting up Mysterio.
Here's Mysterio in trouble.
Punk, rolls him-- he may-- oh, and a kickout again.
Another near-fall for CM Punk.
And even Regal's on the edge of his seat.
[Jerry] I think Regal thought Punk had it right there, and I--
I'm sure from the looks of his reaction, Punk thought he had it.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] And Punk gotta be wondering
what is it gonna to take to put Rey Mysterio away.
[Michael] This is Rey Mysterio's MO as world champion.
-He keeps coming at you. -[Jerry] Look at this.
-[Michael] Survivor. -[Jerry] Wow.
[Michael] Wow. Look at Mysterio, shoulder's down.
And Mysterio got him. Did he get him?
No, and two and a half Punk kicked out.
[Jerry] You cannot say enough about the athleticism of Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] The swashbuckling style of Mysterio.
[Jerry] You can barely believe your eyes when you watch this young man go.
-Uh-oh. -[Michael] And now Punk stares
right into the face of the Intercontinental Champion.
-[Jerry] Here it comes. -[Michael] Mysterio missed with the 619,
nobody home, Punk with the Go To Sleep.
Can he connect here?
Mysterio trying to fight out of it. And he does.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Mysterio with a great counter.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Is the second time a charm? Yes!
[Michael] The 619 connects,
and Mysterio closing in on number one contendership.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Nobody home for the splash.
[Jerry] Oh, man, the ebb and flow, back and forth. This is great.
[Michael] And it's CM Punk's time to try to capitalize.
[Jerry] Both these guys-- hey, wait a--
[Michael] Mysterio, he's got him, he's got him again.
No, and two and a half again, Punk.
[Jerry] Oh, the referee's hand was coming down,
stopped right a fraction before hitting the mat for three-count.
[Michael] Near-fall after near-fall for Punk and Mysterio.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] I expected a great match from these two guys,
but they're not disappointing.
Uh-oh.
[Michael] And look at Punk. Punk countered.
Mysterio in trouble, and a Go To Sleep right to the skull.
And CM Punk is the number one contender
-for the Intercontinental title. -["This Fire Burns" playing]
[Lilián] Here is your winner, CM Punk.
[Jerry] Man, battered and bruised,
but what a victory for CM Punk.
[Michael] What a gutsy match out of both Mysterio and Punk.
You see the battle scars and the wounds shown by both men.
From the bottom line is this, CM Punk has a date
with the Intercontinental Champion William Regal.
[Jerry] And I don't know if we can get another shot at Rey Mysterio's nose,
but I think that-- I think Rey's nose is broken.
As you can see earlier on in the match,
man, Rey was on a roll, countering everything
that CM Punk did coming out of the top.
I had never seen the likes of this before, watch this athleticism.
[Michael] But this is where Mysterio may have broken his nose.
Mysterio going for the victory,
looked like he was going for that hurricanrana.
[Jerry] Yeah, watch Rey's face.
[Michael] Oh, the Go To Sleep right into the nose,
and the impact allows Punk to pick up the win.
What a battle between those two men.
A heck of a matchup here at Armageddon.
[Jerry] And even William Regal,
I don't-- it may be sarcastically, but he is applauding. What a match.
[Michael] Well, whether it's sarcasm or not,
William Regal's gonna have to face CM Punk,
and William Regal may be on the other end of the Go To Sleep.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Oh, my goodness.
[singer] ♪ This fire burns always ♪
[Jerry] Oh, yes. Rey knows…
that his nose is obviously broken, but I can guarantee you this,
that will not stop Rey Mysterio, this young man,
he's one of the greatest competitors I've ever seen.
[Michael] And so is that man.
CM Punk who now sets his sights on the Intercontinental Championship,
a title held by the likes of Pat Patterson, Bret Hart,
Shawn Michaels, Triple H, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
The Rock, Chris Jericho, Edge, and many more.
CM Punk would love to add his name to that legendary list of champions.
[Jerry] And there's only one thing standing in his way. William Regal.
[singer] ♪ Always ♪
♪ This fire burns always ♪
The last year of my life,
I've been forced to look inward,
forced to come face to face with my soul,
and ask myself a question,
Jeff, are you willing to change?
People have tried to change me my entire life,
and when they fail, I still come across as a failure.
But it's easy, though, right?
It's easy to say Jeff's a screw-up,
he's just going to make a mistake again.
I think you're afraid.
I think you're afraid to ask me why.
Because you might sense something human in me
that'll just freak you out.
Everyone's tried to break me.
But I've broke my own walls down,
and tonight is a new chapter in the career of Jeff Hardy.
Tonight, you will see through the eyes of one imagination.
And tonight, I will answer all the questions.
Does Jeff Hardy have what it takes?
Is Jeff Hardy willing to change?
I am who I am.
Jeff Hardy, WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, well, that's an intense Jeff Hardy,
and it's been a tough year for Jeff Hardy,
but he can certainly go out on a bang tonight
if he wins that WWE title.
Well, another person it's been a tough year for,
at least as of late, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
We first began to learn about this a couple weeks ago
from, ironically, none other than that JBL.
JBL came out here on Raw one night and well, basically told all of us,
shocked all of us when he said that he made Shawn Michaels an offer
that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels had no choice but to accept.
[JBL] You see, I know some things, Shawn.
Before this stock market crashed, I was putting money in gold.
In fact, Shawn, I was prospering
while you were losing almost everything, right, Shawn?
You lost your retirement, you lost your nest egg.
Now you look around with all this responsibility.
I'm going to help you out.
I'm going to help your family out.
I'm offering you a job.
I want you to come work for me.
So now, what's it going to be?
Ever since The Showstopper walked in the ring,
people have been wanting you to kick me in the face.
So why don't you do it?
I am going to give you a free shot,
but understand this, if you take this shot,
then this offer is off the table forever.
[dramatic music playing]
[JBL] Looking forward to doing business with you, Shawn.
[narrator] WWE Match of the Year.
And the Slammy goes to…
[Eve] Shawn Michaels versus Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV.
[Shawn] My match with Ric Flair at WrestleMania
will always hold a very, very special place in my heart.
[JBL] On behalf of Shawn Michaels, I accept this award for myself.
This award will go very well with the other accolades
that I have at my penthouse apartment
in New York City. Thank you.
[dramatic music playing]
["Longhorn" playing]
[Jerry] As we witness the arrival of JBL and that mile long limousine of his,
Michael, that's…
I don't know if shocking is the right word for…
Certainly unsettling footage that we saw, the interaction
between Shawn Michaels and JBL.
[Michael] Uncomfortable.
[Jerry] Uncomfortable is exactly the right word.
[Michael] You know, King, we've seen Shawn Michaels
in many different emotional states over the years here in WWE.
I mean, a lot of different ways.
[Jerry] Don't touch JBL.
[Lilián] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
[Michael] But I think the one thing we never seen out of Shawn Michaels
is the fact that Shawn's been speechless through all this.
[Jerry] I know that's-- and I understand it.
[Michael] He hasn't said a word.
Would you believe anything that JBL's saying?
[Jerry] Ordinarily, I wouldn't believe JBL if the tongue were notarized,
but I believe in this situation, he's all business here.
I think he's-- I think he's telling the truth.
But we don't know all the story. I don't know what's behind all this.
[crowd chattering]
Ladies and gentlemen…
I would like to introduce you to my newest employee…
Shawn Michaels.
[crowd chattering]
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[singer] ♪ I think I'm cute ♪
♪ I know I'm sexy ♪
♪ I got the looks ♪
-[Michael] Did he just say-- -[Jerry] His new associate.
[Michael] And out comes Shawn Michaels.
I believe he-- I believe he actually said his employee.
[Jerry] Oh, employee?
[singer] ♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
-[backup singer] ♪ Boy toy ♪ -[singer] ♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
[Jerry] That is a big difference between an associate and an employee.
[Michael] I know.
Wow.
[singer] ♪ I make them hot ♪
♪ I make them shiver ♪
♪ Their knees get weak ♪
♪ Whenever I'm around They see me walk ♪
♪ They hear me talk ♪
♪ I make them feel Like they're on cloud nine ♪
[crowd chanting] HBK, HBK, HBK.
I'm just going to-- Just going to get right to it.
The economy has hit all of us very hard
and unfortunately, I am not immune to it.
I am in-- I am in a very tough spot right now, and I…
And I've heard all the whispers, believe me.
Shawn Michaels, he's a WWE Superstar,
he's on TV, he's rich.
There's no way this could happen to him, this is just coming out of nowhere.
And believe me, I wish that were the case.
But, you know, like a lot of 20-year-olds,
when I came into money, I lived the high life.
I bought houses, cars, motorcycles,
and I gave a handout to every high school buddy who needed it.
And in my 30s, the injuries began to mount up,
and because of, I don't know, stubbornness or foolish pride,
I wasn't about to ask anybody for help.
I paid for all my knee surgeries, I paid for all my back surgeries
because I wasn't about to become beholden
to any man or any company for the rest of my life.
About ten years ago, I met my wife,
and we had two beautiful children,
and I turned my life around.
And I did what I thought was the grown-up thing to do.
I called an investment service
and they invested my money in the stock market,
and everything went great for a while.
I could provide for my family,
I took care of all my friends and relatives,
I gave to my church,
I supported all the charities that I love and believe in.
It was pretty simple.
I had, they didn't, so I gave.
And then the roof caved in.
Now if this was 20 years ago, it wouldn't be that big of a deal,
but I'm not going to come out here and lie to you.
I don't know how much time I have left.
[crowd chattering]
I don't know how many years I have left.
I still have a wife and two children that need me, that depend on me,
I have family, relatives that depend on me.
That is why I took JBL up on his offer.
[crowd booing]
I don't like JBL any more than you do.
He's smug. He's a bully.
And personally, I find him reprehensible.
But the man is very good financially, and that's what I need right now.
I will put my children through college,
I will not let my brothers and sisters lose their homes,
and more importantly,
I am not going to become one of those guys,
you think we don't hear about it, but we do.
We hear you saying it.
Did you hear about HBK?
He's bagging groceries at the grocery store.
Did you hear about HBK?
I saw him limping into a high school gym to wrestle.
I am not going to become a wrestling tragedy,
I will not let that happen.
[crowd chattering]
You can judge me if you want.
If being booed by you
or being called a sellout by you
is the price I have to pay…
then I'll pay it.
[crowd chanting] You sold out. You sold out. You sold out.
This is not something I want to do.
This is something I have to do.
[crowd chattering]
[crowd] JBL! JBL! JBL!
[crowd booing]
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] This is unfortunate.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] What a mixed reaction from this capacity crowd.
Ladies and gentlemen, my guest tonight has been in the ring
with Shawn Michaels on many occasions.
-But tonight, he faces Batista. -[crowd cheering]
Please welcome, Randy Orton.
Randy, what is your strategy against Batista tonight?
Strategy?
It's like Randy said last week,
Randy Orton was the Crowned Jewel of Evolution.
And Batista,
Batista was just hired muscle.
There's a reason for that.
Batista isn't on our level.
Batista doesn't possess the God-given natural abilities
of a second or third generation superstar
like myself, like Manu, like Randy.
The three of us grew up around all of this.
This, it's in our blood.
In other words, he's been waiting for four years.
This man, tonight,
is going to expose Batista for the fraud that he is.
Tonight, Randy Orton cements his legacy.
[Ross] Well the tension runs hot on a cold night here
in the middle of December, in Buffalo, New York.
The site of Armageddon, HSBC arena.
We're glad you're with us,
and earlier today, the Buffalo Bills are down, Tazz,
in your neck of the woods, and look who's here?
[Tazz] Yeah, who would have thunk it, the Bills are in the house.
It's great to have them. Hey, what a way to shake off a tough day at the office
than coming to WWE Armageddon, huh.
I'm a Jets fan, sorry.
[Ross] They should've showed that much passion
today at the Giants stadium.
Folks, it's no mystery what Randy Orton thinks about his group.
But we got a big mystery on our hands that relates
to who do you think attacked Jeff Hardy in his hotel room before Survivor Series.
Requesting your text and four unique options.
[bell ringing]
This contest is a Belfast Brawl.
The only way to win this match is by pinfall or submission.
["Some Bodies Gonna Get It" playing]
[Todd] That dark and ominous music means
that The World's Strongest Man is entering the building.
[Justin] …from Silsbee, Texas, weighing 392 pounds,
he is "The World's Strongest Man," Mark Henry.
[Striker] Mark Henry has struck Finlay
at the core of something that we can all relate to.
Mark Henry has threatened Finlay's family.
[Todd] Well last week on ECW,
it was a family affair for Hornswoggle and Finlay
as they faced Mark Henry and his manager, Tony Atlas.
[Striker] Well, Finlay's known as the great protector,
but he was disabled at the hands of Mark Henry.
The World's Strongest Man then set his malintent
on Finlay's innocent son, Hornswoggle.
Finlay will take a bullet for his son as you will see right here.
[Todd] Wow.
[Striker] This rivalry continues to fester,
bringing us to where we are right now, right here, Armageddon.
-[referee] Three. -[bell ringing]
["Some Bodies Gonna Get It" playing]
[Todd] That win certainly pleased Mark Henry
who is all about getting back at Finlay and terrorizing his son, Hornswoggle.
["Lambeg" playing]
[Justin] And his opponent, from Belfast, Northern Ireland,
weighing 233 pounds,
Finlay.
[Todd] Well earlier you heard Finlay basically tell his son Hornswoggle
to stay away, he thought he'd get hurt, he didn't want him there.
And as you can see, Finlay all alone,
Hornswoggle nowhere to be seen.
That's right. The father's discretion
leaving his son behind to handle the fight.
I admire Finlay for that.
[Todd] Meanwhile, Mark Henry has WWE Hall of Famer
Tony Atlas in his corner.
[Striker] Todd, you heard it mentioned by our ring announcer,
this is a Belfast Brawl.
This has its roots in the dangerous war-torn streets of Belfast,
pinfall or submission, that's the only way to win,
accessories are legal and sometimes encouraged.
-[bell ringing] -[Todd] Which means the shillelagh could,
and if Finlay has his way, will come into play.
[crowd chattering]
[Striker] You see Finlay, not his normal jovial self.
Finlay's the man who loves to fight,
on top of that, he has purpose and anger
as of course he flashes a smile right there,
let's see what Finlay has in mind.
Oh.
[Todd] The animosity between these two
came to fruition several weeks ago
when Finlay used a shillelagh shot, over the head, to Mark Henry
to win the number one contendership for the ECW title.
[Striker] Finlay landed awkwardly there.
You have to think, at least Hornswoggle's out of harm's way.
That allows Finlay to focus on the task at hand,
the brooding World's Strongest Man.
[Todd] Yeah, but Hornswoggle can help you sometimes too.
[Striker] Oh. Yeah, he can help his father by staying away.
-Wow. -[Todd] Whoa.
Face-first goes Mark Henry into the Raw announce table.
[Striker] Oh, we are seeing a different Finlay right off the bat.
Oh. Mess with a man's family and you will bring out the worst in him.
And when that man is the man that loves to fight,
I don't envy Mark Henry.
Interesting reversal there by Mark, that's Mark's strength.
[Todd] Oh.
It looked like the ribs went into the post and then right into the ring as well.
And Finlay doubled over in pain, and it continues.
[Striker] I remind you again, Mark Henry has all the time in the world
to inflict damage on the outside of the ring,
no count outs, no disqualifications.
Probably just the way Finlay would want it.
[Todd] Well, it is called a Belfast Brawl. And he is the Belfast brawler.
Finlay sweeps the leg, and--
oh, Finlay has taken at least four or five direct hits onto that rib cage.
[Striker] Mark Henry cutting the shins out from underneath Finlay's head,
bouncing off of that ring apron.
Look at that, just manhandling the Irishman
right up on to his feet.
Todd, I'm reminded of one of the last-- ooh, look at that.
I tell you, if Scott Norwood could kick that way,
the Bills would have won the Super Bowl.
Look it right here, sweeping of the legs,
Finlay crashing down,
and that's why Finlay is in the predicament he is in right now.
[Todd] The Splash from Henry,
which enabled him to get a victory on ECW on Tuesday,
just misses there, and Finlay taking advantage.
[Striker] One of the most memorable Belfast Brawls
of course opened up WrestleMania where Finlay tangled with JBL.
I wonder where these two superstars will be,
come the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
[Todd] And Finlay is finding toys under the ring.
[Striker] All legal in a Belfast Brawl.
[Todd] A trash can and two kendo sticks, if I'm doing my math correctly.
[Striker] Look at that, Finlay just walked right past Tony Atlas,
all he had to do is shoot him a look
and Tony thought about twice about messing with the Irishman.
Think there's a bottle of Guinness over there, or a can?
A Jameson perhaps.
[Todd] If there is, Finlay will certainly use it.
[Striker] Johnnie Walker blue and black for the distinguished palate.
[Todd] He's on a scavenger hunt right now.
-[Striker] Oh. -[Todd] And he keeps finding trash cans.
Tony Atlas.
[Striker] There you go.
[Todd] A shot to the back and Finlay delivers a kick of his own.
And-- whoa. Look out.
[Striker] How about the fact that not only the trash can lid,
but Finlay falling on to the trash can,
double jeopardy for the Irishman.
[Todd] And that wasn't just a trash can lid shot, ladies and gentlemen,
it was a trash can lid shot delivered by Mark Henry.
[Striker] Tony Atlas trying to sneak up.
Not enough there, the adrenaline of Finlay and the fight,
but it opens it up for Mark Henry to lay waste to Finlay,
and now Mark Henry is in a dominant position.
[Todd] It takes a lot to knock Finlay unconscious.
And that almost did it.
Henry now in the dominant position.
[Striker] Mark, don't take your time here,
that's still Finlay, this is still a Belfast Brawl.
Come on. Tony Atlas should be encouraging his superstar here.
[Todd] Whoa!
[Striker] How about the agility from The World's Strongest Man.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] A whole dark eye shimmering with hate.
What's going through that man's mind?
[Todd] Pleasure.
[Mark] You wanted a fight…
[referee] Come on, get in here.
…you've got a fight.
-[man 1] Spit on him. -[man 2] That's right.
[Todd] You heard Henry say, "You wanted a fight, you've got a fight."
And right now it's a one sided fight.
And look at Mark Henry, just raking Finlay's face onto that rope.
[Striker] Think about how that must feel, here's a cover here.
[Todd] Shoulder's down, two, no.
[Striker] Finlay flailing his legs.
Finlay's definitely gasping for air here
after Mark Henry put all his weight down on Finlay's throat across the ropes.
[Todd] And Matt, talk about the pain those ropes can deliver.
[Striker] Those ropes are made of cable as well as rope wrapped around with tape.
They are basically, may as well be thick pressed against your larynx,
if you've ever bitten your tongue or gasped for air,
you can imagine the pain that Finlay is in.
[Todd] And Mark Henry in a world of pain now.
As Finlay rising up
and delivering some kendo stick shots.
[Striker] It's all legal.
[crowd cheering]
[Todd] Oh, and a DDT from Finlay.
Is this his moment?
[Striker] Finlay is hurt, Finlay's hurt right there.
Look at here, a steel trash can.
How about the fact that Mark Henry did not go down
from the first trash can shot.
What does that say about Mark?
Oh.
[Todd] Well, Finlay now relentless.
The Irishman who loves to fight has the shoulder's down for a two-count.
[Striker] Finlay's smart to extend his entire torso
over the robust chest of Mark Henry to get a full lateral press.
[Todd] Mark Henry has said that the only way Finlay can beat him
is with the help of a shillelagh.
So far, we have not seen that,
but Finlay doing just fine with trash can lids,
and kendo sticks.
[Striker] Can you imagine though, think for a second,
what if Mark Henry had his hands on the shillelagh.
Think about the damage of The World's Strongest Man could do
with that weapon.
[Todd] Would you even be able to see
the shillelagh if he was holding it in his giant hands?
[grunting]
[Striker] Oh.
[Todd] And this is not good.
Three hundred and ninety-two pounds just misses.
Finlay just saved his life, ladies and gentlemen.
[Striker] Mark might have tweaked a knee there.
[Todd] And there it is.
We've been talking about it, now you see it.
[Striker] The preferred accessory of choice-- oh.
Wow. Mark Henry got his foot about six feet in the air right there.
[Todd] Finlay a lot more flexible than you'd think.
-[Striker] It comes-- -[Todd] Or rather, Mark Henry.
[Striker] It comes to fruition now.
An angry and strong man--
are you kidding me? Todd.
[Todd] What-- a shillelagh by the way is made by Irish blackthorn wood,
the strongest wood in all of-- some say Europe.
[Striker] Great. It may be a Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil
when it's in the hands of The World's Strongest Man.
[Todd] It just disintegrated over the knee of Henry,
and now it's a kendo stick that just-- he's not gonna try--
-Oh, my God. -[Striker] Todd--
[Todd] I thought those were unbreakable, Matt.
[Striker] There are wild bears
in the forests of China that cannot do that,
panda bears can't break bamboo,
and The World's Strongest Man just did.
[Todd] A shillelagh, a kendo stick,
and now perhaps Finlay's spine.
[Striker] Hey.
[Todd] What will be the next thing to break?
-[Striker] Maybe… -[Todd] Hornswoggle.
-Oh. -[Striker] Oh.
Maybe Finlay's greatest weapon, or Finlay's greatest deterrent,
his son Hornswoggle,
but Hornswoggle was knocked off of the-- off of the ring apron,
disappears underneath the ring.
[Todd] Finlay said I don't want you to get hurt,
it's too dangerous, stay away.
Hornswoggle apparently did not listen.
[Striker] I still can't get over the fact that Mark Henry broke the shillelagh
and broke the kendo stick.
Oh, look at this, look at that.
-[Todd] Henry. -[Striker] Like a trash compacter.
[Todd] Like a human hydraulic press.
[Striker] It's Mark Henry's weight, Mark Henry's strength,
plus a steel trash can
right across the back of Finlay.
[Todd] Look at the pain.
I don't think we've ever seen Finlay in this type of pain before.
[crowd chattering]
[Striker] Oh.
[Todd] Lunchbox sized fists now over the skull of Finlay,
and how much more can the Irishman take?
[Striker] Finlay's been pushed to his limits before,
but I'm not sure he can endure steel steps to the head.
Todd, those steel steps weigh 230 pounds,
it takes four men to set up the ring with those steel steps,
Mark Henry tosses it like it's nothing.
That's a grown man that Mark just threw, essentially.
[Todd] And he might throw it into another grown man, Finlay.
A dropkick right to the knee, sending the big man down.
[Striker] Looks like Mark's head bounced off those steel steps as well.
[Todd] And a second shillelagh,
Hornswoggle throws his father another shillelagh
and it crashes into the temple of The World's Strongest Man,
-and Finlay has won the Belfast Brawl. -[bell ringing]
["Lambeg" playing]
[Justin] The winner of this match, Finlay.
[Striker] Was it all part of the master plan?
Did Finlay know that Hornswoggle was there?
Was it all part of a duping, so to speak?
[Todd] I don't think so.
No man would choose to go through what Finlay just went through.
Hornswoggle cheers his father on, Finlay not smiling,
even though he is victorious.
[Striker] Well, I wonder if Finlay is happy that his son didn't adhere--
there you go, a father and his son.
The beginning of the end,
Mark Henry with malintent, those steel steps,
Mark's head bouncing off of the steel.
Hornswoggle with the great assist,
a second shillelagh,
look at the look of glee on Hornswoggle's face, and listen.
[Todd] Oh, wow.
Wow.
So one shillelagh didn't do the trick,
the second certainly did.
As Hornswoggle helps his father,
and you know, even the strongest man in the world
apparently is no match for a Belfast brawler,
and a shillelagh over the cranium.
[Striker] Just amazing.
[crowd cheering]
[chattering]
[Charlie Haas] Ho, ho, ho.
-Santa. -[Charlie Haas] Merry Christmas.
-Oh, Merry Christmas. -Hi, Santa Claus.
No, Santa Haas.
-Ho, ho, ho, ho. -Oh, that is great.
Have you Divas been naughty or nice this year?
[Divas] Nice.
Oh, that's what Santa likes to hear,
because I brought all the Divas presents.
-Oh, my goodness. You do? -Yes.
Check in the box, there's a present for each and every one of you.
This is awesome.
[Charlie Haas] Merry Christmas.
Oh.
Season greetings.
Losers.
[crowd cheering]
I bet I know what you all would like for Christmas, huh?
The Slammy Award for Diva of The Year.
Wouldn't that just be nice, huh?
Oh, that's right. I just remembered,
you all tied for last place as my Glamazon captured it.
Gaze after it, Divas.
That's the closest you'll ever come.
We call her Slamantha.
So since we won…
I won.
…the award, we're going to pick the next present.
Oh. Whoa, whoa.
["The Horror" playing]
[The Boogeyman laughs]
I'm The Boogeyman, and I'm coming to get you.
-[laughs] -[screams]
[Jerry laughs]
Oh.
♪ I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus ♪
No.
Where are you going?
I just wanted to sing a song.
Hey, Boogey, Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Oh, thank you. Are you ready?
We, we, we, we, we, we, we, we.
-We-- -Come on, Boogey.
We, we, we, we, we, we…
[all] ♪ Wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♪ And a Happy New Year ♪
♪ Good tidings we bring ♪
♪ To you and your kin ♪
♪ Good tidings for Christmas ♪
♪ And a Happy New Year ♪
[crowd cheering]
On behalf of World Wrestling Entertainment,
I'd like to encourage each and every one of you this holiday season
to have a great time, but please drink responsibly,
and whatever you do… [clears throat]
…don't do drugs.
But what I would encourage you to do
is to make sure that you check out my upcoming DVD release
Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, which comes out January 6th.
Sixth.
Ladies and gentlemen, this public service announcement
has been brought to you in part--
no wait, in full
by Mr. Kennedy.
Kennedy.
[Jerry laughing]
This may be the weirdest Christmas yet.
Well said. January 6th.
-January 6th. -Yeah.
Well ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing cheerful,
no holiday cheer in the match that is coming up next.
You're right, Batista and Randy Orton.
Oh, what a battle this is gonna be.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, it is a match four years in the making.
Once the future of the group Evolution,
now the present of the WWE.
They clash tonight,
Batista versus Randy Orton.
[Triple H] What you see is the greatest example
of Evolution you will ever see.
[singer] ♪ Evolution ♪
[Triple H] And you have to look to the future,
Batista, six-foot five,
325 pounds.
And Randy Orton has every gift that a man can be given.
This is Evolution.
[dramatic music playing]
[Jerry] We have a new World Heavyweight Champion.
The youngest world champion in history.
[Randy] Nobody is better than me.
Get a look at greatness.
I am without peers.
[Ross] Batista has won the world title.
[Michael] Batista is out of his cage.
[Jerry] There aren't many superstars that can electrify a crowd like Batista.
[Randy] It's been like this my whole career,
starting at Evolution.
I was the crowned jewel.
Only Batista and Triple H were so jealous
because I was the most successful.
[dramatic music playing]
[Batista] One day it's going to be me versus you,
at Armageddon…
it is me versus you.
[Michael] Batista versus Orton,
two former world champions one-on-one.
[Randy] It's destiny.
I am the Evolution of this business.
[Batista] You couldn't beat me back then,
I was better than you when we were with Evolution.
You can't beat me now. I'm better than you now.
I've been waiting for this match.
Orton versus Batista.
You and I have a score to settle.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
["I Walk Alone" playing]
[singer] ♪ Yeah! ♪
[fireworks popping]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Lilián] This contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Washington, D.C.,
weighing in at 290 pounds,
Batista.
[Michael] Batista's intensity is at an all-time high,
still stinging after that RKO at the hands of Randy Orton
on Raw this past Monday night.
A score to settle here tonight for The Animal.
[Jerry] And that's putting it mildly.
You're right, he is intensity personified here tonight.
I can't wait to see him get it on with Orton.
[Michael] On the surface, it seems this match is about
who should be next in line for a world title opportunity.
But it goes much deeper than that.
-[Jerry] Right. -[Michael] It goes back nearly six years
to the formation of Evolution.
[Jerry] Can you imagine something
sticking in this man's nob for six years,
and finally tonight, he has the chance to get it all out.
[singer] ♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger ♪
[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] The Animal sucking in the atmosphere.
Hoping to feed off it.
[singer] ♪ The weight of the world ♪
♪ Is falling on my shoulders ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] He is as ready as I've ever seen him.
[crowd chattering]
[singer] ♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
["Voices" playing]
[Lilián] And from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 245 pounds,
Randy Orton.
[Michael] Flanked by Cody Rhodes and Manu, a--
well, a collective coalition of third and second generation superstars.
An interesting interview with Randy Orton earlier tonight, King.
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Michael] He was posed a question,
but Cody Rhodes and Manu answered it.
[Jerry] Randy Orton, usually, when all is said and done,
when everything's been said, Randy Orton is still saying it.
But he didn't speak a word.
[Michael] Reason behind that?
Unification perhaps, to show that unity?
[Jerry] He may be so focused,
or, you know, that's what went through the back of my mind for just a second
that Rhodes and Manu jumped in
and maybe tried to steal a little bit of Orton's thunder.
I don't know, that just went through my mind.
[Michael] Well, Cody Rhodes did say that Batista is not on their level.
That he doesn't possess God-given and natural abilities
like second and third generation superstars do.
[Jerry] Well, you can look at Batista and realize one thing, I'm sure,
Batista didn't expect this extra welcoming committee here.
As you said, flanking Randy Orton.
[Michael] Well Manu said that Orton will cement his legacy tonight.
[singer] ♪ And police just take the grease ♪
[Jerry] Well, you've heard it said over the years,
it's usually true, there's strengths in numbers.
Let's hope that Manu and Cody Rhodes are out here only for…
Now, what would you say?
Not-- well, not to get involved hopefully.
-[Michael] For support. -[Jerry] Yeah.
Moral support.
[Michael] Back in 2003, the group Evolution was formed.
One of the most dominant groups in WWE history.
It was legends of the past in Ric Flair,
legends of the present in Triple H,
and legends of the future in Randy Orton and Batista.
Tonight those two men, Batista and Orton square off at Armageddon.
-I need a bell. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Both men former world champions.
In fact, when Orton won the world title in 2004,
youngest world champion ever,
he was, uh, well, kicked out of the group.
[Jerry] Just looking at Cody Rhodes and Manu at ringside,
at the very least, they're gonna be a distraction.
I mean, at the very least.
[Mike] Come on, let's go.
[Michael] Had enough from Batista having to focus on Orton,
now he has to worry about the other two guys.
[Jerry] I've been looking forward to this match for a long time.
Come on, let's go. Break it up.
[Michael] The slyness of Orton, the power of Batista.
[Jerry] I know Batista's been looking forward to this match for a long time,
and if you believe Randy Orton, he's been looking forward to this match.
[Michael] Batista told Orton, I was better than you in Evolution,
I'm better than you now.
Has the opportunity to prove it tonight.
Come on, let's go. Let's get out of the rope.
Break it clean on the rope.
Come on, Batista. Back it off.
[Michael] For Batista, King, it seems quite simple,
stay away from the sudden-- the suddenness of Orton.
Especially when he delivers the RKO.
[Michael] Well, that's easier said than done
when you get in matches emotionally packed as this is.
[Michael] Will Orton stay away from Batista's power game?
Nice switch, nice drop toe hold,
and the four-time world champion, Batista, in trouble.
Orton needs to control the pace.
Love to keep Batista grounded.
[crowd chatters]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Orton, of course, a third generation superstar.
[Jerry] To me-- I mean, this is just an amazing sight.
These two guys are such--
I mean, in the entire WWE,
they may be the top two physical specimens going, I mean.
Let him up. Come on, let him up.
Come on. Let him up, let him up.
[Jerry] We talked about the strength in power of Dave Batista.
Orton, bring it up.
[Jerry] Orton is maybe deceptively strong,
and quick as lightning.
[Michael] And there's the quickness you talked about.
And this is where Rhodes and Manu come into play.
-[Jerry] Watch your back. -[Michael] And Manu from behind.
It's the numbers game. Come on.
Oh, and Rhodes as Manu is just holding Batista,
and Rhodes is teed off on The Animal.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Good.
Both of you, you're gone. Ejected from ringside.
-Come on. -You both get out.
Let's go. Both of you get away from ringside. Let's go.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Well, Batista doesn't have to worry
about Rhodes and Manu anymore.
[Jerry] Good.
[Michael] They've been sent back to the showers.
So now it's one-on-one for Orton and Batista,
but look at The Viper-like Orton
doesn't seem the least bit concerned about that.
And Orton…
Come on. One.
[Jerry] Well, if Batista can recover from this initial onslaught here,
that numbers game we talked about has been evened up.
Get him out of there.
[Michael] The shoulder, and this is how Orton got the advantage.
[Jerry] You're right.
Manu and Cody Rhodes just-- I mean blatantly attacking Batista.
Fortunately the referee threw them out.
[Michael] Orton using the whole five-count,
great strategy by Orton.
Attempt to take out the left arm of Batista,
take the power game away.
Randy Orton so smart and slick in the ring.
[crowd chanting] Batista! Batista!
[Jerry] Watch Orton-- I mean you can read his facial expressions like a book.
I mean, evil intentions in just about everything that Randy Orton does.
-Malice. Right. -[Michael] All he thinks about.
What do you say, Batista, huh?
You ready to give up?
[Michael] Very little wasted motion ever by Randy Orton.
Everything he does means something.
He continues to wear down the arm and shoulder of Batista.
[Jerry] He can wear you down, all right,
body look like it's chiseled out of stone, this guy.
When he locks any-- I mean, just about any kind of hold on you,
it's virtually impossible to get out of.
Unless he wants to let you out of there.
To put something else on you. Batista powers out.
[Michael] And there's a clothesline by The Animal.
And another one. And Batista building momentum.
[grunts]
[Jerry] Oh, look at the strength of Batista.
[Michael] Who needs the left arm when all you need is the right?
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] That's what power gets you.
[Jerry] Batista starting to dominate Randy Orton here,
going for a Batista Bomb.
[Michael] Randy Orton trying somehow to switch the balance, and he does.
Neckbreaker.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Look at Batista's body, contorting.
[crowd chatters]
[Michael] Orton crawls to the cover.
Well, he didn't go for the cover, Orton.
Oh.
[Jerry] And that knee right in the temple of Batista.
[Michael] Now the cover, hooks the leg, and Batista kicks at two.
[Jerry] Let's watch once again as Batista goes for that Batista Bomb,
but then Orton gets that momentum,
and then turned it into a vicious neckbreaker.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Randy Orton in control.
Complained about lack of respect.
Upset among other things that he was overlooked
as the Superstar of The Year nominee in the Slammys.
So for Orton, he has a lot to prove tonight.
[Jerry] Randy Orton with a vice-like grip on the head and neck of Batista.
[Michael] Orton injured his shoulder in June,
missed a number of months of action.
[Jerry] And here it is once again.
-And a slam. -[Michael] And there's the power.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Back at Survivor Series,
Team Orton knocked off Team Batista.
But tonight it's one-on-one.
[Jerry] Well, it didn't start out that way,
but thanks to the referee ejecting Manu
-and Cody Rhodes. -[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] And much like Orton just ejected from the ring.
[Michael] See Orton grab his shoulder?
Orton grabbed his shoulder as he went over the top rope.
Remember the shoulder injury
that took Orton out of action back in June.
[Jerry] That could be huge for Batista
if Orton's reinjured that shoulder.
[Michael] And Batista wasted little time, still shaking the cobwebs out.
But he senses Orton may be hurt.
[Jerry] Let's see once again if we can see his shoulder.
Oh, yes, right there.
-You're right, Batista sensed it-- uh-oh. -[Michael] Oh.
Both superstars with bad wings,
but Randy Orton looking to capitalize.
[Jerry] Orton with that infamous kick, and now this.
[Michael] DDT.
[Jerry] Oh. Face planted Batista, and that's it.
[Michael] Will Orton cement his legacy, no.
As Batista kicks out at two.
[Jerry] I don't think Batista even knows where he is right now.
How would-- did he have the wherewithal to kick out of that?
[Michael] Instinct.
[Jerry] Watch the snap, and listen to the impact of this.
Oh, man.
That is face-first with all that force into the mat.
[Michael] But this is where Orton is so dangerous.
[Jerry] Well, this is vintage Randy Orton right here.
I mean, when he gets his opponent down,
and he knows they're pretty much incapable of any offense right there,
I mean, he just-- it's like he's going for a walk in the park.
This is as much psychological and methodical,
just taking on every body part,
and trying to take it apart.
[Michael] He's telling his opponent, "I can do with you what I want."
[Jerry] There's ice water in those veins.
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Batista rolls onto the rope, doesn't allow Orton to go for the cover.
-[man] Go, Randy. You are so good. -Come on.
Come on, let's go. Come on. Let's go.
-[man 1] Get a smack on him. -[man 2] There we go, Orton.
Come on, Orton.
[Michael] Every time Randy Orton talked about his relationship
with Batista and Evolution, it was anger.
Pouring out of Orton's veins.
It was jealousy.
Even jealousy after over what Batista accomplished when the group broke up.
[Jerry] Well, how many times did we hear him?
How long did we hear from Randy Orton
that he felt that the rest of Evolution was jealous of him?
Watch this once again.
Watch the precision of this fight.
Oh, right into the neck of Batista.
[Michael] The attack of the neck began with the neckbreaker.
Orton, cover again.
Hooks the big leg, and you see how Orton hooked Batista's arm
to pull it from underneath the bottom rope
and allowed him to go for the near fall.
[Jerry] And right back into that reverse chin lock
that referee's got to check to make sure it doesn't become a choke hold.
[Michael] Both of these men learned the craft from the best in the game.
Ric Flair and Triple H.
And you've seen it pay off a hundred fold over the past few years.
Both men have held world titles.
[Jerry] Yeah, I mean, if you-- if you had--
if you had to try to pick who--
well, I mean like you said,
the influence of Flair and Triple H has been tremendous.
Who did it have the greater influence on?
Batista or Orton, or is it even? Look at this.
[Michael] I think it's even, although I think Batista respected it more.
Went for the big clothesline, a flailing clothesline,
Orton sets up Batista again, right back to the neck.
[Jerry] Orton knows that this maneuver right here,
putting all of his weight,
and now he's going try to cut off the breathing ability of Dave Batista,
at the same time, this is sapping that strength.
Orton knows that Batista has the edge strength wise, and this is sapping that.
[Michael] The injured neck of Batista,
let's not forget the injured shoulder from earlier on.
Randy Orton has dinged up two body parts in this matchup.
[Jerry] Well, like that punch earlier,
this is-- what Randy Orton is doing right now is methodical.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Effective strategy.
[Jerry] He's wrapped around Batista like a grapevine.
[Michael] For the gifted Randy Orton.
[Jerry] But look at how strong Dave Batista is.
Able to roll around and get--
or-- yeah, he's going to be able to get to his feet, looks like,
with the entire weight of Randy Orton on him. Look at this.
[Michael] That is where the power game is so effective.
Oh.
But Orton, look at him, still holding on.
[Jerry] Orton like a boa constrictor.
[Michael] Orton needs to try to build some momentum,
and perhaps off that side slam he'll be able to-- be able to do it.
At the very least, Batista buys himself a little bit of time to try to regroup.
[Jerry] You're right because Batista's had a lot taken out of him
over the last few minutes from Randy Orton's offense.
[Mike] Two.
-[Jerry] Referee with a double counting. -Three!
[Jerry] These men have waited four years for this match.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] He's got more left.
[Jerry] Both of these men just trading bombs right here.
[Michael] It's Batista.
Oh.
Orton.
Oh, what a clothesline.
[Jerry] Orton ran right into that huge right arm of Batista.
Here comes Orton out again.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Batista starting to punish Orton.
[crowd chattering]
[man] Bring him over here, Batista.
Give me a piece of him.
Two.
[Michael] And now it's Randy Orton on the defense.
Three.
[Jerry] I thought Batista was about to throw Orton our way,
but I'm glad he sent him back in the ring.
-It's-- oh. -[Michael] Oh, Batista
is going for the top rope, he doesn't do it often.
Randy Orton saw it coming.
[crowd chattering]
[Jerry] That was probably a move out of self-preservation
and Randy Orton knows that Batista coming off the top rope
can't be anything but bad for you.
[Michael] Well, imagine what this superplex will do to Batista's neck.
It will rattle Batista's already injured neck.
[Jerry] Oh, and if Orton is able to get the cover, he's got it.
-This may do it. -[Michael] Crawls to the cover.
Does hook the leg. Batista, he powered out.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Another near fall for Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Man, that had to jar the massive frame of Batista to the core.
[crowd chattering]
[Jerry] Talk about Batista not used to coming off the top rope.
[Michael] Spinebuster.
Cover.
Hooks the leg, did he get him?
Oh, no, and a kickout.
Normally the Spinebuster precedes the Batista Bomb.
But perhaps this match has taken so much out of The Animal,
he went right for the cover there.
[Jerry] Well, that big superplex off that top rope there.
[Michael] Batista going for a Batista Bomb,
yet again, Randy Orton for the RKO.
[Jerry] Oh.
-[Michael] Oh. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] Batista plants Orton, another counter,
hook of the leg, Orton kicks out.
Counter after counter, these men have spent so much time together,
they were brought up together here in the WWE.
They know each other so well, and it shows in this match.
[Jerry] And each man able to counter the other's best moves.
Now Batista looking like he's maybe going for a spear.
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh.
And Randy Orton right back to the injured neck. Oh.
Combination neck backbreaker.
Hooks the leg, Batista in trouble,
and again Batista powers out.
Back and forth, up and down.
[Jerry] Oh, look at the frustration starting to-- uh-oh.
[Michael] And there's The Viper.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Coiling for an attack.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] He is coiled and ready to strike.
[Michael] Vindictiveness pouring from the eyes of Randy Orton.
-For the RKO. -[Jerry] Look at this.
[Michael] Counter by Batista. What a slam.
Hooks the leg.
Batista got-- no.
[Jerry] How did that--
that was not a three-count?
[Michael] Wow.
How close does Batista have to come?
[Jerry] Man, Orton coiled, ready to strike,
ready to deliver that match-ending RKO.
Somehow, Batista blocked it, and as you said, planted Orton,
-but oh-- -[Michael] And it's Orton with a counter.
DDT again to the injured neck!
Can Orton capitalize?
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] I think Orton sort of lulled Batista in there.
Made Batista think Orton was hurt worse than he was.
And then Orton striking.
[Michael] Batista…
[Jerry] Look at Orton just--
[Michael] Batista just physically exhausted.
-[Jerry] Oh, wait, wait, wait. -[Michael] Oh, no.
[Jerry] Orton sees that opportunity for that punt.
-[Michael] Orton wanted to kick… -[Jerry] No!
[Michael] …wanted to punt Batista.
And the Animal countered.
And it's Batista turning the tables again.
[Jerry] Both men throwing caution to the wind here.
[crowd shouting] One, two, three, four, five!
[Jerry] Oh, look at this.
-[Michael] Batista. -He's grabbed the ropes.
[referee] Let it go.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Look at this. -[Jerry] Wait!
[Michael] Randy Orton, big mistake.
Batista with a Batista Bomb.
Is this it?
[crowd] One, two, three.
-[Michael] Batista… -[bell rings]
-[Michael] …spectacular victory. -["I Walk Alone" playing]
[Lilián] Here is your winner, Batista!
[Jerry] As you said Michael,
Orton with the momentary mistake,
just that little lapse, gave Batista the opportunity to turn that
and move into the Batista Bomb.
[Michael] The WWE Universe, and those two men waited four years for this match.
-And it didn't disappoint. -[Jerry] Oh, what a battle.
[singer] ♪ All these people Talking out their heads ♪
[Michael] That match was as even as you could get, ladies and gentlemen.
Batista just was able to use his power and strength at the end of the matchup
to hold on to the ropes for just enough time
to counter Orton into the Batista Bomb.
[singer] ♪ I guess I'll have to chew them up ♪
[Jerry] Let's look once again, earlier on in the match,
Cody Rhodes and Manu thought they were going to be a big part of this match.
But instead, the referee threw them out.
Orton was on a roll, stayed that way a a lot of the match,
planting Batista face first with that move.
[Michael] And then Randy Orton, The Viper,
ready for attack going for the RKO, and then Batista countered.
Turning the momentum around, and we thought this was it.
-[Jerry] So close at that point. -[crowd cheering]
But then, watch this, Orton thought he had Batista,
and somehow, Batista with the strength
to turn that into the Batista Bomb!
[Michael] Batista was able to hold on to those top ropes for just enough time.
And the Batista Bomb connects.
And The Animal victorious at Armageddon.
The future is now for Batista and Randy Orton.
[Jerry] I don't think it's over in Randy Orton's mind.
["I Walk Alone" continues playing]
[singer] ♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger ♪
♪ I've swallowed down ♪
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
we gotta take you back to this past Monday night on Raw.
We celebrated the best of the WWE.
[Jerry] Oh, it was Slammy Award time.
[Michael] Monday Night Raw is live in Philadelphia tonight.
A three-hour spectacular.
[Jerry] Tonight, we recognize the brightest and the best of the WWE
with the 2008 Slammy Awards.
-[Morrison] In life… -[The Miz] There are winners…
[Morrison] …and there are losers.
[both] Be jealous!
Yeah!
On behalf of all of the Dominant Divas across the world, I accept.
[CM Punk] Before my year is over,
you're going have a lot more moments that make you say…
Oh, my God!
-[CM Punk] Thank you. -[Vickie] What this award means
is that true love prevails.
We did it, baby!
We did it, I love you!
We did it!
[Stephanie] Tonight it is my honor to present
the 2008 Superstar of the Year award.
This individual epitomizes everything a WWE Superstar should be,
and this award recognizes their achievement.
And the Slammy for 2008 Superstar of the Year goes to…
Chris Jericho.
-["Break The Walls Down" playing] -[singer] ♪ Break the walls down ♪
♪ Break down the walls ♪
[Jericho] I can't think of a better way to close out my banner year of 2008
than by defeating and destroying John Cena
this Sunday at Armageddon, and once again
wearing the World Heavyweight Championship around my waist.
[Jerry] Oh! Here comes the champ!
And, oh, look at Jericho doing his thinking with his legs.
[Michael] Jericho wants absolutely nothing to do with John Cena.
Now Cena's got to turn his focus to his opponent in this matchup.
[Ross] Champion versus champion.
[Michael] John Cena versus Edge.
[Ross] Neither championship on the line, but a lot of pride.
[Tazz] And also J.R., great way to build some serious momentum
into this Sunday to Armageddon.
[Michael] Going for the STFU! It's locked in.
[Ross] Edge has done this before.
[Jerry] Wait. Hey!
-[Tazz] Cena, don't. -[Michael] It's Jericho.
[Ross] The man that Cena will meet this Sunday at Armageddon,
trying a sneak attack.
[Tazz] A street fight just broke out here in Philadelphia.
[Ross] Triple H coming to get him some of the WWE Champion.
-[Jerry] Look out! -[Ross] Jeff Hardy!
All three members of the Triple Threat match!
[Jerry] Oh!
-Oh, look out! -[Tazz] Watch out!
I think we're getting a preview of this Sunday at Armageddon.
And I like it.
[bell rings]
[Justin] This is a Santa's little helper
Eight-Diva Tag Team match.
[crowd cheering]
-["Legs Like That" playing] -[singer] ♪ Here she comes again ♪
♪ Like good medicine ♪
♪ Every step she takes My blood is flowing ♪
[Justin] Introducing first, the team of Mickie James, Kelly Kelly,
the Diva's Champion Michelle McCool, and Maria.
[Michael] You're wearing red tonight, you're a big fan of red, aren't you, Tazz?
-[Tazz] I love red. -[Jerry] I love Santa.
And his little helpers.
[Ross] And the mistletoe.
Gotta love the mistletoe as well as Goldust is not under it.
-[Michael laughs] -[Tazz laughs]
[Striker] Hey, King, how would you like one of these beautiful Divas
to be your secret Santa?
-[Jerry] Oh. -[singer] ♪ Look out ♪
♪ Hey ♪
[Jerry] That goes without saying, wow.
[Ross] They already call him Uncle Jerry.
[commentators laugh]
[Jerry] I can't imagine finding one of these little helpers
under my tree on Christmas morning.
[Tazz] It seems-- appears that Michelle McCool and Maria
patched up things since their physical altercation two weeks ago on SmackDown.
[Ross] Cooler heads have prevailed.
-It's the holiday season. -[Justin] And their opponent,
-the team of Victoria… -[Ross] Even you're smiling, Tazz.
-[Tazz] I can explain. -[Justin] …Jillian, Natalya, and Maryse.
[Tazz] Hey. I'm digging-- I'm digging the green and white.
[Michael] Hey. They're green with envy. [laughs]
-[Tazz] Okay. -[laughing]
[Michael] King wrote my stuff.
[Tazz] That's why you never won a Slammy, Cole.
[Michael laughs]
[Ross] Well, Maryse, the French Canadian,
-Natalya. -[Jerry] Look at Victoria,
she's even got the pointy little elf boots.
[Ross] Thanks for pointing that out, Jerry.
[Striker] Do you mind if we take some of these Divas back
to ECW on Tuesday night?
[Ross laughs] No.
-[laughing] -[Jerry] You know what, I--
only thing I'm missing on Victoria,
I know she has them, but I don't see her antlers anywhere.
[Tazz] That's a good point, very good observations, King.
[Jerry] I know she's got some.
[Ross] I thought when you get so experienced you lose your antlers.
-[Michael laughs] -[Tazz] I think we're all lucky
that Jillian's not singing anything like "Jingle Bells" or "White Christmas."
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Tazz] "White Christmas."
That's the song, right, "White Christmas"?
-[Michael] Yes. -[Jerry] That's a song, yes.
-[Michael] So is "Blue Christmas." -[commentators laughing]
[Jerry] Well, this is going to be good, guys.
[Michael] There's Mickie James and then Maryse.
[Ross] Referee is Aaron Jerry Mahoney.
-[Michael laughs] -[Tazz] It's actually Maryse, not Maurice.
[Michael] Oh, sorry, I was thinking of Earth, Wind & Fire.
[Striker] Hey, Tazz, J.R. You get to see Maryse a lot,
she's narcissistic and self-centered, what makes her so confident?
[Tazz] Well, she's the sexiest of the sexy, Mr. Striker.
I mean, just ask Maryse, she'll tell you yourself.
[Striker] I'll ask her.
[Jerry] Well, she's getting the taste slapped out of her mouth
right now by Mickie James.
[Michael] Not a four-time women's champion like Mickie.
[crowd chatters]
[Striker] That's the most energetic and exciting Diva in WWE.
And my personal favorite.
[Ross] Mickie does not drink sanka.
[Jerry] I like to call her bubbly.
Who's your personal favorite, Matt, Mickie?
-[Striker] Mickie James. -[Jerry] What about you, J.R.?
Who's your personal favorite in there?
[Ross] Oh, I don't know, King, you know, I'm kind of a…
[Jerry] You like redheads?
[Ross] Yeah. I'm very happily married, you know.
[Tazz] Oh, wow.
-Just punking out the-- -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] Mine would be Natalya.
-[Ross] I love Natalya. -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Ross] Natalya just got assaulted there by Mickie James.
-[Jerry] Oh, man! -[Todd] Ouch.
-[Striker] J.R.-- -[Jerry] Mickie's on a slap fest tonight.
[Striker] J.R., what did you call Natalya on Friday Night Smackdown?
The Anvilette?
[Ross] Oh, the Anvilette, she's the daughter of Jim Anvil Neidhart.
[Jerry] Okay. Guys, here's my favorite in action right here.
-[Striker] Here's to say… -[Michael] Kelly Kelly.
[Jerry] Kelly Kelly.
[Striker] Kelly Kelly celebrates Hanukkah, what a hot Hebrew she is.
[Tazz] And the most uncomfortable line of the evening, Matt Striker.
[Michael] Here comes Hanukkah, here comes Hanukkah.
[Striker] Hey, listen.
-[Tazz] Nothing wrong with that. -[Michael] No.
[Tazz] I didn't know that. That's a good information.
[Michael] Kelly Kelly also is a gymnast, did you know that?
[Ross] Oy vey.
[Tazz laughs]
[Michael] For ten years.
[Tazz] Never heard an Oklahoman say "oy vey", glad we heard it here.
-[Ross] Little drawl there. -[Tazz laughs]
[Michael] And there's some of that gymnast maneuvers.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
[Ross] Well, King likes Kelly Kelly the best,
she's the youngest lady in the match.
-[Jerry] That's right. -[Tazz] I knew that was coming.
[Tazz grunts]
[Striker] Todd, you like these outfits, Todd?
[Michael] It's like Lewis and Martin are back together.
[Todd] I do like these outfits, Matt, especially on these women,
I don't care that you have any at your house to wear. But--
[Striker] Well, if you go on WWE.com,
you can see pictures of all of these Divas later on tonight.
[Tazz] I see you're hanging around at that photography studio earlier today,
what's your deal, man?
-You were, like, hanging out-- -[Todd] Oh! Ooh.
[Ross] Nice clothesline by Natalya.
Could be the Sharpshooter next.
[Striker] Ow.
[Ross] The King will be checking out the pictures on WWE.com with his pal,
of course we know who we're talking about, Stocky Balboa.
[commentators laugh]
[Todd] Here comes the jazzy Jezebel.
[Jerry] Look out.
I think Kelly Kelly needs a tag.
She needs some help from some of the other little helpers.
[Michael] I was gonna say, Jillian, please don't win, I'd probably sink.
[Tazz] We haven't seen, uh, Maria yet in action, correct?
-[Todd] Oh, I've seen her. -[Tazz] No, I'm talking about now.
[Jerry] Can you imagine you're on Christmas morning
and open your door and outside would be Jillian singing Christmas carols to you?
[Tazz] That would be-- Definitely curl the paint on your house.
I mean, I got a brick house.
-Big brick… -[Michael] ♪ You're a brick house ♪
[Tazz] ♪ House ♪
[Striker] Oh.
[Jerry] Ouch.
[Michael] The '70s references are flying.
[Striker] And I didn't even make it.
[Michael laughs]
[Striker] How about that?
[Michael] Oh, here she is. Maria.
[Striker] The object of SmackDown's Festus' affection, Maria.
[Ross] Obligatory Seinfeld reference, ladies and gentlemen.
-Not keeping score at all. -[Striker] No one's named Delores.
[Ross] Hard shot.
[Tazz] I like Maria's John Nord-like boots.
[Striker] Hey, hey, hey, hey.
How come you can do it?
[Tazz] Do I get you there? Well, here we go. Speaking of getting.
-Get out of here! -Come on!
[Michael] There's my favorite Diva, Victoria.
[Striker] Some say the greatest in-ring Diva of all time.
-Very accomplished Victoria is. -[Ross] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] It's breaking down.
-[Ross] Breaking down the buffalo. -[Jerry laughs]
[Ross] Here come the wings.
[Tazz] I wish we were in Tulsa.
[Michael] Not me.
[Jerry] Uh-oh, wait a minute here.
Oh! Nice move.
[Jerry] I can tell-- I can't tell one of Santa's helpers from the other.
Is Jillian in there-- oh.
[Ross] Well, the tag made, tag made for the Diva's Champ, Michelle McCool.
-Oh-uh. -[Striker] Wow. Yeah, she got it,
it's like a French Legionnaire, all heart and soul.
[Tazz] Oh, man, I think she's supposed to be a little soldier.
-[Jerry] Merry Christmas. -[Tazz] Well, that was swift.
-[bell rings] -["Not Enough for Me" playing]
-[Tazz speaks indistinctly] -[Michael] Got it.
-Probably the best in the business. -[Justin] The winners of this match…
-[Striker] Whoo. Happy holidays, guys. -[Justin] …the team of Kelly Kelly,
Mickie James, Maria, and the Divas Champion, Michelle McCool.
[Ross] Michelle McCool decided to assert herself.
[Jerry] Christmas has come early for me.
[Tazz] Imagine one of these young ladies under your tree.
Jeez, King, I couldn't just fathom,
I probably hear you in New York from Memphis screaming.
[Jerry] It'd be a lot better than that jar of pickled pigs feet
J.R. gave me last Christmas.
[Ross] Oh, this year, you're getting barbecue sauce, quit complaining.
-["Land of Five Rivers" playing] -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa.
[singer singing in Punjabi]
[Michael] Speaking of Slammy Award winners.
[Ross] Oh, The Great Khali and the Sultan of Sideburns.
[Tazz] The Punjabi Playboy himself.
[Michael] Khali won the damn moment of the year for his Kiss Cam.
[Ross] There's no sense using that obscenity.
[Jerry] He made the Punjabi pucker famous.
[laughs]
Oh, it's time, ladies.
It's time for The Great Khali's
Christmas Kiss Cam!
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Striker] Oh, God.
[Ranjin] Yeah!
-[Michael] A Christmas Kiss Cam. -So, which one of you lovely Divas
wants to experience the ultimate Christmas gift.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -Who wants a kiss
from the Punjabi Playboy?
Huh? Hit the music.
-[romantic music playing] -Yeah, who's it going to be?
Who's it going to be?
Which one of you lovely ladies?
Let's see, will it be, oh, Maria.
Wait, wait.
Wait, no, hey, looks like we got our volunteer.
Michelle McCool.
The Divas Champion, eh?
Divas Champion, all right.
[laughs] Yeah.
-[Jerry] Being the biggest kiss she ever-- -[Ranjin] Hey.
[Jerry] Hey. Wait a minute. Where's she going?
[Ranjin] Where are you going?
[Ross] Not near those lips.
Come on, where's your Christmas spirit?
[Jerry] I think she'd rather have a lump of coal.
-No. These lips are too sweet for him. No. -[Jerry] Not Michael Cole.
[Michael] Darn.
[Jerry] Maybe she's going to get some ChapStick.
Hey, you know what, you know what Khali,
Khali, hey, don't worry, don't worry,
because you know what's better than kissing one Diva?
No. What is it?
[Ranjin] Kissing three Divas! Yeah!
-[Jerry] Huh? Oh, man. -[Ranjin] Come on.
Come on ladies, who's it going to be?
[Ranjin] Don't all run up here at once, come on, it's The Great Khali.
Kelly Kelly?
Maria?
Mickie? Come on we-- we're gonna take turns, everyone will get a kiss.
[Jerry] Look at Khali, he's licking his lips.
Everybody.
[Jerry] I don't blame him.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
You know what, I can sense a little reluctance here.
-[Michael] No. -And, and I know what's going on,
The Great Khali knows what's going on,
and it's understandable.
I mean, all of you beautiful Divas,
you're so overwhelmed
with how handsome
and how irresistible,
and how romantic The Great Khali is.
I mean, he's too much man for any woman.
We understand that.
And it's okay.
It's okay, Khali.
It's okay. Do you know why?
Do you know why?
Because I have a back-up plan.
-[Michael] Oh. -Yes.
I mean, if The Great Khali says that he's gonna kiss a beautiful Diva,
The Great Khali is gonna kiss a beautiful Diva.
He's gonna kiss one of Santa's little helpers.
And I have the perfect little helper in mind.
I mean, she's--
she's been helping Santa
for a long, long time.
-[crowd cheering] -What?
[Ranjin] Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Here she is.
-["Ohh Baby" playing] -[Jerry] Oh, no.
Oh, no.
[Ranjin] Hey. Look, look, look.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Ranjin] WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young.
[Michael] It really is Armageddon for Khali.
[Tazz laughs]
[Jerry] She has been helping Santa for a long time.
As a matter of fact, she was at the real first Christmas.
[Ranjin] Look at how beautiful she is.
[Jerry] I think she ran the original inn that there was no room in.
[Ranjin] I mean, those legs.
That beautiful hair.
[Jerry] She's got a cane and it's not candy.
[Ranjin] Those succulent lips, Khali.
This is a match made in heaven.
[Ross] What about the Dead Sea?
[Ranjin] Ladies, thank you, please help Mae up here.
[Jerry] She was helping Santa when the Dead Sea was only sick.
[Ross] Exactly.
[Michael laughs]
[Jerry] I saw Mae backstage earlier,
I said Mae, your stockings are wrinkled, she said, "I'm not wearing any."
-[Ross laughs] -It's Mae Young, everyone.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] It's Mae Young. -[Michael laughs]
Oh, yes.
Mae.
Now, Mae, Mae, I know, I know, I know you're excited.
I mean we are all excited, and The Great Khali says,
The Great Khali says you're looking hot tonight.
Yeah.
And do you have anything, anything at all you'd like to say
before The Great Khali gives you the ultimate Christmas gift?
I would like to say this is the greatest, highest part of my life.
-Yeah. -[Jerry laughing]
Are you ready?
Mae, are you ready?
Hey, who wants to see The Great Khali kiss the beautiful Mae Young?
-[Michael] Oh, my God. -[Jerry] It's not gonna be pretty.
[Ranjin] There you go. Yeah.
[Michael] Oh.
-[Jerry] She's got him in a lip lock. -[Ranjin] All right.
-[Michael] Subtle. -[Ranjin] Yeah.
[Jerry] No tongue, Mae, no tongue.
-[Ross] Mae's been in the eggnog again. -[Ranjin] Yes.
Let's hear it.
Let's hear it for The Great Khali…
[Jerry] Khali's got denture burns.
[Ranjin] …and the one, the only, the beautiful Mae Young.
Happy holidays, everyone.
[Michael] That's why he won a Slammy, ladies and gentlemen.
[Ross] Hey, Khali, you want a Junior Mint?
[Jerry laughs]
[Ranjin] Yes.
[singer] ♪ Oh, baby ♪
Oh, hey.
One more?
[Michael] Chris Jericho is the 2008 Superstar of the Year
and he hopes to cap off his 12-month odyssey with a bang,
winning the world championship here at Armageddon.
It's a rematch Jericho has been waiting for since Survivor Series.
[Jerry] John Cena is back.
[Michael] He's only three months removed from major surgery
to a herniated disc in his neck.
[Jerry] John Cena doesn't know what his physical condition is really gonna be.
[Michael] Can you believe this?
[Jerry] F-U.
[Michael] The cover.
[crowd] One. Two. Three.
-[Jerry] He did it. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] John Cena's done it. He's the world champion.
[Jerry] What a comeback story.
Absolutely unbelievable.
[Cena] Hustle, loyalty, respect.
That is the code in which I live by.
This championship proves that we are good enough,
this proves that the champ is here.
[dramatic music playing]
The champ is not here.
The champ is right here.
You are nothing but a liar and a hypocrite
just like all these sicko fans that you pander to each and every night.
I'm gonna beat you at Armageddon, Cena.
And you know what you're gonna do about it?
Absolutely nothing.
Because when it's all said and done,
you are nothing more than a coward and you--
[Michael] John Cena has snapped.
[Jerry] Cena has reached the point of no return, and you can't blame him.
[Michael] Cena defending the passion and the emotion of the WWE Universe.
What on earth has been unleashed in this man?
I had no idea that this guy existed inside Cena.
[dramatic music playing]
[Jericho] Hustle, loyalty, respect.
Once very important words that have now been downgraded
to nothing more than merchandising slogans
for the hypocrite that you call the world champion.
[Jerry] Everybody's on John Cena here.
[Michael] The numbers game, too much.
[Jericho] I don't respect any of your fans.
I don't like any of your fans because they are nothing like me.
[tense music playing]
[Jericho] I never represented these people when I was the champion
and I will not represent them after Armageddon
when I regain my title after completely destroying you.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
Cena! Cena!
[bell ringing]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[crowd cheering]
["Break Down The Walls" playing]
[fireworks explode]
[singer] ♪ Come on ♪
♪ You know I got ya, yeah ♪
♪ One, break the wall down ♪
♪ Break down the walls ♪
♪ For those about to rock And what ya want ♪
[Michael] Chris Jericho is the Slammy Award-winning
2008 Superstar of the Year.
And like him or dislike him,
he definitely has the resume and the credentials.
[Jerry] Well, he's a very religious man.
I think he worships himself.
I mean, this guy is so focused on…
on Chris Jericho
being the World Heavyweight Champion again that it's gonna be hard to stop him.
[Michael] This year, he's a two-time world champion.
He won a unique Championship Scramble.
He's won two steel cage matches.
And a ladder match, knocking off the likes of Shawn Michaels and Batista this year.
Jericho had the audacity to claim that he was a bit surprised by John Cena
at Survivor Series.
Saying he didn't think Cena's neck was gonna be as good as it was.
[Jerry] Well, he was surprised all right.
[crowd booing]
[Jerry] See the disdain that he has for our fans.
[crowd chatters]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[singer] ♪ Krrr, Amadou ♪
What's up? Let's go.
[singer] ♪ Your time is up My time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise… ♪
Let's go.
[Jerry] One of my favorite things about a John Cena entrance
is getting to say the champ is here.
[singer] ♪ The franchise Doing big business, I live this ♪
[Michael] No superstar in the WWE today evokes as much emotion
out of the WWE Universe as John Cena.
[Jerry] Everyone in this arena on their feet right now.
[Michael] And the one thing we've learned about John Cena in the past few weeks
is that he will match and then up
anyone's intensity and intent.
[singer] ♪ I'm never better Your boy is so hot ♪
[Michael] He is a volatile package and if you push the wrong button,
that's what you're gonna get.
Just ask Chris Jericho about it.
[Jerry] We saw a side of John Cena that you and I
and I think many of our fans didn't know existed.
And it was all unleashed and brought out by the actions of Jericho.
Introducing first, the challenger,
weighing in at 226 pounds, Chris Jericho.
[crowd booing]
And from West Newbury, Massachusetts, weighing in at 240 pounds,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] John Cena has held four world titles.
He's been the United States Champion, a World Tag Team Champion.
He won the 2008 Royal Rumble.
Chris Jericho is a five-time world champion,
the first-ever Undisputed Champ
and an eight-time Intercontinental Champion.
[Jerry] What a battle this is gonna be.
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct chatter]
[Jerry] I think that that man, Chris Jericho,
-would be wise not to push those buttons… -[bell ringing]
[Jerry] …you were talking about early on in this match, Michael.
[Michael] Collar-and-elbow tie-up to start things off.
World championship on the line.
Cena, the champion, Jericho, the challenger.
And, King, if there's one thing that we learned
from the four-on-one attack that included the Randy Orton DDT
to the concrete a couple weeks ago is that it appears Cena's neck is okay
because he came back last week with a vengeance.
[Jerry] Yeah, and much to the chagrin of Chris Jericho.
I think Jericho was pretty much banking, oh, on the fact that Cena would not be
a hundred percent, or at least his neck.
[Michael] Oh, Chris Jericho goes right to work on the neck of John Cena.
Bring it up. Come on. Let's go.
Bring it up, Cena.
[Michael] The month of December has been awesome in the career of Chris Jericho.
[Jerry] Another one of those kicks that we saw early with Jericho,
along with Orton, delivered to John Cena.
[Michael] Oh, and John Cena takes Jericho down.
And the fight has broken out between these two men
who have such distain for one another.
[Jerry] Jericho pushed the wrong button.
And here comes Cena.
[Michael] Last week, these men brawled through the arena.
Couldn't contain themselves.
For Jericho, he must keep the match in the ring.
You can only take the world title by pinfall or submission.
The veteran Jericho on the attack.
But in the month of December, Chris Jericho has won
an Intercontinental Championship at this event.
[Jerry] Jericho--
[Michael] He won a Last Man Standing match at this event.
[Jerry] Look at those headbutts from Jericho.
[Michael] And in December, he also became
the only undisputed champion in WWE history
by beating The Rock and Austin in the same night.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Jericho, with the early advantage here,
takes a couple of uncharacteristic headbutts there.
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh.
Sometimes there's nothing pretty about John Cena
but it's brute force and it's effective.
[Jerry] John Cena just-- in every opportunity,
just hammering away at Jericho.
He's just clubbing him.
[Michael] Chris Jericho going for sleeper hold.
Remember, he can win by submission or if Cena does pass out.
[Jerry] Oh, look at the strength of John Cena.
[Michael] The injured neck. Remember the surgically-repaired neck.
It's only been four months since John Cena had that surgery.
[Jerry] Boy, look at the tenacity of Jericho.
Cena just dropped his entire weight.
Dropped Jericho on his back, Cena on top of him,
but Jericho able to hang on.
[Michael] King, we all know what the world title means
to the narcissist Chris Jericho.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] He said it completes him.
[Michael] And he admits that he's out for himself
and that he's the best in the world today, in his words.
And he called Cena a flash in the pan.
Come on.
[Michael] And he claims that he, Jericho, is the new hero.
Come on.
[Jerry] I don't know if he's trying to convince us or himself.
[crowd chatters]
[Michael] The WWE Universe is rumbling in Buffalo.
John Cena with the strength, going for the F-U on Jericho.
[Jerry] Oh, Jericho, you're in a world of trouble now.
[Michael] Can he put Jericho away?
-Oh, what a counter. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] What a counter by the Superstar of the Year.
[Jerry] Man.
Boy, that's going from the brink of disaster
and turning it around to a match-changing move there.
-Oh, wait a minute. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
John Cena, he just caught Jericho.
Look at this power.
[Jerry] He's got Jericho and--
[Michael] Jericho fighting for everything he has to survive.
-[Jerry] Oh, look out. -[Michael] Oh, no.
[Jerry] Good grief.
Whoa.
Cena was just bulldogged by Jericho off the ring apron,
head first into the-- those steel steps.
[Michael] The champ motionless.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] Check this out one more time.
Oh, man.
[Michael] Now a task for Jericho to get that body back into the ring.
[Jerry] I don't know if I've ever seen that before.
-This could be it. -[Michael] Quickly going for the cover.
Could have a new champion.
The challenger hooks the leg.
Cena's foot onto the ropes. Now it isn't.
There's the two-count.
And Cena kicks out.
[Jerry] Precious seconds there bought by Cena.
Well, that could have been a--
[Michael] The foot under the ropes may have helped Cena.
Helped him retain the championship there for the moment.
Ooh.
[Jerry] I think Jericho realizes how that knocked the senses
of Cena's head going face first into those steel steps.
[Michael] Remember how personal this has become as well, King, as…
Off the rope. Get him off the rope.
[Michael] …Jericho just continues to wear the champion down.
-Three. Four. -[Jerry] Gonna risk disqualification.
Get him off the rope.
[Michael] Three years ago, John Cena won a match
in which Chris Jericho got fired.
Two. Three.
[Michael] Look at Cena's face.
[Jerry] Jericho has got to be careful.
I mean, he is risking disqualification here.
[Michael] Remember, Jericho said during that time, King, that--
when he was out of action, that John Cena became his son's hero.
Jericho's son was a John Cena fan.
[Jerry] Of course, that led to Jericho banning his son from watching Raw.
[Michael] Except for tonight.
Says he's gonna allow his son to watch this match
so he can watch his dad beat his favorite hero, John Cena.
[crowd chanting]
[Michael] Jericho's strategy has been to focus on the injured neck
since the get-go.
Hasn't been effective.
[Jerry] Well, I think Jericho has been able to do--
I mean, some surprising things as far as I'm concerned here tonight.
That bulldog into the steps should have been a match-ender.
-[Michael] Oh. Jericho. -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Michael] It's Cena's turn to go on offense…
[Jerry] Look out.
[Michael] …next.
-[Jerry] Oh, watch out here. -[Michael] Oh.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Cena's feeling it.
[Michael] He's feeling the bulldog and the injured neck.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] You can't see me. Here comes some Five Knuckle Shuffle.
-Yes. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] World champion building momentum.
Jericho in his sights.
F-U time.
Jericho countered again.
Oh, look at this.
[Jerry] Trying to turn Cena into The Walls of Jericho.
[Michael] Can he roll Cena to his belly?
-[Jerry] No. -[Michael] Cena counters.
[Jerry] Whoa. The leg strength of John Cena.
[Michael] Belly-to-belly throw by Cena.
Cover. Hooks the leg.
Can he get it? Kickout at two by the challenger.
[Jerry] Back and forth.
Both these guys-- oh, here comes Cena right into that elbow.
[Michael] There's the veteran again.
And Jericho missile dropkick, second rope, toward the cover.
Hooks the leg. Will we have a new world champion?
No. Cena at two and a half.
[Jerry] You see it. Like you said, Jericho going back to--
J.R. would say, "you dance with who brung you."
-[Michael] Ooh. -[Jerry] Oh.
He's going after that neck.
[Michael] Cena told Jericho, "You talk business, I mean business."
-The throwback. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
-[Michael] But Jericho countered it. -[Jerry] Jericho able to throw John Cena.
-Oh, the Lionsault. -[Michael] This could be it.
Jericho may his win his third world title in 2008,
but Cena kicks out.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] It's not gonna be easy.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] Jericho taking his time.
[crowd chattering]
[Jerry] Right back with that relentless attack.
Is he gonna prepare the situation up there, you know?
[Michael] Jericho, if he goes for the superplex here,
you gotta keep your eye and your mind on the injured neck of John Cena.
And Cena realizes the desperate times, battling out, and Jericho pays.
[Jerry] Man, Cena dropping Jericho face first.
-And incoming. -[Michael] Oh.
And then the big leg at the back of the neck.
No trepidation from Cena to go to the top rope there.
-[Jerry] That may be enough. -[Michael] Here's the cover,
hooks the leg, Cena's got it-- no.
Even after hooking both legs, he can't put Jericho away.
Here we go.
You want some, come get some.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] You hear the champ, "You want some, come get some."
[Michael] And Jericho up on the shoulders again for a third time in the match.
John Cena trying to power through the elbows.
-Went for the F-U. -[Jerry] Whoa. Look at this.
[Michael] Jericho countered it with a Codebreaker.
-[Jerry] Codebreaker. -[Michael] The Codebreaker.
A new champion? Could it be? Could it--
No, and a kickout.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, Jericho beside himself.
He feels that was a three-count.
[Michael] Desperately begging and pleading for a three-count.
[Jerry] The referee's hand did not strike the mat for the third time,
but Jericho certainly felt it should have.
-F-U. -[Michael] F-U connecting.
Jericho let his emotions get the best of him
and Cena able to take advantage.
[Jerry] Jericho ran right into that F-U.
[Michael] Can Cena capitalize?
[Jerry] That Codebreaker took a lot out of Cena.
Here's the-- here's the cover.
[Michael] Cena hooking the leg.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Oh, did he get him?
-Did he get-- no. -[Jerry] No.
[Michael] Jericho surviving.
[Jerry] Both these men survivors.
They're taking each other's best shots.
[Michael] For the World Heavyweight Championship.
One…
two…
[Jerry] Referee counting, Cena trying to get back to his feet,
but man, Jericho's out.
Well, he's stirring.
[crowd cheering]
[Mike] Six.
[Michael] Jericho, playing possum, playing possum,
and almost stole one.
[Jerry] Jericho just laying in wait.
[Michael] Oh, enzuigiri missed,
and it's John Cena, middle of the ring, STFU.
Can he lock it in?
[Jerry] Jericho's fighting him with everything he's got.
[Michael] Cena trying to lock it in STFU,
but Jericho flailing away.
[Jerry] Jericho flailing, squirming, doing anything to avoid--
-oh, it's-- John Cena again. -[Michael] And again, rolls up Cena.
-[Jerry] No, wait. -[Michael] Jericho going for the Walls.
-And Jericho's got the Walls in. -[Jerry] Oh, this is it.
[Michael] The Walls of Jericho locked in.
Could be seconds away from the world title.
[Jerry] And Cena's right in the middle of the ring, he's gonna have to tap.
[Mike] What do you say, Cena?
You wanna give it up?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Jericho can feel that world championship in his grasp.
[Mike speaking indistinctly]
[Jerry] Look at Cena, trying to muster the strength,
every ounce of strength he's got.
No, no.
[Michael] Does Cena have anything left?
He just dragged a 230-pound man
half way across this ring on his belly.
[Jerry] Yeah, but then Jericho dragged Cena right back to the middle of the ring,
it's-- Cena's gonna have to tap.
[Michael] Look at the grit, the determination in Cena's eyes.
John Cena somehow reversed it.
John Cena reversed the Walls,
Jericho on his belly, STFU.
-[Jerry] Oh, no! It's locked in. -[Michael] STFU.
-Tap out. Tap out. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Cena retains the title.
[singer] ♪ Your time is up My time is now ♪
[Lilián] Here is your winner by submission
and still the World Heavyweight Champion,
-John Cena. -[Jerry] Wow, what a match.
[Michael] A blue collar, workman-like effort
for John Cena here tonight
as he retains the world championship
over a game Chris Jericho.
[Jerry] And Jericho had The Walls of Jericho locked in,
I thought for sure Cena was going to have to tap.
Somehow, the wherewithal, the strength to reverse that,
and then, lock in the STFU.
[singer] ♪ They could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishing with no bait ♪
♪ Can't your boy hold weight? I got my soul straight ♪
[Jerry] Boy, they call Cena a throwback,
and he is just that.
[singer] ♪ I'm never better Your boy is so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
[Michael] John Cena in his words…
giving Jericho a re-education
on the definition of the word respect.
[Jerry] The Champ is still here.
[singer] ♪ It's the franchise Boy, I'm shining now ♪
♪ You can't see me My time is now ♪
[Jerry] Let's go back now and look earlier on in the match,
John Cena was trying everything.
He went for the F-U,
any number of times, but it was countered.
Another opportunity for an F-U, on the outside,
but Jericho turned it into a huge opportunity.
Another F-U by Cena
that Jericho was able to avoid and then the Codebreaker.
I thought that was it,
and then I thought this was it, Michael.
The Walls locked in.
[Michael] The grit, the guts of John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Look at this.
What a maneuver.
Cena locks in the STFU, and…
-Jericho had no choice but to tap. -[bell ringing]
[Jerry] John Cena celebrating with the Buffalo Bills.
[Michael] Thee words for John Cena,
hustle, loyalty, and respect.
John Cena retaining the World Heavyweight Championship.
-["The Time Is Now" continues playing] -[singer] ♪ Knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
[Jerry] And what a victory.
What a victory.
[singer] ♪ A soldier And I stay under you fighting ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm stormin' on you chumps Like thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breaking me kid I'm harder than nails ♪
[Michael] Heck of a battle at Armageddon.
[Jerry] The Throwback is back, The Champ is here.
[singer] ♪ But they gone fishing with no bait ♪
♪ Can't your boy hold weight? ♪
♪ I got my soul straight I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better Your boy is so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ And if they hate, let 'em hate ♪
[narrator] On this night,
30 will be chosen.
Thirty will be put to the test.
In the most important match of their careers.
[Ross] The Game. Batista.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio. Undertaker.
-[Ross] John Cena. -[Michael] …is going to WrestleMania.
[narrator] Thirty Superstars,
one golden opportunity.
WWE Royal Rumble,
live Sunday, January 25th on pay-per-view
Well, the Royal Rumble happens only once a year,
and certainly begins the Road to WrestleMania,
I love the 30-Man Royal Rumble matchup.
Tell you what, Royal Rumble rolling into the Motor City, baby.
Royal Rumble's one of my favorites of all time.
I, you know, I was truly debuted at the Rumble, big deal to me.
I remember, ladies and gentlemen,
if you remember we've been asking all night
what your thoughts were regarding
who actually did in Jeff Hardy
in the hotel room in Baltimore.
We've asked you to text your vote.
And here are the results.
[Tazz] Wow.
[Ross] 65% think that Edge was responsible
for what happened in Baltimore.
That certainly spurred this Triple Threat match tonight
for the WWE Championship.
[Triple H] Everybody probably has their own opinion on this Jeff Hardy situation.
Jeff Hardy was found unconscious this morning
in the stairwell of his hotel here in Boston.
We have just been informed Jeff Hardy would not be able to compete here tonight.
So, the WWE title will be a one-on-one matchup.
[tense music playing]
[Ross] And Triple H--
[Tazz] Oh God, he hit it! Pedigree.
[Ross] Both men are down.
He's here.
[woman] You think you know me.
-[Ross] What? -[Tazz] You've got to be kidding me.
[Ross] The wild-eyed look of Edge.
[Edge] I read on WWE.com what was going on with Jeff Hardy.
And I have to take action into my own hands.
[Ross] And now the Triple Threat match, no disqualifications.
[Edge] He doesn't have the same gumption
that someone like me, a true champion, has.
[Tazz] Wait, wait, wait.
[Ross] My God, there's Jeff Hardy.
It's Jeff Hardy assaulting Edge.
[tense music playing]
[Ross] Hardy going manic with a steel chair.
And there's a spear by Edge.
[crowd] One, two, three.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[Ross] My God, we got a new WWE Champion.
[Tazz] The Ultimate Opportunist strikes again.
[Ross] Jeff Hardy had worked so hard,
had built so much momentum,
but someone assaulted Jeff Hardy in the stairwell,
then wasn't it just so convenient,
here comes Edge to make it a Triple Threat match.
[Edge] I am sick and tired of everyone blaming me for what happened to Jeff
because I didn't do it.
Think about the person who had the most to gain.
And the least to lose.
Who is it?
Triple H.
[Ross] At Armageddon, it will be a Triple Threat match,
three men vying for the WWE title.
Jeff Hardy, Triple H,
and the WWE Champion, Edge.
[Triple H] Jeff, you were never a big enough blimp on my radar
to warrant an attack.
I'm sick of the game, I'm sick of you.
[Triple H] Now you've put yourself in my path, Jeff,
and I will run you down.
[Edge] It seems like my two opponents in the Triple Threat match
for my WWE Championship,
it looks like they're ready to tear each other's heads off.
[Jeff] I don't care if I walk out.
[Triple H] I don't care if you show up.
[Jeff] I don't care if I crawl out.
[Triple H] When it's all said and done…
[Jeff] I am leaving Armageddon…
[Triple H] …I will be walking out there of there…
[Jeff, Triple H] …WWE Champion.
-[Ross] Oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
[Ross] Pair of spears
to the co-number one contenders
for that man's WWE title.
[Tazz] The Ultimate Opportunist picks his spot again.
[heart thumping]
[bell ringing]
This contest set for one fall
is a Triple Threat match
for the WWE Championship.
["The Game" playing]
[singer] ♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ It's all about your debt And if you can pay it ♪
♪ It's all about pain ♪
[Ross] Fans here at Buffalo, New York
have risen to their feet, ladies and gentlemen,
in anticipation for what should be
one of the great main events
in the history of Armageddon.
An event that started back in 1999,
an event that this man, Triple H, was in at the main event,
and victorious in the very first Armageddon event.
[Tazz] Well, I'll tell you, The Game's face and eyes tell the story.
bound and determined
to regain the WWE Championship.
[Ross] A win tonight would make it number 13
for The Cerebral Assassin.
[singer] ♪ Time to play the game ♪
[Ross] The King of Kings looks to be in magnificent position,
and The Game was in great position
to become the WWE Champion back in Boston.
I wrongly had said Baltimore earlier,
a little excited here.
Little too much coffee today.
But it was "The Ultimate Opportunist," Edge,
who forcibly even entered in the Triple Threat match
when we came on the air in Boston after Survivor Series.
[Tazz] Yeah. And coincidentally how convenient,
Edge just happened to show up and his wife put him in a match,
and who would have thunk it, we had a new champion.
That was then, this is now.
["No More Words" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[fireworks explode]
[Ross] Jeff Hardy has had amazing success in the WWE since debuting,
believe it or not, when he was only 16 years of age.
I think he might have fibbed a little bit on his, uh, on his paperwork.
-[Tazz laughs] Yeah. -[Ross] But be that as it may,
Jeff Hardy has won 16 championships in the WWE,
but the coveted WWE title has eluded him.
[Tazz] You know, J.R., you have to wonder is tonight Jeff's night?
It's almost as if Jeff was questioning himself earlier
saying that people wonder, "Hey Jeff, do you have what it takes?"
We've heard Triple H say that to Jeff,
"You've come this close,
but never been able to seal the deal."
Will that happen tonight?
[Ross] By his own admission,
2008 has been a controversial year
for "The Strange Enigma," Jeff Hardy.
And will he be the Buffalo Bills of the WWE,
take four trips to the big dance, come home with no ring.
In this case, no WWE title.
[crowd chatters]
[woman] You think you know me.
["Metalingus" playing]
[singer] ♪ On this day ♪
[Ross] Probably ladies and gentlemen,
the only man that enjoyed Friday Night SmackDown
more than anyone was the WWE Champion, Edge,
because two nights ago,
it was Triple H and Jeff Hardy…
[fireworks explode]
[Ross] …going one-on-one.
Edge liked what he saw.
[Tazz] Well, Edge had a great opportunity to sit back in a catbird seat
and watch The Game, and watch Jeff Hardy
beat the daylights out of each other.
That's not the deal now,
Triple Threat, baby.
And I'll tell you, this match, a Triple Threat,
does not favor the champion.
[Ross] No disqualifications, no count-outs.
The first man to score a pin or submission will win,
and the winner is then the WWE Champion.
[Justin] Introducing the challengers.
First, from Cameron, North Carolina,
weighing 225 pounds,
Jeff Hardy.
[crowd cheering]
[Justin] Next from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing 255 pounds,
Triple H.
[crowd cheering]
[Justin] And their opponent from Toronto Ontario, Canada,
weighing 241 pounds,
he is the current WWE Champion,
"The Rated-R Superstar,"
Edge.
[crowd booing]
[Ross] Referee Chad Patton assigned to this contest.
Tonight's main event, remember the rules,
they are very simplistic, but important to know.
No disqualifications in this match.
There can be no count-outs,
and the match will continue
-until one man scores a pin or submission. -[bell ringing]
[Ross] And look at Jeff Hardy.
Going after the man that 65% of you
believe assaulted Hardy in Baltimore, in the hotel.
[Tazz] And maybe that's why
Jeff Hardy was in hot pursuit of Edge
from jump street here.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Jeff Hardy with a quick start, looking to end this early.
Remember the-- as the rules we've stated,
the champion doesn't have to be involved in the equation whatsoever
to lose his championship.
[Tazz] See Jeff Hardy,
I mean, Jeff, the unpredictable one himself,
Jeff Hardy has some significant,
you know, trust in thrust, you could say
and momentum coming into this matchup.
[Ross] And Jeff Hardy's building confidence.
-And a little… -[Tazz] Oh, whoa, whoa.
A little-- Hardy teamwork,
-and Jeff Hardy looking for a cover. -[Tazz] Here we go.
[Ross] And the first cover of the match created by Jeff Hardy.
[Tazz] Let's not make a mistake, I'm sorry, J.R.
I mean, Triple H not saving Edge,
Triple H got Jeff on roll here.
Triple H wanted to stop the pinfall,
otherwise the match would have ended,
and then, you know, then The Game would have left without the title.
[Ross] Putting up a "sudden death" situation.
The first pin, first submission wins it.
It's that simple.
-And look at this. -[Tazz] Oh, wow.
[Ross] Jeff Hardy had his back to the champion,
not good advice quite frankly in hindsight.
And the Rated-R Superstar making the risk-taker pay.
[Tazz] Well, you got to have your back to somebody
in this matchup here constantly,
it's a Triple Threat, it's three men out here.
Every man for himself.
[Ross] Two of the men, the champion and Triple H…
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Ross] …went outside!
-[Tazz] Whoa. -[Ross] And Jeff Hardy joining them
with that risk-taking mantra of his.
The Game able to avoid Hardy's contact.
[Tazz] It's that reckless style of Jeff Hardy,
it paid off there for sure.
[Ross] Again, no count-outs.
[Tazz] Oh! It paid off.
[Ross] But, uh, slobberknocking clotheslines are legal.
[Tazz] This is how Triple H here kind of a put Edge in harm's way.
And then set himself up for this right here.
Boom!
Tremendous by The Cerebral Assassin.
[Ross] Great awareness-- great ring awareness by Triple H
looking to become the champion for the 13th time here tonight.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Ross] Hardy upside down,
his head bouncing off the exposed concrete.
[Tazz] Well, listen, it's well-documented
that Triple H is one of the most clever and crafty,
intelligent competitors in the history of the WWE.
[Ross] All three of these men are lifelong fans.
All three of these men have prepared no doubt expertly,
but no one takes it to the level
that The Cerebral Assassin, who's getting hammered right now.
With Hardy out of the picture,
let's see if The Ultimate Opportunist can take advantage.
[Tazz] Look at Edge. Talk about opportunity,
WWE Champion, Edge is blasting The Game in the head
and is there anybody more controversial than our champion, in Edge?
Geez.
[Ross] Triple H retaliating with a taped right fist.
In a Triple Threat match, and it's one-on-one.
It's time to make hay,
even though the sun's not shining tonight--
-There's a cover. -[Tazz] Oh. Whoa!
[Ross] The hook of the foreleg results in a near fall.
[Tazz] Well, I-- tell you what, like him or not,
I respect the tenacity of Edge to go for a quick win,
not easy to do with Triple H though.
Try and get out of here if you can, if you're the champion, quickly.
Oh!
[Ross] The Game connects with a perfectly executed high knee.
[Tazz] Triple H blasting Edge, and speaking of blasting,
tremendous counter with the neckbreaker.
[Ross] The Game with no wasted motion,
steps in with that reverse neckbreaker on Edge
who has had some neck issues in his career.
-And look at that. -[Tazz] That's not going to help the neck
issues of the champion.
[Ross] Nice high impact.
[Tazz] Triple H bringing it big time.
[Ross] Triple H looking to not make any mistakes.
Building the momentum, all important momentum.
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Look, J.R., look.
[Ross] Jeff Hardy back.
Jeff Hardy had been out of sight, out of mind momentarily.
[Tazz] That's what happens if you take the mind off
on the other-- the third competitor at times.
[Ross] And Jeff Hardy lowered his head.
And again, The Game one step ahead,
no pun intended, of his challenger.
[Tazz] Triple H was zoning in for, like, a Pedigree on Edge earlier and…
speaking of Pedigrees, look at this.
[Ross] The Game looking to Pedigree the champion.
-Jeff Hardy! -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Ross] Whispers in the Wind.
He got some of The Game, no doubt about that.
Maybe a little bit of the WWE Champion as well.
[Tazz] The explosive Jeff Hardy leveling the playing field,
all three competitors are down.
Only in a Triple Threat match you'll see something like this.
They can't go for the coup d'état, and then look at that. Boom!
Oh, man.
[Ross] Hardy got Triple H right in the head,
may have concussed The Cerebral Assassin.
-And Jeff Hardy's unorthodox offense… -[Tazz] The pin.
[Ross] Looking for three,
the count broken up wisely by Triple H.
So the match continues.
[Tazz] As you put it J.R., it's more like a "sudden death" type of situation
than a Triple Threat.
First pinfall or submission, this bad boy is over.
[Ross] Hardy trying to leap up on the turn buckle, his foot slips,
Hardy then you see the position that he landed in, very gingerly.
And now Edge looking to take advantage.
[Tazz] That's what happens when you have that unpredictable style of Jeff Hardy.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.-
Oh, wait a minute, good grief.
[Ross] The Game getting underneath Edge.
And Hardy taking advantage.
[Tazz] Oh. [chuckles]
[Ross] Edge in the electric chair position,
just got shot to the canvas,
both The Game and Edge are down,
can Hardy capitalize?
[Tazz] I think Edge is ripe for the picking right here
for either one of the co-number one contenders.
-Here we go. -[Ross] Title on the line, leg is hooked,
and again, third time in the match.
The Game interrupts the count to continue the match.
[Tazz] Check out this Whisper in the Wind. Look at that.
Look at Edge just getting all of Jeff Hardy's leg across his face.
Here's another angle on that.
Oh, my God, did Edge ever land ugly or what?
[Ross] And that was a great opportunity for Jeff Hardy
-that he couldn't capitalize on. -[Tazz] Oh, oh, oh, look, look, look.
[Ross] The Game looking for a Pedigree.
Jeff Hardy counters,
and Triple H eats some turnbuckle.
[crowd chatters]
[Tazz] Oh.
[Ross] Both feet. You see the high impact
driving the air out of The Game,
right into the sternum with both feet.
[Tazz] Jeff Hardy as usual,
giving his utmost during a matchup.
[Ross] And the unpredictability,
that and the intangible factor of the Triple Threat match…
-[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa! -[Ross] …is in play.
There's a cover, the champion.
[Tazz] Speaking of The Ultimate Opportunist,
Edge almost grabbed one right there over Hardy.
Look at this, knocking the air right out of Triple H.
Oh!
[Ross] Both feet sticking The Game in the chest,
and now, where it's almost a one-on-one thing
with Jeff Hardy and Edge.
-The only men standing at this moment. -Come on.
[Tazz] Oh, Edge, Edge barely standing, but Edge…
[Ross] Edge looking to spear Hardy,
got The Game instead.
The clothesline, over the top
goes the WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Could it be Jeff Hardy's night?
Or is it a 13th timer for The Game?
[Tazz] Here we go. Oh.
[Tazz] The Twist of Fate scores.
[Tazz] Here goes Jeff Hardy.
[Ross] Hardy looking to take it all.
[Tazz] Hardy's gonna get it.
[Ross] Swanton.
-[Ross] If Hardy pins… -[Tazz] He's got him.
-[Ross] …The Game is over. -[Tazz] New champ.
-[Ross] We've got a new champion. -[Tazz] New champion.
-[Ross] Could get three? -[Tazz] Oh!
-[Ross] And Edge says no. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Ross] Emphatically and physically no.
This match will continue.
[Tazz] Edge just snatching victory away from Jeff Hardy
and saving his own WWE Championship in the process.
[Ross] And Hardy's body thrown against the security wall.
His carcass framing the security wall which is so unforgiving.
[Tazz] And I just got a glance of Edge's eyes,
and words can't describe that wily look.
Watch this, Edge going for a spear.
Leap frog-- a leap frog by Hardy and then--
and The Game, well, you know, he ate the bullet there.
[Ross] The Game got the spear, The Game got the Swanton,
and now can Edge get the advantage and beat Jeff Hardy?
One thing about the Triple Threat match,
you can't get counted out,
but you've got to have your opponent in the ring
to get the pinfall or submission.
[Tazz] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Referee can't disqualify.
Referee can't count-out.
[Tazz] That's what brings the intensity up--
the intensity in this type of matchup and the viciousness,
there's no doubt it, the Rated-R Superstar possesses those traits.
[Ross] All the antes up by-- everybody's all down on this one.
And this time, it's the champion.
With that wild-eyed look against a face full of announce desk.
[Tazz] Jeff Hardy showing nothing but heart and resiliency.
Oh!
[Ross] Hardy sending Edge for a very unceremonious ride
for that extremely abrupt ending.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Ross] I think business, as far as Jeff Hardy's concerned, has picked up.
[Tazz] I think you might be right about that.
Bad intentions on the mind of The Extreme Enigma.
[Ross] And remember now that the referee has helped us
as to what he can or can't do here.
[Tazz] It's all legal. All legal.
Oh, no!
[Ross] We are looking for one fall or one submission,
but it's got to be done in the ring.
And The Game puts himself right back in the hunt.
[Tazz] The Cerebral Assassin attacks again.
Picks his spot.
Scores a home run on it, man,
that was just great timing on The Game's part.
Uh-oh. Oh!
[Ross] Amazing physicality.
These three men paying a supreme price to become WWE Champion.
[Tazz] This thing getting straight up nasty.
[Ross] You know what it means in the heart and in the soul
of these three men
to be the most coveted champion in all the WWE.
[Tazz] Well, the ultimate prize is at stake,
the WWE title.
And Triple H lives for that championship.
Has worked for years and years, so hard for the title,
was stolen from him last month and wants it back now.
[Ross] Jeff Hardy's soul is haunted
by the fact that he's never been the WWE Champion.
Edge just regained the WWE title.
But look at Triple H, fighting with everything he's got
to eliminate Jeff Hardy here and now, once and for all.
[crowd chanting] Triple H! Triple H! Triple H
[Ross] It could be disaster for The Strange Enigma.
[Tazz] Well, something bad is gonna happen.
You can feel it.
You can feel it building.
[man] Come on, Edge.
[Tazz] Oh, good God-- wait.
[Ross] Pedigree.
Hardy…
tried the Twist of Fate.
-[Tazz] Watch out! -[Ross] Oh, my God.
Good God Almighty! Good Lord!
A spear through the table.
[Ross] The heart and soul of Jeff Hardy has just been speared
right out of this arena by Edge.
Our table destroyed.
Jeff Hardy's chances destroyed.
But what has Edge done to himself and where does this leave The Game?
[Tazz] That was insane.
That was one of the most insane things I've seen in years, I'm telling you,
there's no way Hardy's getting up after that, done.
Good God.
[Ross] Amazing. Look at this.
[Tazz] Going for the Pedigree and then…
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] You can see it, you can hear the impact.
-And now, back in the ring… -[Tazz] Oh, here it goes.
-[Ross] …The Game looking to win it. -[Tazz] Here it goes.
[Ross] Just got back to one-on-one.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Ross] The DDT.
That Impaler-like DDT by the-- by Edge has just planted Triple H.
[Ross] Neither man can be counted out.
We're going to continue if this fight lasts all night long.
[Tazz] I'm speechless out here.
Things just-- our announce table just imploded
at Jeff Hardy's body, and now…
[Ross] Edge now has the advantage.
Edge thinking spear, one has to assume.
Come on. Come on.
[Ross] The Game is-- weak leg.
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Ross] With a Double A spinebuster,
The Game is able to pull himself together
and maybe that's the move that Triple H needed
to become WWE Champion one more time.
[Tazz] I think The Game is zoning in,
and here comes the Pedigree.
Oh. [chuckles]
Triple H is gonna get his title back.
-[Ross] But wait a minute. -[Tazz] What?
[Ross] Kozlov, Vladimir Kozlov.
[Tazz] What the--
[Ross] Kozlov wanted to be in this match,
can't be disqualified,
but just saved Edge's title.
-[Tazz] Hey, there's Matt Hardy. -[Ross] Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy coming to get some retribution
-from Kozlov from earlier tonight. -[Tazz] Oof.
[Ross] Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
-[Tazz] Look at Jeff, Jeff Hardy. -[Ross] Jeff Hardy.
[Ross] Oh, Kozlov, you son--
Kozlov just dumped Jeff Hardy off the top turnbuckle.
And after what Hardy's endured.
Matt Hardy trying to…
to retaliate with this huge, powerful Russian.
[crowd chatters]
[Tazz] This is all legal, and again, Triple Threat,
no disqualification, it's kind of like…
[Ross] No count-outs, there's one man in the ring,
he's the WWE Champion.
We have had chaos.
This match is mired with controversy,
but we still have the WWE title match in progress.
Triple H trying to will his way back into the squared circle.
[Tazz] You could just see Triple H and Edge both physically spent.
Bodies been battered here.
-Oh, man. -[Ross] And spear.
There's a spear.
A thunderous spear.
-It should be, it's gonna be-- -[Tazz] He's gonna-- oh!
[Ross] It will be not three.
[Tazz] Talk about resiliency.
The toughness, the fortitude of The Game.
[Ross] The will to be WWE Champion.
And what it means to The Cerebral Assassin,
able to kick out.
[Edge] Get out of my way.
[Ross] What's this maniac doing?
Good God.
[Tazz] Hey listen, desperate men do desperate things.
[Ross] The eyes of a madman.
It's the eyes of a madman.
-Look at this chair. -[Tazz] Oh.
[Ross] We know exactly what the WWE Champion is planning.
[Tazz] Oh, no.
[Ross] ConChairTo.
-My God! There's Hardy! -[Tazz] Oh! Oh! Oh!
-[Ross] And Jeff Hardy. -[Tazz] Jeff-- oh.
[Ross] Oh. Oh, bam!
[Tazz] Wow.
[Ross] Where in the hell did Jeff Hardy come from?
Hardy going to the top.
-That should do it-- oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
-[Ross] Not so close. -[Tazz] Oh, man.
[Ross] Hardy has been so close,
but seemingly every time something happens.
[Tazz] Triple H was smart enough to realize
the momentum rapidly was shifting in Hardy's, you know, Hardy's corner,
and he had-- Triple H had to stop it.
[Ross] A base, an elementary,
but a brilliant counter for The Game
to put Hardy in the position he's in.
The WWE Champion is barely able to stand.
[Tazz] Oh, here we go.
[Ross] It could be a Pedigree away.
-[Tazz] He's got it, oh. -[Ross] And that did it.
The Game sticks the Pedigree.
[Tazz] Triple H-- wait.
-What, Hardy? What? -[Ross] What? Hardy. Hardy.
My God! My God, Jeff Hardy.
-Swanton. Swanton. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Tazz] He's got it. -[Ross] Hardy wins.
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] Jeff Hardy wins.
["No More Words" playing]
[Ross] Jeff Hardy's realized the dream of a lifetime.
[Justin] …and new WWE Champion,
Jeff Hardy.
[Ross] My God, I don't believe it.
From daredevil to champion,
from enigma to icon.
[Tazz] Tonight truly was a new chapter in Jeff Hardy's career.
[singer] ♪ You're in way over your head ♪
♪ You're gonna drown In the things that you've said ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ But words are cheap ♪
♪ But lies are big to take ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ And all your words are to debate today ♪
♪ It's a paradox, a mystery, a riddle ♪
♪ A door in your face And only I have the key ♪
♪ Do understand You'll be caught in the middle ♪
♪ Caught in a web by being spun by me ♪
♪ Don't you see the writin' on the wall? ♪
♪ Just a victim of your own conceit ♪
♪ The architect of your own defeat ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ But words are cheap ♪
♪ But lies are big to take ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ And all your words are to debate today ♪
♪ Never walk away from a fight That's worth fightin' ♪
♪ Never hesitate When you know you're gonna act ♪
♪ Never waste your words On a fool who won't listen ♪
♪ Never sell your soul 'Cause you'll never buy it back ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ But words are cheap ♪
♪ But lies are big to take ♪
♪ Don't you see the writin' on the wall? ♪
♪ You're in way over your head ♪
♪ You're gonna drown In the things that you said ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ But words are cheap ♪
♪ But lies are big to take ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ And all your words are to debate today ♪
[Ross] Let's take you back to this historic night, ladies and gentlemen.
[singer] ♪ It's a paradox ♪
[Ross] Take a look at how this one finally went down.
[singer] ♪ A door in your face And only I have the key ♪
♪ Do you understand ♪
♪ You'll be caught in the middle ♪
♪ Caught in a web by being spun by me ♪
[Tazz] Triple H going for Pedigree after Pedigree and
seemingly, out of nowhere comes Hardy. Oh, my God!
[Ross] That was a hard shot to The Game's head.
This was the third attempt at a Pedigree.
And look at-- on our table.
[Tazz] This is amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
[Ross] Boom.
The human anatomy.
But finally The Game would give the Pedigree.
[Tazz] Oh, no doubt, we thought that was that.
That was the end.
And then Kozlov, out of nowhere.
And then Jeff out of nowhere.
-[Ross] The ConChairTo attempt… -[Tazz] Oh!
[Ross] …was countered by Jeff Hardy who came out of nowhere.
And this was a historic Swanton.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] History was made right here, baby.
Boom!
New WWE Champion.
[Ross] And the WWE Universe will no doubt be saying,
let the Hardy Party begin.
We've got a new WWE Champion.
Congratulations to The Risk-Taking Enigma, Jeff Hardy.
["No More Words" playing]
[singer] ♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪
♪ A thousand threats I've heard before ♪
♪ But words are cheap ♪
♪ But lies are big to take ♪
♪ Time has come and gone for words ♪