[J.R.] We wish you were here at WrestleMania XXIV.
[narrator] It started with a celebration.
But the victories…
were only one half of the equation.
The end of WrestleMania
is only the beginning.
The resentful demand retribution.
[Batista] You had a decision to make.
Deep down, in your heart, you know you made the wrong decision.
If you want some of me, do something about it.
At Backlash…
I'm gonna finish this.
[narrator] The defeated crave revenge.
[Edge] Very soon, once again,
I will be the World Heavyweight Champion.
[narrator] The rising odds become unbearable.
[J.R.] A Fatal 4-way for the WWE title.
Can the age of Orton live on?
[narrator] When the spotlight fades,
when the rage begins,
after the celebration,
beware the Backlash.
And now, WWE presents the Tenth Annual Backlash.
["All Summer Long" by Kid Rock plays]
[crowd cheering]
[J.R.] From the sold out Baltimore Arena,
we welcome you, ladies and gentlemen around the world,
for the Tenth Annual Backlash!
I'm Jim Ross alongside Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler at ringside.
Everyone is pumped for Backlash!
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
sending you all to our broadcast colleagues
Mike Adamle and the Tazz.
Well, human suplex machine,
are you ready for some Backlash, my brother?
Let me tell you something right now, Mike.
I am amped up for an awesome night, big time! Backlash is here.
It should be a night of surprises, and speaking of surprises
here's the voice of SmackDown, Michael Cole.
And what a surprise we have for you on the SmackDown side of things.
I am so pleased and honored to be joined by our new color commentator.
He is WWE legend and three-time WWE Champion
Mick Foley. Welcome aboard, Mick.
Thank you so much, Michael Cole.
Hey, can… can you hear that?
It's the sound of thousands of attendants
simultaneously realizing I'm not the Coach.
[bell dings]
This bout set for one fall
is for the WWE United States Championship.
[Matt Hardy's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] In the most important match of his career,
Matt Hardy tries to prove tonight that it is indeed his time.
Matt Hardy spent four-and-a-half prime months on the shelf
with one man to blame.
The United States Heavyweight Champion, MVP.
He'll be looking for a little redemption tonight at Backlash.
[Cole] And the rivalry with MVP has been ongoing since the summer.
MVP apparently feeling that Matt Hardy was a serious threat
for his coveted United States Championship,
so he got then SmackDown General Manager, Theodore Long,
to agree to make him and Matt tag team partners.
In fact, they won the tag team title,
and that is where jealousy reared its vicious head
at the hands of MVP.
[Foley] They were an unlikely but effective tag team, but there!
A dastardly attack. MVP going on the offensive
just laying waste to the knee of Matt Hardy.
And now, you have to wonder, four-and-a-half months later,
will Matt Hardy come back 100%?
You ain't never gonna be better than me. I will always be better than you.
Come on, listen up. MVP, back up.
[Cole] That injury cost Matt Hardy four-and-a-half months of his career.
And at WrestleMania, MVP was poised to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match
when Matt Hardy paved through the crowd, exacting his revenge.
[Foley] Payback was hell, as you know.
The winner of the Money in the Bank gets a chance any time of the year
at the World Heavyweight Championship.
Oh!
And for a man who considers himself a player,
that title belt and what it represents is the ultimate form of bling.
[Cole] And Matt Hardy will look to, uh, exact the ultimate revenge tonight
when he takes MVP's coveted United States Championship away from him.
If Matt Hardy can accomplish that,
what a feather it would be in that man's cap.
[MVP's theme song plays]
♪ One, two, you hear the clock ticking ♪
♪ Tick-tock, you about to stop living ♪
♪ Tick-tock, I want you to remember me ♪
♪ Tick-tock But the day don't have no memory ♪
♪ I'm coming! Nobody could stop me ♪
♪ Nobody could hold me Nobody control me ♪
♪ I'm coming! I'm here to do my thing ♪
♪ I'm here to bring the pain I'm never ever gon' change ♪
♪ Like Tropicana, I got the juice ♪
♪ Off of the leash to let the dog lose ♪
♪ Don't make me call up the crew… ♪
[Cole] He is the longest reigning United States Champion in WWE history.
MVP won the United States title last May at Judgment Day.
And, Mick Foley, on Friday Matt Hardy told MVP,
"I see uncertainty in your eyes",
and MVP responded with a kick to the injured knee
and a championship knock off the skull of Matt Hardy.
[Foley] But I'm not sure if it was a direct response.
I think it may have been a premeditated act
designed to take Matt Hardy out of his gameplan
by making Matt overly passionate about the matchup to take place.
Introducing first the challenger,
from Cameron, North Carolina,
weighing 236 pounds,
Matt Hardy!
[crowd cheering]
And his opponent,
from Miami, Florida, weighing 248 pounds,
he is the current WWE United States Champion,
Montel Vontavious Porter,
MVP!
[Cole] Here, we'd like to thank all our great WWE fans
settling in and joining us here for Backlash tonight,
watching live in such countries as the United Kingdom,
Canada, Italy, Switzerland, the Middle East, Luxembourg,
and what a matchup this is going to be
against two of SmackDown's brightest stars.
[Foley] Well, it may be that the attack from five months ago perpetrated by MVP
was an attempt to keep Matt Hardy at bay.
They went from being tag team champions to Matt Hardy being on the shelf.
Could he have done in with his best competition?
-[referee] Ring it. -[bell dings]
[Cole] United States Championship on the line.
MVP, the 11-plus month reign,
against Matt Hardy.
And an argument can be made, Mick,
that this is the biggest night, biggest match of Matt Hardy's career.
[Foley] Any time someone comes back from a devastating injury like that,
there's gonna be question marks.
And there's MVP looking to take advantage of that injured knee of Matt Hardy.
[Cole] Great strategy by the United States Champion early on,
and Matt Hardy is going to have to dodge MVP.
And Friday night on SmackDown, Matt Hardy said that the knee is 100%.
[Foley] But that's what WWE Superstars always claim, Michael Cole.
Take it from someone who knows, knees are never 100%.
But, on the other hand, Matt Hardy's had a chance to heal up for several months,
and some of those nagging re-injuries may have had a chance to heal up.
[Cole] Matt Hardy doing a trick there to show off that, uh,
surgically repaired knee.
Wild right hand by MVP.
And perhaps Matt Hardy's got MVP on the ropes, so to speak,
in the early going of the match-up.
[Foley] Well, one thing is for sure, Michael, the entire time…
We see MVP taking a little break. Matt Hardy in hot pursuit.
He's been focused on MVP for the entire five months he's been out,
so he's not letting a little detour around ringside
keep him away from the goal at hand.
[Cole] Well, Matt Hardy's not gonna let MVP out of his sights.
He wants revenge on MVP.
First cover of the match… United States title
is up for grabs here tonight.
It's Pay-Per-View appropriately named Backlash for Matt Hardy.
Ooh, as he drops an elbow to the heart, again a cover,
hooks the leg, and a kick out.
Frequent covers just trying to wear his opponent down.
Really not expecting to get a pinfall this early on.
[Foley] Probably not, but there's no chance of finding out.
I think Matt Hardy wants a little, uh, take a little, uh,
token of revenge on MVP,
and I think he'd better be careful.
I think Matt will be best to keep in his gameplan,
focus on the title,
because that's how you truly hurt a person like MVP.
It's not an eye for an eye. It's a knee for a title.
[Cole] And we've been talking about the revenge for Matt Hardy.
-What about MVP? -[Matt grunts]
[Cole] Trying to get back at Matt Hardy
for costing him the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
[Foley] And that's a big cost. It came at a high cost.
MVP… [exclaims]
[Cole] Matt Hardy! MVP in trouble.
Ooh, elbow right to the back of the neck.
Shoots the half, hooks the leg. Kick out at two.
What's surprising me so far in this matchup
um, Mick, is the fact that,
I thought it was going to be Matt Hardy that may be a little bit overzealous
in, uh, well, trying to control the pace.
But it's really that MVP that seems to be out of sorts in the early going.
[Foley] That's true. I think MVP was counting… [exclaims]
…on Matt… Matt Hardy to be taken out of his gameplan
-but Matt has stayed remarkably… -[Cole] Suplex.
Cover. Hooks the leg. Kick out at two.
[Foley] Matt is an incredible ring technician.
He's been a part of some of the most legendary matches
in WWE history.
But I think MVP has reason to believe
that when taken out of his comfort zone,
when he becomes overly passionate,
that Matt is prone to making mistakes
He's done a great job, Matt Hardy has,
at avoiding those mistakes thus far.
[Cole] Matt Hardy, top rope moonsault!
-And MVP with a great counter! -[Matt groaning]
-[Henson] Do we continue? -[Matt groans]
[Cole] Matt Hardy with a high-risk maneuver.
MVP going for the cover, hooks the leg, two count!
Kick out at two-and-a-half.
[Foley] Take a look at this moonsault… [exclaims]
MVP having the presence of mind to bring up the knees,
and now we have to wonder,
has the injured mid-section of Matt Hardly…
Matt Hardy truly had a chance to heal up.
[Cole] United States Champion so dangerous in this situation
as he hooks the leg, and a kick out again.
But MVP can take his time, measure his man.
Working on the mid-section of Matt Hardy, as you alluded to.
[Foley] If you recall, Matt had his appendix, uh, removed
and that injury was exacerbated in an attack by Randy Orton.
Hey, and MVP is an equal opportunity offender.
He doesn't care who started the damage, he's gonna capitalize on it.
[Cole] We've talked so much about the injured knee,
but we've mentioned the ruptured appendix as well
kept Matt Hardy on the injured reserve list.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] United States Champion MVP
looking to slow the pace down.
It would be really in his favor to do that.
[exclaims] The force with which Matt Hardy's skull
bounces off the canvas.
[Foley] And any time the skull bounces off the canvas
there's gonna be a momentary disorientation
allowing MVP to gain an advantage,
as he tries to take further advantage
by grabbing hold of those ropes,
putting more pressure on his abdominal stretch.
[Cole] One of the things, Mick, we talked about
is Matt Hardy can come out here and say that he's 100%
but he's only had a couple of matches under his belt
since he's returned from injury.
So it's really hard to tell how you're going to feel
when you get in combat.
[Foley] And, on the flip side, MVP has never been better.
He may be the most dominant United States Champion
we've seen in quite some time.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Matt Hardy desperation maneuver.
-Into the cover and a kick out at two. -Two.
[Foley] Quite a counter hold, as Matt Hardy using all his weight
to land on the mid-section of MVP.
[Cole] But how much damage did it do to Matt Hardy?
The prestigious United States Championship on the line.
Great throw by MVP.
Belly to belly. Quickly into the cover.
Hooks the leg again and another near fall for the United States Champion.
MVP targeting the once injured stomach area.
-[Foley] And a guy like… -[Cole] Cover! Again two. Kick out.
[Foley] A guy like MVP who claims to be half man, half amazing,
doesn't reach the point he's at by having a single gameplan.
Obviously, the knee did not work out, the attack on the knee.
So MVP going to plan B, the mid-section of Matt Hardy.
-[MVP grunts] -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Every part of Matt Hardy's body rattling.
Oh, and Matt Hardy exploding with that clothesline!
[Foley] I think MVP may have been sizing him up
for that big devastating kick.
Matt Hardy, who's been around a long time, nine years of experience here at WWE,
is able to retaliate.
-There it is! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The eight-time tag team champion Matt Hardy
looking to win the prestigious United States Championship.
Could be the turning point of the matchup.
[MVP groaning]
[Foley] No one has ever questioned Matt Hardy's heart.
He's able to rebound from the punishment,
and we'll see what Matt has left in the gas tank.
[exclaims]
[Cole] Bulldog! And suddenly Matt Hardy's in control.
Shoots the half again, hooks the leg!
Two count kick-out by the champion.
[Foley] I thought he may have snuck in a surprise victory there.
He hooked the leg, he had his leverage all over MVP.
Didn't quite work his way.
[Cole] But we know what the MVP…
what the United States Championship means to MVP.
It defines him. It molds him. He lives for the gold.
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] Wow!
[Foley] MVP has told me that he is a…
[Cole] Went for The Playmaker!
Side Effect! Great cover.
-[King] Cover. He's gone! -[Cole] Kick out by the champion.
Matt Hardy's so close.
The champion's reeling.
[exclaims] MVP!
Instead of going for his opponent, he went for the top ropes,
caused the imbalance,
and suddenly the champ's in control.
[Foley] And the strategic advantage has shifted to MVP,
showing a wisdom far beyond his experience.
That's why he is where he is in WWE.
Get down off the ropes!
Get on out of there. One, two…
[Foley] He told me, Michael, he considers himself a…
a, uh, a fancier of precious metals
and there's no metal any more precious… Oh, my goodness!
[Cole] Side Effect from the second rope.
Could be the opening that challenger Matt Hardy needs,
but can he capitalize?
One!
[Foley] MVP said there's no metal more precious…
more precious than that US Heavyweight Championship
Well, watch this.
[Cole] MVP's skull bouncing off the canvas.
[Foley] We talked about Matt Hardy's skull rebounding--
[Cole] Cover! Cover, cover!
Two count. Has he got it? No, kick out at two-and-a-half.
[Foley] But there we saw MVP's skull literally rebounding, whiplashing,
and that is the type of move that can change a match in an instant.
[Cole] Matt Hardy went for the Twist of Fate.
Backslide counter. MVP with feet on the ropes!
And referee Mickie Henson caught him.
Matt Hardy. Schoolboy. They have him shoulders down!
Kick out at two.
[Cole] Went for the Twist of Fate again, and again the champion countered.
These men know each other so well.
Once tag team champions.
[Foley] MVP has studied tape. He knows Matt Hardy well.
They've been partners, they've been opponents,
and right now they're engaged in one heck of a contest.
-There it is! -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] There's the kick to the skull
driving Matt Hardy completely out of the ring.
[Foley] And I would be very surprised, Michael Cole,
if Matt Hardy can…
can get in the ring if Mickie Henson were to start a count here.
The kick to the head. Watch the impact.
[exclaims]
[Cole] And, remember, if Matt hardy is counted out,
MVP will retain the United States Championship,
which he'd be more than content to do.
Oh, Matt Hardy's not gonna make it.
Mickie Henson is up-- it looks like an eight.
And nine, and Matt Hardy just barely breaks the count.
[Cole] The resilient Matt Hardy. The fortitude of Matt Hardy.
MVP can't believe it, and again another kick.
[Cole] Look at the expression,
the look in the eyes of the United States Champion.
Total disdain for Matt Hardy.
Get up.
You want my title? Come on.
Come on, Matthew.
[Foley] MVP, I believe, sensing victory.
-Matt Hardy had the guts… -[Cole exclaims]
…to make it back into the ring, but maybe it was all for naught
because MVP is starting to do some serious damage.
[Cole] How many more blows to the skull can Matt Hardy take?
[Foley] He's measuring his man right here, Michael Cole,
looking for that big knockout blow.
We've seen him do it before. He may do it again.
[Cole] Oh, nobody home.
Does Matt Hardy have anything left?
Twist of Fate! He does! Matt Hardy does!
-The cover! -One, two, three.
-[Cole] And a new United States Champion. -[bell dings]
-Matt Hardy has done it. -[crowd cheering]
[announcer] The winner of this match
and new WWE United States Champion,
Matt Hardy!
[Cole] The first major singles victory in Matt Hardy's career.
[Matt Hardy's theme song plays]
The tears flowing from the new champion's eyes.
[Foley] You said it, Michael Cole, this was the biggest singles match
in Matt Hardy's illustrious career,
and he came through big time.
Look at the look of shocked disbelief on the face of MVP.
[Cole] What a way to kick off Backlash.
That United States Champion meant so much to MVP.
And Matt Hardy ripped MVP's heart and his soul
from his body tonight.
[Foley] Here it is. Here's the turning point,
that big kick. Nobody's Home.
[Cole] And with enough left to deliver the Twist of Fate,
Matt Hardy wins the United States title.
And Matt Hardy proves that his time has, indeed, arrived.
♪ Don't you sell me your love ♪
♪ I ain't vouchin' your number ♪
♪ You couldn't pay me enough… ♪
And our congratulations to Matt Hardy, the new United States Champion,
joining the ranks of some of the most prestigious competitors
in the history of… of this wonderful industry.
Matt Hardy, the new United States Champ.
Well, talking about champs, the wait is over, the talking is done.
The Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match for the WWE title is tonight.
And, ladies and gentlemen,
-we'd love to hear your thoughts… -Yeah.
…as to who you think will win tonight's, uh, WWE Championship match.
And, remember, it's a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Matchup.
And there you see the information,
exclusively to AT&T mobile subscribers only.
And, I'll tell you what, I've got my thoughts on this one, King,
but, uh, we'd love to hear, fans, what you think?
Who'd you vote for?
[King] Well, I wonder if last time at WrestleMania
if some of the fans didn't vote with their hearts
instead of their minds,
I wonder what they're gonna vote like tonight
because Randy Orton only got eight percent of the votes in WrestleMania.
[J.R.] Ladies and gentlemen, there's the information.
Remember that standard text messaging rates apply
for AT&T mobile customers only.
[King] Randy Orton with only eight percent of the vote at WrestleMania,
and he won that match!
So we wanna know your thoughts.
Who's gonna win the Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match tonight?
Backlash is off to an explosive start, and it's all because of this man.
He is the new United States Champion, Matt Hardy.
[crowd cheering]
Matt, congratulations on an amazing victory.
[panting] Thank you, Eve. Thank you so much.
Wow.
You know, I've been a… a European Champion.
I was the Hardcore Champion.
Cruiserweight Champion. I've been an eight-time Tag Team Champion.
But nothing compares to this.
This is the biggest championship win of my career, Eve, by far.
And, you know why?
It's because it meant so much for me to win this tonight,
and to defeat MVP because I had to work so hard,
so hard to get here.
The MVP attack, the knee injury,
the rehab,
all the time it took me to wait until I got this shot.
But it was all worth it
because tonight is the biggest win of my career,
and it is the best day of my life.
And, Eve, I got one other piece of business to take care of.
MVP, I only have one thing to say to you.
I am better than you!
[crowd cheering]
[Adamle] The Inner Harbor at night. Baltimore, Maryland.
Home to the Orioles, the Ravens,
and tonight this great city embraces the WWE.
You know, Mike, we've already had one title change hands.
Question is, will we have another one in a few moments?
At stake the ECW Championship,
the owner right now, The Big Red Monster Kane,
but he's going against Chavo Guerrero, the man he won it from
back in WrestleMania XXIV.
Well, we gotta wonder…
You gotta wonder the condition of Kane.
We're gonna find out in a few minutes. Let's go up to our man there, Tony Chimel.
[bell dings]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the ECW Championship.
♪ Ooh, Chavo! ♪
[Chavo's theme song plays]
[Tazz] And you see right there, Chavo Guerrero the former ECW Champion
flanked… flanked by Bam Neely.
[Adamle] Bam Neely, his personal bodyguard.
[Tazz] Yo, Mike, I had a conversation going today with Chavo Guerrero.
I had that opportunity.
Chavo explained to me, more or less,
you know, why… why he needs a bodyguard--
that people are all over him. Like Kane.
[Adamle] And he hasn't forgotten what happened to him at WrestleMania.
Last Tuesday, on ECW,
Kane was a special guest of The Rated-R Superstar
on The Cutting Edge, which cut a little too deep
as far as Kane was concerned.
The way I see it--
after Backlash,
the only remaining member of your family
will be your fiancée, Vickie Guerrero.
[crowd cheering]
I promise! [laughs maniacally]
How dare you? How dare you?
[Tazz] You know what? I'll tell you what, man.
Mike, I think Kane realized that, more or less, he was shut up.
And Kane went down swinging, man. I'll give him credit.
He was outnumbered five to one!
You see it, Kane's swinging at the fences.
You can't blame the man.
And then, as you'll see momentarily,
it takes four men, including the number-one contender, Edge…
-[Adamle exclaims] -…to hold… hold down Kane.
-[all yelling] -[Tazz] God Almighty.
[Adamle] Kane writhing in pain,
and the question is the condition of his knee tonight.
Come on, Kane.
[Kane's theme song plays]
[Tazz] The Big Red Machine, baby, in the house.
ECW Champion does not look happy, and you can't blame him.
[Adamle] Since that moment five days ago, he has been a caged beast.
[Tazz] And, look, the fact of the matter is that in WrestleMania
Kane was victorious in eight seconds
of defeating Chavo Guerrero
of the ECW Championship.
But… But if you speak to Chavo Guerrero,
Chavo will tell you quickly that, uh…
Oh, man!
[exclaims] Chavo will explain to you quickly
that he was attacked from behind.
And he sure was.
Introducing the challenger from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 215 pounds
Chavo Guerrero!
[crowd booing]
[speaks inaudibly]
And weighing in at 323 pounds,
he is the ECW Champion,
-Kane! -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] That's what it's all about. The ECW title in hand, baby.
[bell dings]
[Tazz] Well, you see the size difference right away,
but you gotta be careful.
Chavo Guerrero, extremely savvy, extremely crafty.
And you see right away, no secret here.
-Going for the knee. -[Adamle] Right in that left knee.
[Tazz] Chavo attempting a single leg take down to no avail. Oh, man!
Look at this, Kane bringing hands.
[Adamle] Like I said, for the last five days
Kane has been a caged beast waiting for this rematch,
and he is really taking it to Chavo Guerrero.
[Tazz] Yeah, well, you see Kane, uh… With that low drop kick
felt a little bit in his left knee and…
[exclaims]
Sheer size and power. Look at this!
Oh!
Can Kane get him with that knee? There we go.
Oh, my God!
[Adamle] Guerrero in some serious trouble.
[Tazz] You're not kidding.
And you know Kane defeated 23 other superstars
in a very physical battle royal
the night of WrestleMania
to earn the opportunity to face Chavo Guerrero at WrestleMania.
And then like eight seconds later,
Chavo Guerrero was defeated by Kane.
-[Kane grunts] -[Adamle] Uh-oh!
-[Chavo screaming] -[Tazz] Look at this.
[crowd cheering]
-[all exclaiming] -[Tazz chuckles]
[Adamle] The lower back of Chavo Guerrero has to be in pain now.
[Tazz] Bam Neely not really a happy-go-lucky camper
watching his man Chavo getting rocked right about now.
[Adamle] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[Tazz] Not good right here.
[Tazz exclaims]
[Tazz] Nice.
[Adamle] Nice maneuver there by Chavo Guerrero
to put Kane in harm's way.
[Tazz] Yeah, and again, now if you speak to Chavo Guerrero like I did earlier,
I mean, Chavo was explaining, "You know what, Tazz?
I got attacked from behind at WrestleMania.
Never saw Chavo coming."
Chavo more or less explained to me, he thinks it's a fluke
that he lost at WrestleMania.
[Tazz exclaims and chuckles]
[all exclaiming]
Chavo went flying, baby.
[Adamle] Just a week before,
Chavo Guerrero said, hey, he was prepared for anything.
Apparently, he wasn't ready for Kane.
[Tazz] Yeah, well, Chavo better be careful 'cause Kane,
more or less, is stalking Chavito.
[all exclaiming]
Maybe he was ready, uh… for Kane.
-Uh-oh. -[Chavo yells]
[Adamle] I tell you what, one way to deal with The Big Red Machine
is to beat him to the punch, so to speak.
[Tazz] Well, that didn't…
[Adamle] That… That did not do it right there.
[referee] Two!
[Adamle] Kane taking advantage of the apron of the ring
to work on Chavo's back again.
[Tazz] You'll see it right here.
You watch Chavo Guerrero just driven spine first
into the corner beam…
the steel corner beam
under the wing apron. Oh, man! [exclaims]
[Adamle] Kane again grabbing, grasping at his knee.
[Tazz] Landed hard, might have tweaked it even more,
speaking of Kane's knee.
[Chavo yells]
[Adamle] He doesn't see Chavo on top of him.
A chop to the middle of the back,
and then working the right hand and the knee again.
[Tazz] Yeah, while kicks, punches, whatever you wanna call it
attacking the knee of Chavo Guerrero…
I'm sorry, of Kane. You got me all flustered now.
I'm starting to pull an Adamle on you here.
[Adamle chuckling] Don't blame that one on me.
[Tazz] Yes, I can. Anyway…
[exclaims] Chavo Guerrero. Pin-point attacks on The Big Red Machine.
[crowd chanting] Chavo, Chavo, Chavo…
[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] Talk about the athleticism of Guerrero.
You saw the elevation, the height he was able to do
as he leaped over the three rings
and back onto the floor and then back into the ring again.
[Tazz] The athletic… The athleticism and experience of the veteran
of Chavo… as is Chavo Guerrero.
And again… Oh, man!
-Kane… -[Kane groaning]
[Adamle] Well documented, the name "Guerrero" means "warrior."
[Tazz] Kane trying to fight Chavo off.
Oh, my God! Chavo, bad intentions on his mind here.
Careful. Chavo gotta be careful he doesn't get counted out.
That's when the referee counts to ten and then the…
[Adamle] I understand that.
-[Chavo yelling] -[Kane groans]
[all exclaiming]
[Tazz] Now you see Bam Neely taking the opportunity as…
[chuckles] …Chavo momentarily directed traffic.
Bam Neely attacking Kane…
the knee of Kane.
That is what I was wondering. I was wondering how Chavo
would level the playing field of the size and power
of The Big Red Machine.
And… And… We see Chavo pulling it off here.
[Adamle] Well, Tazz, isn't Chavo risking
a chance at regaining the ECW title
by letting Bam Neely do that kinda stuff?
[Tazz] Yes, Mike, you're absolutely right. No doubt about it.
But at that point, the referee was distracted.
Right now, the referee's not distracted.
And then you see that Kane's knee getting tweaked and twisted…
-[exclaims] -[Adamle] Uh-oh.
Finally, Kane using that big right boot
to get Guerrero off his body.
[Tazz] By any means necessary, Mike.
You know, when you got a veteran like Chavo Guerrero
on the hunt after you…
Now, what? Wait a minute.
[Kane grunting]
Chavo fighting away here with Kane.
Kane… Kane might… Kane might be in a catbird seat, Mike.
-[Adamle] Yeah. -[Tazz] Wait a minute.
No! No!
[Adamle] Guerrero realizes he's in trouble.
[all exclaiming]
[Tazz] Holy, electric chair, right there
by The Big Red Machine.
[Adamle] My back felt that one.
One!
-[Tazz] Kane still grasping… -Two!
-[Adamle] Neely… -…at his leg, his knee.
Three!
[Tazz] What a counter here, the powerful Kane
leveling the playing field momentarily.
Can Kane capitalize on that though?
[Adamle] Can Kane come to?
Now can Chavo capitalize?
[Tazz] Exactamundo.
-[Chavo screams] -[Tazz] Uh-oh!
-[crowd cheering] -Tombstone city!
[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] Chavo walks right into a big right…
-[Tazz] Boot. -…boot.
[Tazz] Brutal!
[all exclaiming]
[Tazz] Kane trying to build momentum here, Mike.
-[Kane grunts] -And looking pretty good doing it.
Uh-oh!
-Heads up! -[all exclaiming]
Here we go, baby! One! He's got him…
[Adamle] The side slam, the cover, and the kick out.
[Tazz] Watch this… This flat boot flush to the face, bam,
of Chavo Guerrero.
All impact.
[Chavo yells]
[Tazz] Uh-oh. ECW Champion…
Wait a minute. Counter!
-[Kane grunts] -[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] Three-sixty and on his back…
-[Tazz] Chavo… -…and Chavo in pain.
[Tazz] Chavo almost hit rain he went so high.
[Adamle] Uh-oh.
-[Tazz] Air raid, bam! -[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] Just imagine,
300-plus pounds flying through the air
and landing on your 175-pound body.
[Tazz] Yeah, well, Chavo Guerrero had the wherewithal to stop Kane
right here… Chavo now!
Chavo can soar, baby!
[Adamle] Great counter by Kane, catching Chavo in mid-air.
-Chavo with the cover. -[Tazz] Chavo's got the count!
-Two! -[Adamle] Two, and a kick out.
[Tazz] Close, baby, very close.
Almost crowned the new ECW champ.
Chavo… You can see the angst on Chavo Guerrero's face, Mike.
The desperation, how close he just was.
[Adamle] These two men waging a tremendous battle here
for the ECW Championship.
[Tazz] That's what it's all about, Mike.
Chavo gets a counter, blocking the knee. Tremendous!
[Adamle] Coming from behind. Chop to the middle of the back.
[Tazz] Chavo Guerrero came in this bad boy with a gameplan.
So far, it's working to a T.
[Adamle] Guerrero has been a bulldog. He has been tenacious.
He has not stopped fighting The Big Red Machine.
[Tazz] Hell of a haymaker to the face.
Uh-oh!
Oh, no. [chuckling] Oh, no!
Gotta be kidding me. What the…
[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] For a moment there, I thought Kane had the advantage.
-But it was… -[Tazz] Oh! Frog splash!
-[Chavo screaming] -[all exclaiming]
[Adamle] Three weeks ago, Guerrero frog-splashed Kane…
-[Tazz] Wait a minute! -[all exclaiming]
…on the table! Kane comes back.
-One! Two! Three! -[Adamle] The cover and…
-And now… -[bell dings]
…Kane retains the ECW Championship
-in dramatic fashion. -[Chimel] Here's your winner
and still ECW Champion,
Kane!
[Tazz] I tell you, Mike, it looked as though
Chavo was in control,
popping off the top rope with a frog splash, landing--
I've never seen that before-- landing in the grasp
of the ECW Champion.
[Adamle] You know, the great thing about it
is Bam Neely did not come into play in this one.
[Tazz] Well, he didn't really have an opportunity, Bam Neely.
[Adamle] Fair and square, one on one,
and The Big… The Big Red Machine rules.
[Tazz] Well, you see right here, frog splash by the challenger, Chavo.
[all exclaiming]
[Tazz] What? With a goozle, Kane was one step ahead of Chavo Guerrero
and you know what they say, Mike, what goes up
must come down.
[Adamle] And Guerrero came down with a thunder.
[Tazz] And you gotta realize that was not one-on-one,
it was five-on-one last week,
and tonight it was two-on-one because Bam Neely did get involved.
But at the end of the day, when all the smoke settled,
Kane laves Baltimore still, still ECW Champion.
♪ One more table turned around And back again… ♪
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the WWE Champion,
Randy Orton.
[crowd booing]
Randy, tonight, uh, needless to say, your championship is in serious jeopardy.
A Fatal 4-Way Match. You have not one but three opponents.
It's an elimination-style match,
which means you basically have to outlast everyone else.
I know the rules. I know the rules, Todd.
As of late, I have been through a lot of adversity.
Yet, still, here we are, living in the age of Orton.
And that's not an expression, that is a reality.
Just like it is a reality, tonight,
for me, when I walk out of Backlash
still the WWE Champion.
[crowd booing]
A very confident Randy Orton
despite the odds that he faces here tonight at Backlash.
But, ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
literally the biggest match
that we've ever had in World Wrestling Entertainment.
The World's Largest Athlete, The Big Show,
against former world champion The Great Khali.
And I guess the tale of the tape, Mick, will put this all into perspective,
how big this match really is.
[Foley] Truly is a battle of the behemoths.
Not just in size and girth but look at those proportions.
Look at the shoe sizes, 18 and 18 quadruple E.
And the fists, Khali with a size 16, Big Show with a size 15.
Michael Cole, they're like two sledgehammers,
and as we've seen, those sledgehammers can do a lot of damage
in a big hurry.
[Cole] You know how big those shoes are? That's a ruler and a half.
Ruler and a half!
-[Foley] What size do you wear, Michael? -[Cole] Nine.
[Foley] Those are like children's sizes.
Those are smaller than the shoe print of the shoes
that Coach left for me to fill.
[Khali's theme music plays]
[bell dings]
[announcer] This contest is set for one fall.
Approaching the ring first, from India,
standing at over seven feet tall, weighing 420 pounds,
The Great Khali!
[Cole] The Great Khali is a former world champion, Mick,
but what I still can't get out of my mind is the image
of how this man has absolutely manhandled The Big Show
in the past few weeks.
Just a couple of weeks ago,
he lifted The Big Show's 441-pound frame high in the air
and delivered that devastating Khali Bomb.
[Foley] Seemingly with ease, uh, manhandling him in a way
that we've never seen The Big Show manhandled before.
You have to wonder,
after the catastrophe at the Punjabi peace offering,
do we have a very angry giant on our hands?
[Cole] Well, uh, the olive branch was extended,
Khali giving Big Show the Ganges River water,
some Scotch, a goat, and a chicken.
Big Show said, "I don't need any of that stuff,"
but he knocked out Khali with one punch.
[Foley] Responding with that big titanic right hand.
So, as we have seen,
both of these men capable of hurting the other almost instantly.
That is one scary-looking individual.
[Foley] Khali anticipating the pending arrival…
♪ Well, it's The Big Show… ♪
…of this man, The Big Show.
[Big Show's theme song plays]
♪ It's a big bad show… ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, standing at seven-feet tall,
weighing 441 pounds,
The Big Show!
[Cole] A match of titanic proportions.
After WrestleMania, Big Show came to the ring on RAW
and said, "No one's getting in my way.
I'm about to take over World Wrestling Entertainment."
Well, The Great Khali strutted right down to the ring
went face-to-face with The Big Show,
and basically, without saying a word,
issued this challenge.
[Foley] Well, it's almost half a ton of humanity inside that ring.
We have found out in the past what happens
when the immovable object meets the irresistible force.
♪ Come to set things right ♪
♪ Oh, set them right ♪
♪ Yeah, it's a Big Show ♪
[speaking inaudibly]
[Cole] I'm gonna go on record as saying
I don't predict a night of short arm head scissors and headlocks here.
-This is gonna be a war. -[bell dings]
-[Khali yells] -[crowd cheering]
[Khali speaking inaudibly]
[all exclaiming]
[speaking inaudibly]
[Cole] Uh-oh.
Neither man being intimidated early,
and this war of almost Biblical proportions
is underway.
Interesting to see Khali
beginning the matchup with the right hands.
[all exclaiming]
[Foley] Michael, this is the type of match you hear about in Greek mythology
with two big giants,
mythical creatures matching up.
We see The Big Show may be the quicker of the two,
maybe due to that weight loss.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Mick, have you ever seen a Big Show head butt
have that little effect on an opponent?
-[all exclaiming] -[Khali screams]
[Cole] That skillet-like right hand.
-[Big Show grunts] -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Oh, what a clothesline,
lifting Big Show off his feet.
And that's what's being talked about, Mick,
the fact Khali has manhandled…
he has manhandled The Big Show.
[Foley] Never have I seen Big Show taken off his feet
with just one blow.
You have to wonder what's going through Show's mind
at this point in the match.
[Khali groans]
[Cole] Big Show literally looks stunned.
Khali, a vicious assault.
-[Khali grunts] -Okay, that's enough.
[Foley] It's almost as if Zeus is all out of thunderbolts
and they haven't done the damage hoped for.
[Big Show groans]
Hey, I said back up!
[Cole] Big Show just trying to find some sort of solution
to stop the assault of The Great Khali.
Maybe Khali's in Big Show's head.
-Never before in Big Show's career… -[Big Show grunts]
…has he been tossed around the ring like he has against this man.
[exclaims] Went for the slam and countered by Khali,
and then… out of the ring!
[Foley] A big clothesline sends The Big Show out,
and I know it bothers Show.
And it may be part of the reason for his return
that there was another giant on the horizon.
People would ask Show,
"How would you fare against The Great Khali?"
I think he came back in part
to prove the point that he's the dominant big man
in WWE.
[Cole] Mick, do you believe it could be psychological?
The fact that Big Show's been tossed around
-like he never has… -[all exclaiming]
…before in his career.
[Foley] It has to be.
You're talking about a guy who's made a livelihood
out of being the biggest
and the strongest… -[Big Show groans]
And that's not the case in this matchup.
[Cole] That size-18 boot
into the temple of The Big Show.
And Khali is methodically picking apart
this former five-time world champion.
And Khali…
[Cole] Look at that.
[Cole] Looked like he was going for an STF there,
as we watch the kick to the head
off the side of the skull.
-[both groaning] -[Foley] And look,
it's taking its effect on Big Show.
-[Khali] Come on, Big Show. -[Big Show yells]
[Cole] I can't remember Big Show ever tapping out, honestly.
[Foley] Big Show, his face turning red, he's gasping for air,
and I'm not sure I recognize the look in Big Show's eyes.
It seems to be a look of panic.
[Cole] Well, perhaps panic may turn into desperation
because something… maybe just adrenaline
has driven Big Show back to his feet.
-And Big Show… -[all exclaiming]
…with the big man off his feet but couldn't hold him.
Here's the cover. Khali may have Big Show
and a kick out at two.
[Foley] Michael, as we've noted,
Big Show worked himself into incredible physical condition
for his return to WWE.
But in this case against this opponent,
could that loss of weight actually be working against him?
As you see, he just can't generate the torque
necessary to lift up the even bigger Great Khali.
-[Big Show groans] -[Khali roars]
[Cole] And, of course, the beating that Big Show has taken so far
certainly has an effect on his power.
And here is the nerve hold that Khali has implemented in the past
to wear his opponents down.
[Foley] Now, if you see, he's concentrating that nerve hold
on the right trapezius.
Now, what that will do, it will send a numbing sensation
down to the fingers of the Big Show, and I wonder, Michael,
can The Big Show form enough force with that big right hand
to really make a difference?
[Cole] And I don't mean the right hand knockout,
but that right arm is also used for the effective chokeslam.
Khali could take that out of the equation.
[Foley] So two of the greatest weapons in The Big Show's arsenal
may have been removed
and we'll see if Big Show has the fortitude
to re-establish a new gameplan
in the wake of this… this great giant Khali.
[Big Show grunting]
[Cole] The immense Big Show
trying to create separation, and he does.
-Oh, that's the Khali Chop! -[all exclaiming]
[Foley] And this could be over.
Hook of the leg. Show may be out.
[Cole] And, somehow, just powers out with the shoulder.
But think about how much it must take out of Big Show
every time he's got to power out of a cover, Mick.
[Foley] Let's take a look at this chop.
-It's just… -[all exclaiming]
It's just devastating,
and we've seen many a tremendous WWE Superstar
go down to the power of the chop.
[Cole] Again, you've got to power out of a pin cover
and that's a 420 pound man you're trying to power out.
[Foley] Look at the muscularity on a guy this size,
it's just… It just doesn't happen.
[Big Show groaning]
[Cole] Remember, Khali is a… a former world champion.
He dominated SmackDown for months and months last year.
[Foley] Michael, I know it may have seemed funny to us
to have a presentation of goats and chickens in the ring.
That's a part of The Great Khali's culture, and I…
In an odd way,
Big Show may be the victim of his own cultural insensitivity here.
[Cole] Of course. Khali, uh,
seemingly was humiliated by Big Show's actions.
You wanna get a true, uh, a true look at the size of these two men,
look at them compared to referee Jimmy Korderas.
-Oh, what a slam! -[Foley] He did it!
[Cole] Four-hundred-twenty pounds lifted off the mat,
slammed below, Big Show cover. Can he pick up the win?
Hooks the leg, he's got him… No, kick out at two-and-a-half.
[Foley] Despite the pounding The Big Show has taken
during the course of this match,
he finds the strength and leverage to put the big man down to the canvas.
[Cole] But was that the last gasp effort?
Is that all Big Show had left?
[Foley] That's the question that remains to be answered.
Here it is, all the strength he has in his body.
-You can see him groaning… -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] This is a 420-pound man
Big Show lifted off the mat and slammed.
[Big Show groans]
[Cole] Uh-oh, going for the Khali Bomb.
Khali has done this to Big Show before just a couple of weeks ago.
[Foley] Will history repeat itself right here at Backlash?
[Cole] And look at Big Show trying to counter.
[Foley] Big Show grasping his fingers,
locking up to prevent that movement happening…
[Big Show grunts]
…doing his very best.
[Cole] And Big Show broke the Khali Bomb!
Chokeslam with authority!
-The cover! -One, two, three.
-Big Show has slayed The Great Khali. -[bell dings]
[Big Show's theme song plays]
[announcer] The winner of this match, The Big Show!
[Cole] What a hard-earned victory for The Big Show.
[Foley] Well, in the battle of the behemoths,
Big Show telling he can take a pounding and come back.
But you have to wonder,
what does that do to a guy like The Big Show psychologically
to suffer that type of beat down?
[Cole] You saw the physical beating Big Show took in this matchup.
Look at the way that he's holding that right arm,
the right arm he needed to deliver the devastating chokeslam
to The Great Khali.
[Foley] That is not the look of a winner.
[Cole] Khali was unreal tonight.
[Foley] He looked like a survivor, Michael Cole.
Khali dominated this match from start to finish.
[Cole] Big Show took all the guts and heart he had
to stay in this matchup.
And just when it looked like Show was down and out,
the wherewithal…
to be able to deliver a 420-pound chokeslam
to pick up the victory.
[bell dings]
[Cole] What a matchup between these two titanic superstars.
Well, Bonnie Raitt and the Dixie Chicks.
But, bear with me here, the ones you gotta have…
-The ones you got to have. -Okay.
-Merle. -Yes.
-Willie. -Yes.
-Waylon. -Yes.
-The Allmans. -Yes.
Yeah, that's right.
-Catch up with you later. -All right.
Yeah?
A victory tonight, John, for you is not gonna happen.
You're gonna go home disappointed.
just like you did at WrestleMania.
Oh, Randy.
You see, win, lose, or draw, whatever does happen,
tonight,
you're gonna go home a broken man.
[crowd cheering]
Well, it looks like John Cena would like to put an early end
to the age of Orton. Do you think he can do it?
Randy Orton's got that sparkle in his eye tonight
with a lot of confidence, ladies and gentlemen,
and that certainly leads to the question,
who do you think is gonna win the WWE Championship tonight
in the Fatal 4-Way Elimination matchup?
Would love for you to cast your ballot on AT&T Wireless,
and remember that standard text messaging rates do apply.
[King] Oh, you're right. I'm wondering. I'm wondering…
I'm gonna… I gotta get my phone, I gotta text 'em.
I got an idea who's gonna win this thing.
Ladies and gentlemen, in our next contest,
certainly a huge main event,
but it isn't about championships.
It's about pride.
And this emotional collision
between two of the most accomplished superstars
in all the WWE,
Shawn Michaels and Batista, began at WrestleMania XXIV
when Shawn Michaels retired
Nature Boy Ric Flair.
[Shawn] You know, I was asked to do a job.
I was asked to be Mr. WrestleMania.
Ric Flair asked for my A-game, and that's what I gave him.
I have too much respect
and love for Ric Flair to have given him anything less.
And now, the career of the greatest wrestler who ever lived…
is over.
During the farewell address of Ric Flair,
I watched his eyes fill up with tears and mine did the same,
and that gave me some closure.
[Batista] It bothers me that I'm never gonna see Ric Flair's face
at another arena again.
You had a decision to make,
and I think deep down, in your heart,
you know you made the wrong decision.
That's where you're wrong. I did the right thing.
I cared about him enough to give him exactly what he asked for.
[Batista] I trusted you to do the right thing.
-I did the right thing! -No!
I'll never ever make the mistake of trusting you again.
I am so sick and tired of going back and forth with you, big man.
If you want some of me, do something about it.
I already have.
At Backlash…
I'm gonna finish this.
[Jericho] I think I figured out what the problem is, Shawn.
I don't think Batista's problem with you
lies solely in the fact that you retired Ric Flair.
I think his problem also lies in the fact that deep down inside,
you enjoyed retiring Ric Flair.
It must've been horrible to know
that Flair hand-picked Shawn Michaels over you
to be his opponent at WrestleMania.
As a matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me
if you were the guy who suggested the Ric Flair retirement stipulation
to Vince McMahon in the first place.
[J.R.] Sweet Chin Music!
I'm gonna say that statement took it a little over the line.
…because you wanted to retire Ric Flair yourself.
[King] Batista's hurling up…
Batista Bomb to Jericho!
[Shawn] You wanted to face Ric Flair at WrestleMania.
[Batista] This isn't about Ric anymore,
this isn't about what happened at WrestleMania.
This is about you and me.
[Shawn] I'm gonna knock your teeth down your throat.
Come Backlash, I am the man.
[Batista] At Backlash, I'm gonna finish this.
[Cole] Batista going for the Batista Bomb!
Oh, my! Sweet Chin Music.
[Shawn] Good luck.
You're gonna need it.
Ladies and gentlemen, at this time,
please welcome your special guest referee for the following match.
[Jericho's theme song plays]
♪ Come on ♪
♪ You know I got ya ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ One, break the walls down ♪
♪ Break down the walls… ♪
[Lilian] Y2J, Chris Jericho!
[J.R.] Well, the question on my mind is,
do you think Chris Jericho will be
an objective official tonight?
Will Jericho call it right down the middle,
especially after getting some Sweet Chin Music
and a Batista Bomb…
-[King chuckles] -…en route of getting here?
[King] Well, imagine, if you will, a high stakes poker game,
five-card stud.
Suddenly, it becomes a game with a wild card.
It makes it a whole different game.
And Chris Jericho is the wild card in this situation tonight.
Does he have an agenda?
I don't know. We'll find out.
[J.R.] Jericho is often the wild card in many scenarios.
And Chris Jericho has been known to have an agenda.
[Batista's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Batista] Here we go!
♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Washington D.C.,
weighing in at 290 pounds,
Batista!
[King] Wow! SmackDown's Animal, Batista,
looks as focused and as intense as I've ever seen him in my life.
[J.R.] Well, you know Batista's gonna be intense
because last Friday night on SmackDown,
three days ago,
Shawn Michaels arguably cost Batista
the Heavyweight Championship of the world.
♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger… ♪
[King] Well, you're right. If we thought this was personal… personal before,
Shawn Michaels' actions last Friday at SmackDown
made it ultra-personal.
[J.R.] It all started with Shawn Michaels retiring
the greatest wrestler of all time, Ric Flair.
Batista took exception to Shawn Michaels' actions
at WrestleMania XXIV
when Michaels indeed brought his A-game.
But this whole matter between that man, The Animal, Batista,
and The Showstopper has evolved into much more.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Shawn Michaels' theme song plays]
♪ I think I'm cute ♪
♪ I know I'm sexy ♪
♪ I've got the looks… ♪
[Lilian] And from San Antonio, Texas,
the Heartbreak Kid
Shawn Michaels!
♪ Up and down their spines ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy… ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I make 'em hot ♪
♪ I make 'em shiver ♪
♪ Their knees get weak… ♪
[J.R.] This match, no doubt, has global significance
as two of the most
talented, popular superstars in all of the WWE
put their popularity aside
to settle a very personal issue.
[King] And the key word there, "global."
This match is being seen worldwide.
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt.
The world is watching!
[J.R.] That's right. Our armed forces are watching on the Armed Forces Network.
And I know there's one man,
the greatest of all, watching right now
from Charlotte, North Carolina.
A Hall of Famer, that kiss-stealing, wheeling, dealing,
jet-riding son of a gun
that's got a vested interest in the outcome of this contest.
Both men, Michaels and Batista,
know what it's like to be at the top of the mountain
as heavyweight champions of the world.
Both men know what it's like to win
such prestigious events as the Royal Rumble.
But this, again, about pride.
It's about pride and passion. It's about perseverance.
[speaking inaudibly]
[J.R.] Right hand took care of that, uh,
nice shiner there on the eye of…
of Batista.
[King] Batista looks like he's still feeling the effect on his jaw
from that superkick from HBK,
Friday night at SmackDown.
[J.R.] An explosive night, Friday night on SmackDown.
And here we go. Batista almost with a smirk on his face.
No doubt Batista, with the huge size and strength advantage
at 290.
But Michaels is certainly the ultimate strategist.
Speed, quickness, and leverage--
Michaels' got to use it all tonight in this contest.
Michaels retaliates.
[King] Well, look at the strength of Batista.
[exclaims]
[J.R.] Michaels' thinking about Sweet Chin Music,
and Batista thinking about countering
with a Batista Bomb.
[King] An attempted superkick
and an attempted Batista Bomb.
Either one could've ended this match early.
[J.R.] HBK regrouping, re-strategizing.
[King] Goes without saying that Shawn Michaels
thinks that he has to somehow out-quick and…
and… and be faster than Batista during this match,
but, hey, Batista is… is in no way,
shape, form, or fashion, slow.
I mean, Batista's as quick as, how do you say, a hiccup himself.
[J.R.] I think that's probably one of the things
that make Batista so dangerous. Speed and quickness.
And Michaels trying to knot up those big quadriceps of Batista
to slow Batista down.
Batista again going back to what brought him
his great success.
Part of that success was power.
And look at the job the referee's doing,
Chris Jericho.
And Michaels using that positioning
that Jericho inadvertently created.
[Batista roars]
-[King] Oh, man! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Velocity, impact.
And there is not a man alive that can withstand multiple shots
like Shawn Michaels just sustained.
[King] Speaking of multiple shots, Shawn Michaels hit Batista
with three right hands right in the jaw
and seemingly to no effect.
Look at the power once again on Batista here.
-[Batista roars] -[King] Boom! What impact.
[J.R.] That is a collision.
An I-95 like collision by Batista.
And Michaels taking a trick
out of the dirtiest player of the games playbook
with that chop block on the knee of Batista,
trying to destroy the vertical base of The Animal.
But, up here… And Michaels…
Michaels trying to… with the short arm scissors.
[King] Well, Ric Flair always said, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man,"
and I guess, right now, that makes Shawn Michaels the man.
[J.R.] Michaels trying to use leverage and the strength of his legs
to slow down The Animal.
And Batista looking to counter him and has done so.
And look at Michaels hammering away on the triceps.
[Batista groaning]
[J.R.] Michaels, uh, focusing on the left arm of The Animal.
[King] I think that's gotta be part of Shawn Michaels gameplan.
Zero in on some part of Batista, weaken it…
to the point that you could… Whoa, look at this.
[J.R.] Nice counter again by Batista. That is a power counter.
Just rolling through the leverage that Michaels had earned
and was sustaining there momentarily.
[King] That's why it's gonna be so hard for Shawn Michaels
to weaken any part of Batista. Look… Uh-oh. Look at the strength.
[Jericho] Come on, Batista, do you give up? Do you give up?
[King] Jericho asking Batista if he gives up. I don't…
[Jericho] Do you give up?
[King] I don't think Batista's close to tapping out here
-or submitting. -[J.R.] Michaels' shoulder's down.
One, two…
[J.R.] Again, Jericho in position to see the shoulders on the canvas.
A precarious situation, quite frankly, for both these tremendous athletes.
The pain in Batista's left arm
and Michaels' shoulders on the canvas.
[Shawn groans]
-[J.R.] Good God! -[King] Oh, my God!
[J.R.] Good Lord! The strength and power of Batista
-and over the top. -[all exclaiming]
-[J.R.] And… -[Batista groans]
[J.R.] And Batista may have…
He may have torn his arm going over the top.
[Batista groaning]
[King] Shawn Michaels somehow with the wherewithal
not to relinquish that…
that hold that he had on Batista's left arm.
But, I… I…
I don't know what I would've done had I been Shawn Michaels.
Just be in a state of shock.
Watch the strength of Batista as he lifts
dead weight of Shawn Michaels right off the mat.
[crowd] Three!
[J.R.] This is a… This is it, the big one that short arm scissors
for quite some time.
And there you see Batista's arm.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] And Michaels taking advantage
ramming that… that injured left arm of Batista
into the steel ring post.
[King] Now look at… look at…
Shawn Michaels' face, uh, tells the story.
He's risking disqualification.
[J.R.] An unforgiving ring post and, bam! Right there.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The ring post did not move, did not flinch,
but Batista's arm has felt the pain of the steel.
Three!
[J.R.] And Chris Jericho, the special referee…
Now, Batista rolling in
before the count of ten.
And look at Shawn Michaels,
relentless now.
Attacking the arm and shoulder of Batista.
[King] Well, it looks like Jericho willing to give a little latitude
and let these two guys go at it,
'cause he could've easily disqualified Shawn Michaels
on the outside, ramming Batista's shoulder into that post.
[J.R.] Shawn Michaels trying to…
forge a half-nelson into the… along with a hammer lock,
-and Batista on his shoulders! -[Jericho] One, two…
[J.R.] Batista… Batista still too strong
for Michaels to hold down.
-Come on! Come on! -[Batista groans]
[J.R.] Michaels ripping and tearing at the arm,
the elbow, the shoulder.
Both joints are being affected by Michaels' offense.
[King] Hyper-extending the elbow of Batista
-and as you said… -[Batista groans]
…trying to pull that shoulder right out of the socket.
-Two, three. -[Batista coughing]
[J.R.] Michaels getting that unfair advantage
but he did break the hold at the count of three.
He would've been disqualified at the count of five.
Batista's right hand is healthy,
as Michaels' gonna test that drop toe-hold.
And look at Michaels' aggression.
Michaels, obviously trying to debilitate the left arm of Batista.
And, how do you execute a Batista Bomb with one arm?
[King] Well, I think if it hasn't become obvious
to Batista by now, it will shortly
that he's not gonna be able to defeat Shawn Michaels
by brute strength alone.
[J.R.] Shawn Michaels too wary of a veteran
to go down to just somebody's brute strength.
[J.R.] Michaels beats Batista to the punch.
Michaels' one step ahead of The Animal,
and, oh, look at Michaels.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Michaels trying to… to damage the arm
-but not just on the outside. -One, two,
-three… -[King] Gonna get disqualified… Oh!
[J.R.] Michaels broke the hold that time on four.
Michaels held that…
that painful maneuver on the outside
as long as he possibly could
without getting disqualified.
But look at the focus of Shawn Michaels.
There's one body part that Michaels has fixated on.
[King] Well I've gotta tell you, I'm, uh, I'm impressed
and… and I'm shocked
at the one-sidedness of this match to this point.
[J.R.] The fervor and intensity of Shawn Michaels
and the strategy that he is employing
is absolutely perfect for a man as strong as Batista.
[Batista groaning]
[J.R.] It's all about leverage…
[Jericho] Do you give up?
…and the pursuit of damaging and exploiting the body part.
In this case, the left arm and shoulder.
[Batista grunts]
[King] And Batista with the strength.
[J.R.] With one arm and the strength of Batista again…
[all exclaiming]
…utilizing a Samoan drop.
That will, at least, for the moment
give Batista somewhat of a… a… surcease
from Michaels' onslaught.
[King] All right, Batista, little bit of time to recuperate
but he moves right in on Shawn Michaels.
That may have been a mistake.
[Batista groans]
[J.R.] How ironic. It all started about Nature Boy Ric Flair's retirement,
and Michaels using Flair's chop.
Oh, look at this! The velocity tucks Michaels inside out,
-upside down. -[Batista roars]
-[King] Boom! -[J.R.] Oh, my gosh, what a clothesline!
Michaels looks like he just got run over by a truck.
[King] Whoa, Batista's left arm may be injured,
but it looks like that big right arm is working fine for The Animal.
-Two… -[J.R.] We talked about Batista's size
-and strength… -Three…
…his great athleticism.
Now we're seeing the toughness from The Animal.
-And look at this. Impact! -[King] Impact!
Oh, a slobberknocker of a clothesline
almost beheading Shawn Michaels.
-[Batista grunts] -[J.R.] And with the good arm,
Batista manhandles The Showstopper.
Michaels again corner-side.
You heard the velocity. Michaels back--
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Batista follows up with power slam.
The hook of the leg results in a near fall.
[King] Well, the momentum of this match has certainly changed.
I don't know how…
what Batista needs to do here to sustain this offense,
but somehow he's gotta figure out…
Uh-oh.
One-arm Batista Bomb, I don't know.
[J.R.] Batista Bomb, is that what we're thinking?
And Michaels, the crossface!
Michaels' got the crossface on Batista!
[King] Batista may have to tap out!
[J.R.] Will The Animal tap out
here tonight at Backlash?
Look at Shawn Michaels
wrenching and torqueing and tearing at Batista.
[Shawn groaning]
Come on!
[J.R.] One can almost feel the pain
riveting through the left arm and shoulder of The Animal.
[King] And you can… you can see Batista's eyes.
The promised land, the destination,
the saving grace of those ropes.
Can Batista reach them? No, look at Shawn Michaels!
-One, two… -[J.R.] Michaels looking for the cover.
And Michaels again!
Remember, Shawn Michaels made it emphatically clear
-when he told Batista… -Come on, Batista!
…that on this night Michaels would do anything he had to do
to beat Batista.
The Showstopper would reach back and use anything he could,
and we're seeing right now a very physical,
a very tenacious side of Shawn Michaels.
[King] Well, we heard Shawn Michaels say
that he brought his A-game to WrestleMania to defeat Ric Flair,
and he certainly brought his A-game here tonight.
Come on!
[King] You see Batista finally makes it to those ropes.
-Referee… -Break it. Hey!
[King] Chris Jericho gonna have to break the…
Whoa, he physically breaks the hold.
Jericho manhandling Shawn Michaels.
You understand me?
[J.R.] Well, I don't know if that was necessary or not but…
Do you understand me?
[J.R.] Well, he's the official.
[King] Better be careful, Shawn, not to get disqualified.
[Batista groaning]
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] And Batista's power again.
-One, two… -[J.R.] With the cover!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Batista's fought through all this pain.
[King] And is… How amazing is it
the power that Batista possesses with just one arm?
It's unbelievable.
[J.R.] Pretty damn scary, I'll tell you that.
Now Batista…
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Michaels connected on his forearm
after avoiding contact from Batista's clothesline.
-[crowd cheering] -[King] There we… Uh-oh!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] What a spear! The spear may well end it!
[King] Oh, close.
[J.R.] Jericho's hand was inches away from the three count.
[King] Man, vintage Shawn Michaels
popping up like a pimple on prom night,
but only to face this huge spear from Batista.
-Look at this. Boom! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Right in the sternum.
Tremendous impact.
[King] This match has been so physical, both of these…
both of these superstars gotta be almost drained here.
[J.R.] Michaels trying to fight his way outta this…
[all exclaiming]
…situation where you can create some high-risk offense.
Uh-oh!
[King] Shawn Michaels gonna hit the big guy on the-- Oh, my gosh!
[crowd cheering]
[J.R.] The elbow to the solar plexus.
[King] Now can Shawn Michaels capitalize?
[J.R.] Momentum back in the favor of The Showstopper.
[King] Our fans are on their feet!
The band is tuning up!
[crowd] One!
Two!
Three!
-[King] Sweet Chin… -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Ooh, what a spinebuster.
All power.
Batista has his own statement to make.
-[Batista roars] -[King] Here it is!
[J.R.] Oh! Uh-oh.
Michaels fought out of the predicament,
but Michaels' left knee got all tangled up.
when he… when he hit the canvas, and…
[Shawn groans]
And we may have an abrupt end to this one.
[King] I didn't see what happened. I mean, what?
He hyper-extend his knee? What…
[J.R.] Oh, man. I'm not sure. I don't…
But Michaels did the… made the counter.
It seemed like he really got…
all tangled up on that left knee.
Referee, uh, Chris Jericho asking Michael, do you wanna…
-[all exclaiming] -[J.R.] Oh, my God!
[King] Where did that come from?
[J.R.] Batista walked right into
-Sweet Chin Music! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell dings] -[Shawn Michaels' theme song plays]
[King] Wait a minute!
[Lilian] Here is your winner, the Heartbreak Kid,
Shawn Michaels!
[J.R.] Batista, uh,
lowered his guard for just a moment
to assess the damage that Michaels, apparently, had done to his knee.
[King] Well, Batista had said earlier on
that he didn't really respect Shawn Michaels' actions in the ring,
but Shawn Michaels said that he would do
any and everything to win this match.
And we just saw it.
♪ I make 'em shiver ♪
♪ Their knees get weak… ♪
[King] Boy, you can never ever underestimate HBK.
♪ I make 'em feel ♪
♪ Like they're on cloud nine ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy… ♪
[King] Chris Jericho raising the hand of Shawn Michaels.
Look at this. This is the first time Shawn went for the superkick.
[J.R.] And Batista had him well-scouted.
Michaels was lucky there.
Now right here's where Michaels, apparently, hurt his knee.
[King] Watch the knee. Oh!
Just came down wrong on that knee.
Somehow Shawn Michaels literally pulls himself up
-off the rope… -[all exclaiming]
…delivers the Sweet Chin Music,
and it was lights out for The Animal.
[J.R.] Shawn Michaels is…
we said earlier, one of the… the ultimate strategists
in the entire WWE.
He's a wily son of a gun,
and Michaels even with one bad leg,
caught Batista lowering his guard
and walked right in to the Sweet Chin Music.
[speaking inaudibly]
[King] Jericho…
not only being the special referee
but having to help Shawn Michaels
to the back after that knee injury.
[J.R.] Shawn Michaels said that after tonight
that he would be the man,
and Shawn Michaels is leaving the man.
♪ I'm not your boy toy… ♪
[King] Can we see one more time?
I'd love to see Shawn Michaels landing on that knee
and see if we can tell exactly what happened.
He got out of the Batista Bomb, yeah. Just…
[J.R.] And one has to wonder, on the other side of the coin is,
how injured is that knee?
Michaels has had a… a history of knee issues.
But he certainly was strong enough to brace himself
to deliver Sweet Chin Music.
[King] A disappointed Batista, to say the least.
[crowd cheering]
Tonight, Triple H,
you will not succeed.
Tonight, Triple H, I will leave you
broken, battered,
beaten,
in that ring as I leave
as I came,
the WWE Champion.
There's an old saying, Randy,
"Pride comes before the fall."
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
The following is a 12 Diva tag team match…
-[King cheers] -…scheduled for one fall.
-[crowd cheering] -[King] Uh-oh.
Come on! Say it, J.R. Business is about to pick up!
[Lilian] Introducing first, the team of
Beth Phoenix, The Glamazon,
Melina, Jillian,
Victoria, Natalya
and Layla!
[J.R.] Well, ladies and gentlemen, to the best of my knowledge
this is a multi-brand…
the first time we've ever had a multi-branded
twelve Diva tag team matchup.
And you remember a couple of weeks ago in London, England,
it was the Glamazon
putting her WWE Women's Championship on the line
in one of the biggest upset of 2008. Got to be.
[King] You're right The Glamazon, she pretty much dominated the match
just like she's dominated the women's division
since she arrived here in the WWE.
But then, suddenly,
I mean, absolutely out of nowhere,
this had to be the upset of upsets!
Mickie James captures the women's title
and the celebration ensued.
[crowd cheering]
[J.R.] The crowd in London loved it.
It sent shock waves around the globe.
Glamazon leading quite the, uh, team here.
It includes two other former WWE Women's Champions.
I've seen that look on women's faces many times.
[King] I'm sure you have.
[Lilian] And making their way into the ring
the team of the WWE Women's Champion,
Mickie James!
Maria, Ashley,
Michelle McCool,
Cherry and Kelly Kelly.
[King] Oh, man!
[J.R.] Mickie James, a four-time Women's Champion.
Only two women in WWE history have held more championships--
that's the late Hall of Famer, The Fabulous Moolah
and Trish Stratus.
So Mickie's in great company here tonight.
Are you mesmerized already?
[King] You know, I… This is…
This is what I envision Heaven being like.
You know, the only thing better than a Diva tag team match
is a 12 Diva tag team match!
You know, I think this is… this is actually unprecedented,
this is historic.
I don't think we've ever had a 12 Diva tag match
in the WWE. Have we, J.R.?
[J.R.] I think I just mentioned that about 30 seconds ago.
[indistinct arguing]
[bell dings]
[King] I don't think you said "tri-branded," though, did you?
[J.R.] I did. And this… Look at this.
Michelle McCool who literally slapped the taste out of, uh, The Glamazon's mouth
last Monday on RAW.
And starting out with a…
a former Women's Champion. I won't say that too loud.
Michelle McCool, an outstanding athlete at Florida State University.
Fans see her on the Friday Night SmackDown.
[King] Yes, you can see Michelle McCool on Friday Night SmackDown.
And, you know what? Check the… I don't know if you're a big, uh…
I don't know how you are on the Internet, J.R.
Are you a speedbump on the information super-highway?
If you check out Yahoo,
did you know that Michelle McCool was the number one search item
on the entire Yahoo?
[J.R.] You calling me a "yahoo"?
Yeah… you know, more… more searches on Michelle McCool
than the NFL draft yesterday.
-[J.R.] That is very impressive. -[King] Yes, it is.
[J.R.] And, uh, The Glamazon,
if you stop to think of it, is quite amazing.
And, right, now, what's not amazing
for Michelle McCool
she's in a… a very, uh, aggressive part of the ring.
Well… Melina…
[King] Melina, that Mean Melina.
She is… Look at this!
You think an exorcist can help her?
Melina is a Latina hellcat.
[Melina yells]
[J.R.] And a screamer.
She would get very aggressive
and she would yell at 'em.
[King] Say that like it's a bad thing.
Oh, look at this!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Nice athleticism by Michelle McCool.
[Melina yells]
-[Melina screams] -[King] Oh, there's the scream.
Told ya. Ooh.
[J.R.] And here comes our champion.
Mickie James, uh…
The pride of Richmond, Virginia, just caught a elbow right to the ear.
[Melina screams]
[King] Both Mickie James and Melina certainly no strangers to each other.
They've locked up many times. Oh, look at this move!
[J.R.] The hand scissors into the hurricanrana
if you're keeping score at home.
[King] Am I smiling right now, J.R.?
Love this match!
-Yeah, well. -[J.R.] Oh!
Natalya making her Pay-Per-View debut.
I think it won't be the last time
we see, uh, this young lady on Pay-Per-View.
And a nice neck breaker by Mickie James.
And the, uh,
the daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart.
[King] And the niece of Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
[J.R.] And the grand daughter of the late Stu Hart.
[King] Okay, that's…
-[J.R.] She is a great athlete-- -[King] Oh, Cherry!
[J.R.] Cherry went for tumble right off the apron.
And, uh…
[King] Victoria in the ring now. She can do some damage.
[J.R.] Another former WWE Women's champ.
[King] This is… Watch this move.
All right…
Wait a minute.
[J.R.] I think the shimmy got her.
-[King] It got me. -[J.R.] One shimmy too many.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Mickie James a champion with the Enzuigiri.
And, uh, Cherry taking exception.
-[King] Uh-oh. -[J.R.] Oh, my God!
[King] Oh, they've done it.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] We got quite the fight out here.
[King] It's Diva pandemonium!
More fighting on the announce table.
[J.R.] Please, stop.
-Good grief. -[King] Oh.
[J.R.] I think Victoria and Mickie James are the two legal competitors,
but, and now, the tag was made.
[King] Ashley. Oh, look at this!
[J.R.] Ashley and, uh, Jillian.
Turns out Jillian's not singing.
[King] A lot prettier with her mouth closed.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Now The Glamazon got the…
got the cheap shot, and referee Marty Elias didn't see it.
[King] How can you not be more excited, J.R.,
with all of these lovely Divas out here, this action?
Come on, one!
[King] You're gonna have to stop going to the laundromat to meet women,
with all of these Divas here in front of us.
-Well, The Glamazon… -[J.R.] Glamazon's in, and she's…
arguably the most powerful and dominant female athlete
in the history of the WWE.
And, uh, women-handling a former Playboy cover girl.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Ashley no match, physically, for The Glamazon.
Look at this. Looking like a chicken wing.
-Hey! -[King] Nice move by Ashley though.
[J.R.] Ashley trying to be resourceful in her counters.
[King] Ashley needs a tag here.
Oh!
[J.R.] Glamazon is aware of that as well.
No tag. No tag for you.
-Mickie James is… -[King] Cheap shot on Mickie James.
-[J.R.] Wait a minute… -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Mickie James taking exception.
[all exclaiming]
-[J.R.] A hold with a Tornado DDT… -[King] Man!
…from the current champion to the former champion.
[King] Mickie James just planted Beth Phoenix,
but now look at…
Look at Victoria, the Widow's Peak!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] A devastating Widow's Peak!
And what a big kick by Michelle McCool.
And here comes Melina.
My God, you can't keep up with the action.
-[King] Oh, man! What action! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] And a hard dropkick.
[King] It's Diva action.
Oh, Kelly Kelly.
-Oh, no! -[all exclaiming]
[King] Oh, golly, beautiful face planted into that mat.
Look at Cherry!
They face plant 'em…
Oh, my!
[J.R.] Cherry celebrated a little too premature… Oh, my!
What a suplex by Natalya Neidhart.
And a bulldog by Maria!
[King] Man! One Diva move after another.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Lilian from ECW taken down by Ashley.
[King] Ashley might've hit her head there when she…
Ashley is really scrappy, J.R.
[J.R.] But the bad news is Ashley's in there with The Glamazon.
-[King] Uh-oh. -[Phoenix roars]
-[J.R.] Power here. -[King] Oh, my!
[J.R.] Strength and power!
The perfect combination there are.
And the fisherwoman suplex!
One, two, three.
[bell dings]
[J.R.] Domination by The Glamazon.
[Lilian] Here are your winners.
Beth Phoenix, The Glamazon,
Melina, Jillian,
Victoria, Natalya, and Layla.
[King] Can they make it two out of three falls?
-[J.R.] Who are "they"? -[King] The Divas.
[J.R.] Well, that might be, uh,
-something you wish for for the holidays. -[King] Yeah.
[J.R.] The Glamazon leading her team
to victory here, ladies and gentlemen.
[King] Oh, what a great match.
[Cole] But there's still plenty of Backlash to come tonight
sold out at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
A beautiful inner harbor.
Ten years of Backlash,
as we're bracing for two championship matches still to come.
And also having a lot of fun here tonight
the one-time Super Bowl champions,
a lot to look forward to, a great draft, a new coach,
the Baltimore Ravens are here having a grand old time.
[Foley] Well, it sure looks like it, Michael Cole.
And, you know, in an arena
that's seen so many great moments over the years.
Where "Superstar" Billy Graham ended the title reign
of Bruno Sammartino,
where Ron Simmons
became the first African-American World Heavyweight Champion.
You have to wonder, will Edge write a new chapter
in WWE title history?
[Cole] Coming up next, The Undertaker defends the world title versus Edge.
This is a night Edge has been waiting for
since WrestleMania.
[Edge] I stand out here and I feel naked.
[King] Spear!
Wait a minute!
[Cole] The devastating submission hold…
The champion's in trouble! Will he tap?
We've got a new champion!
[Edge] In losing to The Undertaker,
I feel like I've let myself down.
But, most importantly,
baby, I… I feel like I let you down.
But I want to promise to you
on our passion, on our love,
that very soon once again
I will be
the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Cole] Tonight, The Undertaker being forced to compete against is brother
by orders of General Manager Vickie Guerrero.
[King] Edge and Vickie gotta be loving this.
Kane is punishing his brother.
Oh, yeah. Right there. [chuckles]
[groans] Oh, that's good stuff.
[bell dings]
[Cole] Remember Vickie Guerrero set up this matchup
to continue to harm and wound The Undertaker.
The orange peel scrub.
I'm still tingling all over from that.
[Cole] The world champion, The Undertaker,
against the former world champion Batista.
This matchup was made to damage and destroy The Undertaker
by Edge and Vickie Guerrero.
[Edge] Can you smell it?
Can you feel it?
[King] Edge and Vickie gotta be licking their chops.
[Undertaker groaning]
Oh!
[Edge speaking indistinctly]
-[Vickie moans] -Oh!
[Edge and Vickie laughing]
[King] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Vickie Guerrero and Edge have gotten what they wanted.
That is what is left of the champion.
[Edge] This Sunday, at Backlash, we will crown a new world champion…
[Cole] Edge is gonna pick the bones of The Undertaker.
[Edge] …me!
[bell dings]
[announcer] This contest set for one fall
is for the World Heavyweight Championship!
[crowd cheering]
♪ I think you know me… ♪
[Edge's theme song plays]
♪ On this day ♪
♪ I see clearly ♪
♪ Everything has come to life ♪
♪ A bitter place ♪
♪ And a broken dream ♪
♪ And we'll leave it all behind ♪
♪ On this day ♪
♪ It's so real to me ♪
♪ Everything has come to life… ♪
[Cole] He is a four-time world champion.
Tonight, Edge looks to regain the title versus The Undertaker.
But, Mick, you and I were discussing earlier today,
how much is The Undertaker in Edge's head?
Remember, Edge, when he tapped out of that submission hold
back in WrestleMania?
Is that weighing on Edge's mind coming into this matchup?
[Foley] There's no way it cannot weigh on his mind
because, you remember,
Edge dominated The Undertaker
throughout most of their championship match
at WrestleMania.
And then his best weapon in his arsenal, the Spear,
turned in one moment from Spear to fear,
as Undertaker locked on that seemingly inescapable hold.
Usually, Michael, for every hold there is a counter-hold.
But that one, this hold from The Undertaker
may prove to be the rule…
the exception that proves the rule.
To the best of my knowledge,
there is no way out of that particular hold.
[Cole] You talk about weapons for Edge.
One of Edge's greatest weapons over the past few months
has been his fiancée, the General Manager of SmackDown Vickie Guerrero,
who is responsible, along with Edge,
for putting The Undertaker in these very physical matchups
over the last month to weaken him coming into tonight.
[Undertaker's theme music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[bell tolling]
[crowd cheering]
[Undertaker's theme music continues playing]
[bell tolling]
-[thunder rumbling] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Mick Foley, you have been involved
in so many historic battles with The Undertaker over the years.
What is going through Edge's mind right now
as he watches this intimidating presence from The Undertaker?
[Foley] No matter what Edge says,
he can't help but feel not only impressed, but a little bit intimidated
because after all this time
there is still nothing like the arrival of The Undertaker.
If there is something else in any form of entertainment
this spine-tingling, this chill-inducing,
I have yet to see it.
[Cole] We have to question before this matchup starts
the physical well-being of The Undertaker.
Remember what he's been through over the past month
against the likes of Kane and Festus and Batista.
And remember that bone-jarring, back-breaking…
[thunder rumbling]
…spinebuster
onto those steel steps at the hands of Batista
just 48 hours ago.
[Foley] Though, Michael, that was the plan of Vickie Guerrero.
A very well-executed plan, I might add,
to have The Undertaker and Batista take each other out
paving the way for a new Edge world championship.
Introducing first, the challenger,
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
weighing 250 pounds,
he is The Rated-R Superstar,
Edge!
[crowd booing]
[mouthing] I'm going to hurt you.
And his opponent, from Death Valley,
weighing 299 pounds,
he is the current World Heavyweight Champion,
The Undertaker!
[crowd cheering]
[Foley] Did I just see The Undertaker mouth the words,
"I am going to hurt you," to Edge?
If so, keep in mind,
The Undertaker is no maker of idle threats.
-This is a promise. -[bell dings]
[Cole] It is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The six-time world champion The Undertaker
versus the four-time world champion Edge.
And one of the reasons The Undertaker said he's gonna hurt Edge is…
look at what these two men have been through over the past year.
At every turn, Edge has been a thorn in The Undertaker's side.
It began last May when Edge cashed in Money in the Bank,
picking the bones of a fallen Undertaker to win the world title.
Edge cost The Undertaker the championship at Survivor Series
inside Hell in a Cell,
when Edge was camouflaged as a cameraman,
and then he won the championship at Armageddon
in a Triple Threat Match.
[Foley] Before WrestleMania, Edge was riding on an emotional high
because he'd never actually lost to The Undertaker.
We'll have to see what it has done to Edge emotionally
to succumb to the devastating submission hold of The Undertaker.
[Cole] Mick, that brings up a good point.
It's not like Edge has never beaten The Undertaker before.
He's only lost to him once.
So, psychologically, Edge knows that he can beat The Deadman.
[Foley] Psychologically, he knows that he has beaten him in the past,
but I really have to wonder--
it's a devastating, uh, loss to suffer,
uh, the one he did last month
because, Michael, unlike most submission holds…
[Edge groans]
…employed by excellent, great WWE Superstars,
there's no escape from that hold.
There's no gutting it out, there's no courage factor.
Once it's locked on, essentially, as far as I can tell,
the match is over.
[Cole] Talk strategy in this matchup, Mick.
First, to The Undertaker. I guess more of the same here,
trying to over-power Edge.
And for Edge, it's to look for an opportunity,
'cause he is The Ultimate Opportunist,
to find that one opening that gives him the upper hand in this match.
[Foley] Edge needs to strike first.
He needs to be the guy with the first major offense
to get his mind right, to make him understand that,
yes, those… those victories over Undertaker
were no fluke. He's done it before. He can do it again.
But it won't happen if Undertaker has his way like this.
[Cole] Edge has gotta stay away from the power game
and from the big strikes of the world champion.
…three, four. Get off!
[Foley] That seems to be the problem, Micheal.
The Undertaker has just so many tools in his shed.
Not only, as you've said,
is he probably the greatest pure striker in WWE history,
he got so many ways to hurt you.
[Cole] Well, it's the adaptation and the evolution of The Undertaker
over the years.
This is a much different Undertaker
than the man you battled a number of years ago.
[Foley] It sure is. At the time I took on The Undertaker,
he had been dominant for several years
employing a combination of both, uh, physical power
and psychological intimidation.
[all exclaiming]
And, since then, seeming to defy both logic and mother nature,
he has gotten stronger and faster,
adding speed to his repertoire.
And now the hold that… that no one seems able to counter.
[Cole] Much more cerebral at times in the ring
and, of course, that triangle like choke submission hold
The Undertaker's employed
to so many men here in World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Foley] As far as the hopes of WWE Superstars go,
that… that hold of The Undertaker's has to be something of a…
a death sentence.
Because no one can get out of it.
A long time ago, maybe 19 years,
in a little apartment on Montgomery
an old time, uh, "hooker" as we say, "Exotic" Adrian Street,
placed me in a hold that I would describe
as being excruciating and inescapable.
Michael, I lived in fear
of repeating that moment for 19 years.
It's still in the back of my mind.
Now Edge's fear is only one month removed.
It's gotta be in the forefront of his mind.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] And Edge, physically intimidating there.
Baseball slide!
And, suddenly, the champion is in trouble.
Remember the injured back.
Remember what the back has been through over the past few months
as that spine crashed into the barricade.
[Foley exclaims]
[Cole] Not affecting the champion there.
-[Undertaker roars] -[Edge groans]
[Cole] And it's Edge's back!
That… His spine to steel.
[Foley] And when spine meets steel,
the spine does not often win,
which is the case with that devastating Batista Bomb.
One of the most cringe-inducing moments I've ever seen,
a moment that takes somebody who's been in the ring,
and makes him literally jump up and fear for one man's sake.
[all exclaiming]
[Robinson] Three!
[Cole] Punishing assault so far for the world champion.
And remember the words uttered at the beginning of this matchup
directed at Edge from The Undertaker,
"I'm gonna hurt you."
And that has been the gameplan by The Deadman from the get go.
[Foley] Lot of WWE Superstars talk trash…
[all exclaiming]
…often, they back it up.
Undertaker's a man of few words.
But when he speaks, we need to listen.
[Cole] The Undertaker is 16-0 at WrestleMania.
That one stat speaks for itself. You don't have to say anything else.
[all exclaiming]
[referee] Two!
Three!
[Cole] Referee Charles Robinson has begun the count
at a count of three.
[Foley] Because a count out can end this match.
That is not what Edge wants to see.
Five!
It would dash his hopes.
But it's not the way Undertaker wants to win either.
He wants to inflict damage. He wants to injure Edge.
[Cole] Title will not change hands on a count out
if it was The Undertaker who was to be counted out.
And this is such vintage Undertaker,
using the apron of the ring as a weapon
as he lays his opponent's body prone,
and then breaks the count
as he looks to inflict more punishment!
[Foley] This is not a place that Edge wants to be.
Nothing good can happen here.
[Cole] Three-hundred pounds
-of mass destruction! -[Foley] Down across the throat!
How much can a human body take?
There's a whiplash effect--
the weight of The Undertaker, his leg coming down across…
But it seems, oddly enough, that The Undertaker
having trouble recuperating from his own move.
[Cole] We talked about it early,
you saw Undertaker go to the small of his back.
That back, just two nights ago, slammed into steel steps
and maybe tightening up at this…
Oh, and the leg drop!
-[Cole] Undertaker, cover. -One, two…
[Cole] Shoulders down, there's a two count and a kick out
as Edge survives.
[Foley] And Undertaker seems to have regained his focus.
Here's a man who can put a…
a great deal of damage on the--
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Great counter by the former world champion, Edge.
Can he get to a cover? Crawls to one, hooks the leg.
World title on the line, and Undertaker kicked out
before referee Charles Robinson could even get in position.
[Foley] Michael, for a great deal of the WrestleMania match
what we saw was Edge countering most of The Undertaker's big moves.
It was obvious he'd studied The Undertaker.
Will he have success employing the same strategy
tonight at Backlash?
[Cole] And this is where the so called, his…
well, self-proclaimed predator, Edge comes so dangerous…
[Undertaker groans]
[Cole] He noticed The Undertaker's weakened back.
The Ultimate Opportunist looks for the opportunity…
-One, two… -…as he hooks the leg
and Undertaker kicks out at two.
[Foley] Michael, it's obvious to me that Edge has seen the opportunity,
he is now targeting that lower back.
He's like-- you referred to him as a predator
last week on SmackDown--
he's like a shark that smells blood in the water
and he's ready to attack.
[Cole] The cunning and shrewd Edge…
could be in the driver's seat
-wearing the world champion down. -[Robinson] Get off the hair.
[Cole] This could be that one opening
that Edge needed in this match.
[Foley] Throughout his career, as I mentioned,
psychological dominance has been at the forefront
of The Undertaker's game.
Part of that dominance
was he was seemingly able to take an unbelievable
and inhuman amount of punishment.
But perhaps the tasks at hand,
the grueling matches with Kane, with Festus,
the two classic confrontations with Batista
we saw at SmackDown,
have taken their toll on The Deadman.
[Cole] Look at the look on The Deadman's face.
The Undertaker trying to power out of this predicament.
The world champion realizes he's in dire straits.
-And he's turned the tables on Edge. -[all exclaiming]
[Foley] Raining big blows on The R-Rated Superstar.
[Cole] But has the damage been done?
[Foley] Michael, every one of The Undertaker's blows
is thrown with bad intentions.
[Cole] Wild right hand, and it's right back to the back.
[Foley] He has an ability to focus in
-on any weakness… -[Undertaker groans]
…and exploit it.
[Cole] When is the last time you heard The Undertaker
let out a groan like he just did?
[Foley] It may be a first. I don't believe it has precedent.
[Cole] Watch the look in The Undertaker's eyes here.
[Undertaker groans]
[Cole] And suddenly, The Rated-R Superstar,
one of the most controversial athletes
in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment,
could be closing in
on his fifth world championship.
[Foley] And Edge has to feel confident now.
He's not intimidated by The Deadman.
Maybe he's thinking back to the times
he had unprecedented success against the Undertaker.
[Cole] Almost a camel clutch-like maneuver here.
This switch works on the back, right?
[Foley] He's putting lots of pressure,
he's reaching up, pulling up on the chin,
while putting his body weight, the bulk of his body weight
on The Undertaker's lower back.
He's wearing down The Deadman.
Setting him up for what he hopes to be sweet, sweet revenge,
and a new reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
[referee] Do you want to quit?
No.
[Undertaker panting]
[Cole] Gonna take everything The Undertaker has
to somehow, somehow
get himself out of this predicament.
[Foley] Normally, Michael, this is used as a submission hold.
I think it almost goes without saying
we're just not gonna see
-The Undertaker give up this. -[Cole] Look at this!
[Foley] But he is wearing him down,
and where does The Undertaker find the strength to power up?
[Cole] Undertaker did power up!
[Foley] Almost powered up.
[Cole] But Edge continued to have the wherewithal
to keep himself connected to The Undertaker.
Wrapped around The Undertaker's back, but as they get to the ropes,
the break is ordered.
[Foley] He ended up in that body scissor,
putting more damage on the injured lower back of The Undertaker.
Edge needs that… I'm sure he has a plan,
going right back to that modified camel clutch.
[Cole] Two points here, the title will change hands
if Undertaker does tap out, number one.
Number two, you wear the back down,
you take out so much of The Undertaker's arsenal.
Last Ride, uh, Chokeslam, Tombstone,
he can't… he can't use his power game.
[Edge yells]
[Foley] The Undertaker knows he's in a predicament…
[all exclaiming]
…that he needs to get out of using his body weight.
Three-hundred pounds of The Deadman dropping right on Edge.
[Cole] Great counter by the world champion,
as desperation perhaps is setting in for The Phenom.
Has to create separation between him and Edge.
And here's that counter maneuver.
[all exclaiming]
-[Cole] Oh, bulkhead! -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Collision!
[Foley] Ordinarily, in a two-person collision,
The Undertaker's gonna get the best of the deal,
but not necessarily so here.
He's been worn down to an extent that I have never seen.
[Cole] You notice any time The Undertaker tries to move any part of his body,
a grimace takes over his face.
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] Double kicks
knocked both men down!
One!
[Cole] Again, Edge continuing to counter The Undertaker
-at almost every turn… -Three!
…much like at their epic match at WrestleMania.
Five!
[both groan]
[Foley] There's that devastating boot
taking Edge right off his feet
Remember what's at stake, it's the World Heavyweight Championship,
that's why these men are going to the extremes that they are.
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] I don't think it's wise for Edge to try and exchange blows
-with The Undertaker. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[Foley] Like I said, each one thrown with bad intentions.
-Undertaker taking-- -[all exclaiming]
[Foley] And, Michael, while those punches may not mean the end,
they are often the beginning of the end
where Undertaker can employ one of those incredible moves.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Well, the question… Oh, and Edge ducked out of the way!
-[Edge yells] -[Cole] Uh-oh. Landed in trouble.
-Undertaker… Snake eyes. -[Foley] Snake eyes!
[Cole] Boot to the skull!
-The world championship. -[Foley] And a big elbow drop.
-Count down, Michael, one… -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] …The Undertaker as Edge kicks out at two.
You gotta believe The Undertaker knew he needed
that three count there.
The longer this match goes with the back injury,
the more it favors Edge.
[Foley] I'm not… I'm not sure.
I'm not sure because it's been said,
and many a Superstar will attest…
[all exclaiming]
…to the fact that despite the punishment,
The Undertaker seems to get stronger with time.
He has an innate ability
to take punishment and keep coming back for more.
An ability the likes of which we've never seen.
[Cole] You should know. You've been in epic battles with the man.
[Foley] Sometimes, Michael Cole,
The Deadman truly does seem to be supernatural.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Edge is in trouble!
Undertaker's hooked.
Edge, battle it out!
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Almost is the Last Ride for the number one contender.
Almost exhaustion
seeming to creep into the body of The Phenom.
The world champion,
who doesn't often fly,
but heads to the top rope here.
[Foley] But when he does, he makes it--
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Right on the back!
His spine smashing into the mat
from the top rope.
Edge looking to pick the bones.
-The Ultimate Opportunist! -One, two…
Two count, has he got it? No.
Kick out at two-and-a-half by Edge, so close to the world title.
[Foley] Watch as the big man getting way up in the air
which means he got right onto the canvas
almost like a gift from above.
Edge could not have been anticipating The Undertaker taking flight
but he sure will take advantage.
-[Cole] Whoa, whoa! -[Foley] Wait a sec. Wait a second.
[Cole] Edge just grabbed the world title. He's gotta be careful here.
-This could… Oh. -[Foley] He dropped it on the floor.
[all exclaiming]
[Foley] Maybe an attempt, a ploy… a ploy…
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Edge may have made a mistake.
Went for the chokeslam.
[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Edge countered a second time…
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] A Russian leg sweep.
Again targets the back. Edge falls to the cover, hooks the leg.
-We'll crown the new champion! -One, two…
[Cole] No kick out at two-and-a-half by The Phenom.
[Foley] I know I'm new to SmackDown, Michael,
but Edge may have The Undertaker's number here.
He seems to be able to counter
every one of The Undertaker's counter holds.
Just one step ahead of him in this human game of chess.
[Cole] Edge has only lost to The Undertaker one time in his career,
and Edge has been here for ten years.
[crowd cheering]
[all exclaiming]
[Foley] That could be it. Undertaker, the cover.
One, two…
-[Cole] He's got… -[Foley] Foot on the ropes
has saved the chances of The R-Rated Superstar.
Do we see just a little bit of frustration seeping in
onto the features of the Undertaker?
[Cole] Undertaker says, "It's over now. Rest in peace, Edge."
[Foley] Keep in mind though, the words, "I'm going to hurt you."
[Cole] Well, the Tombstone Piledriver will hurt.
But Edge hanging on for dear life,
took the turnbuckle right off of the corner.
And look at Edge!
There's The Ultimate Opportunist. That is what we're talking about.
Oh, and he ran into a clothesline!
[Foley] Edge just rammed The Undertaker's lower back,
that injured lower back,
into the exposed steel underneath that turnbuckle,
taking a tremendous effect on The Deadman's lower back.
-[Cole] Hey, look at this! -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] From behind, Curt Hawkins, Edge's running buddy,
the referee never saw him, he was busy with the turnbuckle.
The championship, the championship
to the back of the skull of The Undertaker.
[Foley] I understand the stakes are high,
but I don't wanna see a championship matchup--
[Cole] Edge is gonna steal it!
-Got out with a kick out. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Somehow The Undertaker kicked out before a three count.
Edge thought he was gonna take advantage of the opportunity again.
[Foley] Michael, he simply draws on resources…
-[Cole] With a Spear. -…that most of us don't have.
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] … for a Spear.
Countered it with a DDT.
And now it's Undertaker
-with not much left, covers Edge. -One, two…
[Cole] Kick out at two-and-a-half.
[Foley] You have to believe that if Undertaker had had the strength
to put his entire body weight on The R-Rated Superstar,
we'd be seeing the bell ring, Undertaker victorious--
[Cole] What a physical matchup
between the world champion and the number one contender
all over the world title.
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Now, what? - [Foley] Oh, come on.
-[Cole] Zack Ryder! -[all exclaiming]
[Foley] As The Undertaker… could it be Last Ride time?
[Cole] Going for the Last Ride.
[Foley] He's up… Counter. Sunset--
-[Cole] Covered! He's got him! -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Edge has done it. Look at this!
-[Foley] He's got it! He's got it! -[Cole] There it is.
[Cole] The lethal submission hold!
-He's got a submission hold. -[Foley] Michael Cole, he's gotta tap.
There's no escape. He needs to tap and he needs to do it now
to prevent serious, serious injury!
[Cole] World title on the line! Will Edge tap out?
-Will Edge tap out? -[Foley] It has to stop!
There's no shame in tapping.
[Cole] It's locked in. Edge is fading.
The world champion.
[Foley] I cannot believe Edge has lasted that long… this long.
-Tap out! -[bell dings]
[Cole] Edge taps out.
Undertaker retains the world title.
[Undertaker's theme music plays]
[Foley] And it's a relief to see the end has come.
Been a… Oh, Michael.
He seems to still have that hold locked in place.
[Cole] But the matchup is over.
The matchup is over, and Undertaker still got this…
this submission maneuver locked into place.
Edge is fading.
The evil Undertaker, as Edge's fiancée Vickie Guerrero
makes her way to the ring.
Remember The Undertaker's words that,
"I'm gonna hurt you."
[Foley] The prophetic words. The prophetic words.
As much as Edge has done
to incite the wrath of The Undertaker,
you have to wonder, have we seen the end or a shortening,
of what is and has been a great career?
[Cole] I don't believe that anyone… that anyone has ever
been in that… that submission hold
longer than Edge just was.
[Foley] Well, I don't think the human body is made to withstand it.
From what I can gather,
that devastating hold affects the human body on two fronts,
the shin bone pressing into the throat
acting as a suffocating maneuver
and the other leg coming down
putting an unbelievable amount of torque and pressure
on the back of the head… [exclaims]
We see the grim results of a hold that knows no equal.
[Cole] You see the final scar,
the final battle wound
of what was an unbelievably physical matchup
between The Undertaker and Edge.
[Foley] The Undertaker has been a revered figure here
for a long, long time.
But make no mistake…
he can hurt you and hurt you bad.
[Undertaker's theme music continues playing]
No!
[Vickie yells]
Oh, my God!
[Vickie] Baby, I love you!
Baby, no!
[Vickie yelling]
[Edge gasping]
Oh, my God! Baby, I love you. I'm so sorry.
-Edge! -Edge. Edge.
[Foley] Will that man ever be the same, Michael Cole?
[Vickie] Baby, I love you!
[all clamoring]
[Foley] Despite the cheers of many fans in Baltimore,
this… this is not a good moment, Michael.
Who knows the damage that… that that hold, uh,
-that hold does-- -[Cole] Let's take a look.
[Foley] Hawkins and Ryder coming in
trying to act as the great equalizer. Ah!
That's… That's just a mistake and it does not work.
[Cole] While Zack Ryder's interference didn't work as well.
[Foley] Here comes Hawkins.
[Cole] And then, The Undertaker locking in
after a great counter by Edge. Edge countered--
[Foley] I thought we were gonna see a sunset flip, but no.
Undertaker's just able to lock it in so quickly
and so completely.
Right now, the match should be over, and I wish it was.
[Cole] The Undertaker
refusing, refusing
to release his hold
as we take you back to the haunting warning
from The Undertaker before the match began.
[Foley] Watch the mouth, Michael.
[mouthing] I'm going to hurt you.
[Foley] "I'm going to hurt you."
[Cole] Those words ended up being prophetic,
the, uh, the "I'm going to hurt you" from The Undertaker.
And as you mentioned before,
no… no one knows, uh, what type of damage that that hold does
and the fact that Edge was in it longer…
longer than anyone.
I mean, who knows what the number one contender
is gonna go through.
WWE fans around the globe have so much respect for The Undertaker.
But make no mistake,
at one time, he was the very personification of evil,
and I think we saw that very, uh, that very emotion.
-[crowd cheering] -Hey.
Good luck tonight.
[J.R.] Well, ladies and gentlemen, we asked you earlier tonight
on AT&T mobile
who you thought would win the Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match tonight
for the WWE title.
And, the results are in.
[King] I wanna know if our fans voted with their hearts or their minds.
Here are the results right now.
-Oh! -[J.R.] John Cena with almost
half the votes.
[King] Oh, my…
Our fans still do not believe that they are living in the age of Orton.
Only 12% believe that Randy Orton
will retain the WWE title in this match.
And even less thought that JBL would win it,
so it looks like, uh, as far as the fan vote and…
Which is very important to see what our fans are thinking,
uh, it's a horse race between John Cena and Triple H.
Ladies and gentlemen, certainly want to thank Kid Rock.
-[King] Oh, yeah. -[J.R.] Wanna hear it play.
Kid Rock and, well, the official theme song of Backlash--
"All Summer Long," and Kid Rock CD
available in stores right now, and, yes, we love Kid Rock.
[J.R.] And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time
for the main event tonight,
for the WWE title.
A melody of mayhem
with the WWE Championship
going to the victor.
[static crackling] Fatal… 4-Way.
-Three… -[bell dings]
Three men… Eliminated…
The survivor leaves WWE Champion.
["In Time" by Mark Collie playing]
♪ I can hear what you're thinkin' ♪
♪ All your doubts and fears ♪
♪ And if you look in my eyes ♪
♪ In time You'll find the reason I'm here ♪
♪ And in time All things shall pass away ♪
♪ In time, you may come back some day ♪
♪ To live once more ♪
♪ Or die once more ♪
♪ But in time Your time will be no more… ♪
[Orton] We are all living in the age of Orton!
♪ You know your days are numbered ♪
♪ Count 'em one by one ♪
♪ Like notches in the handle Of an outlaw's gun ♪
♪ You can outrun the devil if you try ♪
♪ But you will never outrun ♪
♪ The hands of time… ♪
[Orton] I am getting sick and tired…
[Triple H] Three men will fall,
one will emerge tepid.
-[Orton] …of hearing people say… -[Cena] I'm locked, loaded,
and ready to bring down the thunder.
…that they're gonna walk out of Backlash…
[JBL] They say I've passed the torch.
I want my damn torch back!
[Orton] …champion. My actions do most of my talking.
No Mercy, Survivor Series,
Armageddon, Royal Rumble,
No Way Out, WrestleMania XXIV.
There is nothing that anyone can do about the fact
that at Backlash,
I will remain champion!
♪ I can hear what you're thinkin' ♪
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
The following is the Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match,
and it is for the WWE Championship.
Now, in this match,
all four men will start in the ring at the same time.
When three men have been eliminated,
the last remaining superstar
will be the WWE Champion!
[crowd cheering]
[Triple H's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ All about control And if you can take it ♪
♪ All about your debt And if you can pay it ♪
♪ It's all about pain And who's gonna make it ♪
♪ I am the game, you don't wanna play me ♪
♪ I am control, no way you can change me ♪
♪ I am heavy debt, no way you can pay me ♪
♪ I am the pain And I know you can't take me ♪
♪ Look over your shoulder, ready to run ♪
♪ Like a Cleveland bitch From a smoking gun ♪
♪ I am the game and I make the rules… ♪
[King] Well, is tonight the night
that the king of kings
returns to his throne atop the WWE as the WWE's champion, J.R.?
[J.R.] I can tell you this,
there's no price that the former 11-time champion
will not pay to leave here tonight
the WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Time to play the game… ♪
[J.R.] The WWE title has been defended seven times
here at Backlash,
but it's changed hands only twice.
As we are in the midst of the Tenth Annual Backlash,
and we're so happy you've chosen to join us here tonight.
♪ 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 And who's gonna make it ♪
♪ I am the game, you don't wanna play me ♪
♪ I am control There's no way you can change me ♪
♪ I am your debt… ♪
[J.R.] A picture of intensity.
♪ I am your pain And I know you can't take me ♪
♪ Play the game You're gonna be the same ♪
♪ You're gonna change your name ♪
♪ You're gonna die in flames ♪
[JBL's theme music plays]
[King] There he is--
self-made millionaire,
JBL, in that long limousine,
Texas longhorns in the front.
[J.R.] You know, a longhorn's a steer, you know?
What's that he had on his back?
Is that the Mama Juana?
JBL, the longest reigning champion in SmackDown history.
In his first WWE title match in two years.
Could we see a hostile takeover tonight
from the self-made millionaire
as it relates to the WWE Championship?
[crowd cheering]
[Cena's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
Understand that we are in a new business!
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot… ♪
[J.R.] John Cena was the winner
in the AT&T text voting,
receiving 48% of your votes.
But the question is,
will John Cena leave here tonight
in front of the sold-out crowd in Baltimore
as the WWE Champion?
[King] Well, you're right, this capacity crowd leapt to their feet
when John Cena arrived.
I can remember like yesterday,
catchphrase was, "The Champ is here!"
Will John Cena be saying that again after tonight?
[Orton's theme song plays]
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ Hey… ♪
[J.R.] Well, throughout the night, Randy Orton has been very confident,
bordering on arrogant.
I don't know if Orton is trying to convince himself
or all of us
that he is gonna leave here tonight the WWE Champion.
Let's remember this--
all four men will start in the ring at the same time.
There will be three eliminations.
The last remaining superstar
will be the WWE Champion.
And by the way, ladies and gentlemen,
this match has no disqualification
and it has no count-out.
[King] When you're pinned or you submit,
you leave the ring.
You go back to the locker room with your… Hang your head in shame.
[J.R.] Very few people thought that Randy Orton would survive
the Triple Threat Match of WrestleMania XXIV
against both Triple H and John Cena.
However, Randy Orton did,
and the age of Orton became a reality
in the Citrus Bowl.
♪ Now it's time to shine ♪
♪ I'm gonna take what's mine ♪
♪ While you're burning inside my light ♪
♪ I give and you take ♪
♪ And I waited for you ♪
♪ But I made a mistake ♪
♪ It's clear that your fear is so near… ♪
[J.R.] That's what it's all about, ladies and gentlemen.
Beginning in 1963 with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers,
the first WWE Champion.
Forty-five years later,
the third-generation superstar, Randy Orton,
holds the most coveted prize in the entire WWE.
♪ Hey, nothing you can say ♪
♪ Nothing's gonna change What you've done to me ♪
♪ Now it's time to shine… ♪
[J.R.] Every man for himself.
No disqualification.
[Lilian] Introducing the challengers.
First, from New York City,
John Bradshaw Layfield!
Next from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing in at 255 pounds,
Triple H!
[crowd cheering]
From West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 248 pounds,
John Cena!
And from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 245 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
Randy Orton!
[J.R.] Some say the simple son
of a WWE Hall of Famer
is Randy Orton.
As senior referee Mike Chioda
who has the distinction of officiating this first ever
Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
for the WWE title at Backlash.
[bell dings]
Hey! No!
[J.R.] And, uh…
physicality begins early.
[King] Wow.
[J.R.] Remember, no disqualifications or count-outs.
There will be three eliminations
on the way to crowning a WWE Champion.
[King] Oh, Randy Orton… Randy Orton is hurt here.
[J.R.] And JBL taking his liberties
with John Cena.
And Triple H, who we saw…
JBL first time ever one-on-one
just a few weeks ago on Monday Night RAW.
[all exclaiming]
[audience booing]
[J.R.] The strategy that one must attempt to employ in this environment
is so unique.
[King] It's every man for himself and, as you've said,
Randy Orton over here, taking this opportunity for a little R&R
after that initial contact.
[J.R.] When a superstar is eliminated, he must return to the locker room.
This match will continue until there have been three eliminations.
Right now, Randy Orton is using some pretty dang good strategy.
-Maybe not! -[King] Look at this!
[J.R.] Maybe not this strategy!
John Cena assaulting the WWE Champion.
Action in and outside the ring.
[all exclaiming]
John Cena's hit.
-Oh! -Cena just got taken out of the equation
in a hugely physical way.
[King] A referee on the inside
and a referee on the outside of the ring here to…
[J.R.] Well, we know that JBL can't be trusted
and neither can Orton,
but there was a… a level of collusion.
[King] Watch this, as John Cena ran after Orton who was…
was instead taking that little opportunity
to get a little respite.
But then, Cena caught from behind by Orton.
[J.R.] And they…
I don't know if Cena's gonna be able to get himself on track
after eating part of our announce table.
It's cracked the top of our… our table here.
[King] I'm not sure if Triple H is gonna be able to get himself--
I don't know about on track-- but un-trapped.
He's… He's trapped right now between JBL and Randy Orton.
[J.R.] Which begs the question, is there honor among thieves?
Referring to JBL and Randy Orton.
There hasn't been in the past.
But maybe they-- "they" meaning JBL and Orton--
will work together to eliminate The Game.
[King] They certainly think that… Oh, look at this!
[crowd cheering]
[King] You'd think that Randy Orton would look for any port in a storm,
any… any ally that he can make in this match to save his title.
[J.R.] JBL trying to cover up, but too late,
got knocked to the outside.
And now it's down to Triple H and Randy Orton.
No eliminations yet in this Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
for Orton's WWE title.
-[Orton roars] -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Steel ring post…
doesn't care if it's Orton or anybody else.
And remember there's no count-outs.
-[King] Watch those steps! Oh, man! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] That first step will get you.
JBL's a…
He's got all the steel step that he'll ever want.
[King] Listen to this impact.
Man.
[J.R.] Steel steps, they're coming out here.
[King] Hey, hey, hey. Do I see a Pedigree?
[J.R.] On the outside--
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The Game's head just popped off that… that steel.
And JBL dropping that massive elbow
into the sternum of The Game outside the ring
while Randy Orton and John Cena…
-Oh! -What an uppercut.
…battle inside the ring.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Orton's gotta stay out of those corners.
-[King] John Cena! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Cena that face-first blockbuster.
And now, John Cena…
will take a chance!
-[all exclaiming] -[J.R.] Good Lord!
[J.R.] What a leg drop off the top, setting up
our first elimination.
STFU!
-[crowd cheering] -[Orton groans]
[J.R.] Will Orton submit?
-If he does-- -[King] Oh, it's JBL.
[J.R.] JBL has no advantage.
[yells] No!
Tap! Tap!
What are you gonna do, boy?
Tap!
You're the champion no more, son.
[King] Does that answer your question about honor among thieves?
[J.R.] Oh, look how a…
An STFU and a crossface.
[King] JBL's reality check just bounced.
[J.R.] JBL just put a thumb in the eye, I think, of…
of John Cena.
Tap!
-How do you like that, son? -[J.R.] JBL may be
on the verge of tapping out.
How do you like that?
[JBL groans]
[Triple H groans]
[J.R.] Cena from behind.
I mean, that unhinged the… the whole equation.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Cena's having a hell of a time staying in the ring.
First, our table, and now…
over the top… Oh, good kick!
Big kick by JBL.
Looking to eliminate Orton and he got it…
Near fall.
[King] And that boot right to the face,
that… that could well have eliminated the champion.
[J.R.] Huge rights find their mark.
As does that… that right boot,
and Randy Orton has had three hard blows right to the head.
[King] If Randy Orton were the first one pinned or eliminated or submits,
he'd be eliminated. We wouldn't know who…
we would definitely be having a new champion
but we still wouldn't know who it was gonna be…
[J.R.] Orton counters JBL
with a clothesline that is very effective.
[King] Look at Orton surveying the situation.
[J.R.] What could Orton's strategy be here?
[King] I think he's looking around thinking,
"So many butts to kick, so little time."
[all exclaiming]
[King] Uh-oh. That's not good.
[J.R.] JBL used his, uh…
his intellect there to usurp Randy Orton,
who was in a very, uh, dangerous position.
And that kick didn't do Orton any favors.
The WWE Champion,
the championship in Orton
literally hanging.
[King] Oh, man.
[J.R.] Short trip, bad ride,
worse landing.
[King] Evil intentions here on the part of JBL.
-The Game and John Cena! -[J.R.] Oh, look out here!
-Look at this! -[King] Oh, no!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The Game and Cena giving JBL an assist
on that superplex,
super-sized superplex!
And look at the cover.
-[King] Oh, there are two eliminations! -[J.R.] And, we're here!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Got two referees.
Referee Jack Doan and Mike Chioda both counting shoulders.
We could've had two eliminations right then and there.
[King] Well, we got two referees
but we got four of the greatest superstars
in all of the WWE in the same match.
Doesn't get any better than this.
[crowd cheering]
[King] Cena lighting it up.
[J.R.] Cena getting the better of the fisticuffs…
-[King] Man! -…at the time, at the moment.
[Triple H groans]
[J.R.] Cena looking to take Triple H out of the game.
The suplex, the cover.
But Triple H able to kick out somehow.
[King] Boy! And after that flurry of Cena
just absolutely imposing his will on Triple H.
[J.R.] "Every man for himself," personified.
And Cena, with all of that power and strength.
[crowd cheering]
[King] He's pretty much dominating Triple H here.
[J.R.] Shades of the last two men in the Royal Rumble.
[King] Uh-oh!
-Game on! You can't see me. -[crowd] You can't see me.
Five Knuckle Shuffle… No way!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The Double-A Spinebuster
could be seen, it could be felt.
[King chuckles] What about the recuperative powers of The Game?
How fast was that? I didn't even see him get up!
Oh, but he is up and waiting on Cena to get up.
Look at this! Pedigree!
[J.R.] Cena's gonna get his pedigree checked.
JBL trying to lariat him.
-[all exclaiming] -[J.R.] Oh, Cena counters!
Cena countered into the… Uh-oh!
[King] Triple H avoided the FU, but JBL doesn't!
[J.R.] JBL got the FU.
What's Cena gonna get?
-Cena counters… -[crowd cheering]
…elevating The Game to the outside.
[King] Hey, hey!
[J.R.] STFU! STFU on JBL!
Will JBL be the first to be eliminated?
[King] JBL looking for some help.
-[J.R.] Every man-- -[all exclaiming]
And JBL is tapping like a drum man.
JBL has been eliminated.
-Oh! That's Orton. -[King] Uh-oh.
[J.R.] Orton with a kick.
-Orton with a kick to the head. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[J.R.] And Cena's eliminated. Two eliminations!
[King] Within seconds of each other.
[J.R.] We are… We are down to two men remaining.
One elimination left.
-Randy Orton-- -[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen,
both JBL and John Cena
have been eliminated.
-[crowd cheering] -[King] Oh, my gosh.
What a turn of events.
[J.R.] Cena made JBL tap out with the STFU,
and then Orton, the opportunist,
was able to kick Cena into oblivion.
[King] Let's go back and see if we can see exactly what happened.
There's the tap out by JBL.
And then watch… watch the foot come in here.
-[J.R.] Right. Boom! -[King] Oh, my gosh!
[J.R.] The toe of the boot right into the… Cena's temple
was enough to keep Cena down for the three count.
And now we are down to two
for the WWE title.
Well…
The eyes of these two amazing athletes
tell a phenomenal story,
and really all we need to know.
[King] And the odds of the age of Orton continuing
have just gone up!
[J.R.] Remember these men cannot be disqualified
for their actions in this contest.
There can be no count-outs.
We will have a winner here by pinfall or submission.
And The Game looking to make quick work of the WWE Champion.
[King] Oh, man!
[J.R.] Man, what a… That could do it right there--
that knee drop with a lateral press. And a… a near fall,
and The Game with a clear, clearly defined advantage.
And as soon as I said that,
the resilient Randy Orton fights right back into the fray.
-[Orton yells] -[all exclaiming]
[King] Oh, man! That would've hit hard.
[J.R.] Orton over the top right in front of us.
That had to take all the air out of Randy Orton.
[King] Oh, this is not good.
Watch it, here.
[all exclaiming]
[King] All right.
[J.R.] Well, the referee… You can't, uh, be disqualified or counted out.
The Game can't win the championship on the outside.
-And look out here! -[King] That's a reversal.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] What a huge counter.
What a huge counter
by Randy Orton,
as the steel steps engulfed Triple H.
[King] Watch it!
[J.R.] Straight right hands.
[King] Oh, my gosh!
Watch yourself here.
[J.R.] Orton looking to maybe catapult The Game to the steel ring post.
-Triple H is fighting with all his… -[Triple H groans]
[J.R.] Dangerously low blow, but again, no disqualifications.
[King] Oh, look out here!
-[all exclaiming] -[King] Good grief!
[J.R.] Triple H ran into the security wall on the way to the concrete.
-[woman] You should get up. -[child] Come on, Triple H!
[J.R.] The Game is… is no doubt damaged goods here.
[King] Let's watch this one.
-One more time, this catapult… -[all exclaiming]
[King] Oh, man!
[J.R.] Getting hauled up on the security wall is one thing,
falling head first to the concrete is another.
[King] Triple H may have some cracked ribs.
[crowd chanting] Triple H! Triple H! Triple H!
[King] Let's go back one more time and see how John Cena was eliminated.
This devastating kick… Oh! From Randy Orton.
[J.R.] And that… that toe right into the temple.
And now it is the… the vile-like Randy Orton.
-[Orton roars] -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] An accelerated sense of urgency, moans,
looking to capitalize…
-[Doan] What do you say? -[Triple H groans]
…on the concrete and the security wall.
-[King] Well, Orton… -[crowd booing]
[King] The age of Orton
is upon us.
Randy Orton, the WWE Champ, that's why these four superstars
have put their bodies on the line here tonight.
JBL eliminated, John Cena eliminated.
It's down to Triple H and Orton.
[Doan] Get him back to the ring.
[J.R.] The Game holding his back and rightfully so.
The unforgiving concrete.
Reading The Game, and now Orton with the cover.
The title at stake!
-Two! -[J.R.] The Game,
who has said on many occasions
that the WWE title is the most important thing
in his professional life.
-[Triple H groaning] -[J.R.] But Randy Orton
could probably say the same thing.
[Triple H groaning]
What do you say, Triple H, huh?
Are you giving up?
[Triple H groans]
[Triple H coughing]
[King] Orton absolutely relishing this moment.
[Triple H groans]
[Doan] What do you say, Triple H, huh?
You want to give it up?
[J.R.] Orton's offense deliberately disturbing
and effective on the injured Triple H.
-[Doan] Do you want to give it up? -[groaning] No!
-What do you say? -No!
[King] Randy was feeding his entire weight on the side of…
just pulverizing the mid-section of The Game.
[Triple H] No!
[J.R.] Right now it is complete physical domination
by the WWE Champion
on a wounded and injured Triple H.
How injured? We… We have no way of knowing.
Well, Randy Orton is, uh, methodically, physically dissecting…
the man that will do anything to become WWE Champion.
[King] Orton's starting to look very prophetic
as he told John Cena.
-Oh, look at this now! -[J.R.] Orton with the cover!
[King] Before the match, he told John Cena and Triple H
they would not be successful here tonight.
[J.R.] Orton has been confident all night.
We talked about his arrogance,
and maybe it's all deserved.
Maybe just confidence…
[Triple H groans]
…'cause that knee is well-placed.
There is no wasted motion from the WWE Champion
who again goes for the cover.
And who again presses the issue,
and, once again, gets a two count.
-[Orton groans] -[King] Oh, man!
[J.R.] The Game… Game trying to fight back
with everything he's got.
But will everything The Game has be enough tonight?
[crowd cheering]
-[King] Oh, no! -[all exclaiming]
[King] Oh, that could be the beginning of the end right there.
[J.R.] Another difference-making maneuver,
the inverted backbreaker.
And now Orton looking for a quick cover!
Trying to hook the leg but could not do so.
Two.
[J.R.] Triple H somehow rolled his right shoulder off the canvas.
Look at Orton holding on like a… like a snake.
Pulling around the neck and the head of Triple H.
[King] Orton would love to get that arm of his
under the chin of Triple H
and choke The Game right out.
[Orton grunts]
[King] There's no disqualification!
[J.R.] And this… this is a great, uh, use of strategy
and your physical attributes-- Orton with those long legs.
Trying to utilize the body scissors, in essence,
but still neutralizing The Game
while applying the pressure to the head and neck.
[King] Well, Orton knows that the mid-section of Triple H
has been damaged.
You're right, he would love to be able to coil himself like a…
like a snake around the body of Triple H.
[J.R.] And can you imagine what it would be like
for the resume and the legacy of Randy Orton
to win this match by submission?
What do you say, Triple H? Giving up?
[Orton grunts]
[Doan] You wanna give it up?
[J.R.] Orton maintaining control.
[Orton growls]
[J.R.] I just think that security wall and the… and the concrete
has done more damage than perhaps we'll ever know
to Triple H.
[King] Orton here trying to cut off the remaining oxygen
to the brain of The Game here,
rendering him unconscious.
[Doan] What do you say, Triple H?
[J.R.] The same basic effect of a sleeper.
The flow of blood to the brain, to the carotid artery restricted.
And The Game has got to try to regenerate himself.
Somehow, some way, Triple H reaching down,
maybe out of desperation or instinct.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Oh, what a counter!
Triple H was trying to mount some offense
and maybe his last gasp of offense,
but what a counter by Orton.
And now Orton may be thinking one thing that has three letters.
[King] Oh, look out.
I mean Orton is… [spluttering]
Look at him, Jerry, he's literally frothing at the mouth
in anticipation
of Triple H getting to his feet
and Orton delivering the devastating RKO.
[J.R.] Orton like a rabid dog
waiting for The Game to get into any kind of position
for the RKO.
Look at Orton. He can feel it.
His body heaving with anticipation.
And there it goes!
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The Game got the… well…
Orton was in the air, The Game was able to…
to counter the RKO.
[King] That had to take
every bit of the remaining strength of Triple H here.
Look at Orton.
-[J.R.] Eyes, eyes. -[King] Look at the look on his face.
The eyes of Orton. But look at the counter.
[J.R.] Orton was elevated. Orton was in the air
when the counter occurred.
Two!
-Three! -[J.R.] And the referee's counting.
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
[J.R.] Triple H and Orton both…
Nine!
[King] I'm at a loss as to why the referee was counting.
[J.R.] No idea.
Maybe instinctively.
He's caught up in this match just as we are.
But, nonetheless, Orton trying to regain the advantage.
Orton was a RKO away from already being halfway back to the showers.
[King] Ooh, the high knee!
[J.R.] That high knee catches Randy Orton,
and The Game just… it's almost instinctive
these counters.
[King] Look at this knee one more time.
Oh, gets Orton right in the side of the head.
[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Triple H with a face to the…
The facebuster! Will it… Will it be enough?
-The Game trying. The cover -[crowd] One, two…
-[King] Oh, my God. He got it! -Two.
[J.R.] You can… You can feel here ringside.
I wish you could all be with us wherever you are
to see the intensity.
What's going through the minds
and the bodies of these two men?
What they're putting themselves through
to become the WWE Champion.
[King] You and I just jumped out of our chairs.
We thought The Game had won it.
[J.R.] I came completely out of my seat
because it's all about being the WWE Champion.
And what these men are putting themselves through
to accomplish that goal is amazing.
-Oh, my God! -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] Randy Orton.
Man, that could've been,
right there, the difference-maker in this matchup.
Orton went sailing across the announce table
like it was ice-covered,
but it's covered by wood.
[King exclaims]
[J.R.] And a human body has just been ravaged again
on our announce table.
Orton can barely stand.
[King] Look out here!
-[J.R.] Randy Orton is… -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] The Game again right back to the security wall,
the scene of the crime from earlier tonight.
And this is after Randy Orton has
got familiar with every announce table here at ringside.
[King] Look out here.
This is not good. Orton's got…
something in mind with those steel steps.
[J.R.] And there's nothing the referee can do about it.
There are no count outs. There's no disqualification.
Whatever happens, whatever Orton can do is legal,
or vice versa.
And Orton, obviously, has some extremely evil intentions
to win this match once and for all.
[King] What is he thinking, a piledriver?
[J.R.] Good Lord! Orton trying to pile…
-[all exclaiming] -[J.R.] Oh, my God!
The hideous thud of Orton's spine and the back of his head
on the steel steps.
[King] Well, it's hard to feel sorry for someone
who was about to piledrive his opponent
head-first into those steel steps.
[J.R.] Orton rolling back in the ring.
I think more to get away from The Game than anything else.
[King] Check this out. Orton about to piledrive Triple H…
[all exclaiming]
-…but instead smashed him. -[J.R.] That's ugly.
The human body is just not meant to take
that sort of abuse.
And The Game…
[all exclaiming]
…with another spinebuster.
[King] Uh-oh!
Uh-oh!
[J.R.] Can you feel the momentum changing
here at Baltimore,
with the WWE title at stake?
[King] The Game's body absolutely racked with pain.
[J.R.] And The Game looking to drive a stake through Orton's heart.
-[all exclaiming] -[King] No!
[J.R.] But Orton counters out of the Pedigree.
You gotta hand it to Randy Orton.
[King] You gotta hand it to both of these guys,
what an absolute classic battle.
[J.R.] Orton able to counter the Pedigree after…
There it goes!
Orton didn't get the RKO
but got part of the referee, it looked like.
Triple H checking with Mike Chioda.
-[King] Hey! -[J.R.] There it is!
RKO outta nowhere!
Suddenly, debilitatingly,
Randy Orton strikes with the RKO!
But can Orton capitalize?
Can Orton follow up?
[King] Orton in a lot of pain, but The Game is out.
[J.R.] Orton got a… He's got an arm over! There's a count!
-And there's a three-- -[all exclaiming]
[J.R.] It's not a three! It is not a three!
[King chuckles]
[J.R.] This match is gonna continue!
[King] I do not believe it.
Somehow at the last second,
Triple H was able to get that shoulder up.
[J.R.] The will to become WWE Champion
is absolutely overwhelming,
all consuming!
[crowd chanting] Triple H! Triple H! Triple H!
[J.R.] Man, what a… what a physical confrontation.
One for the ages here tonight.
[King] Orton has gotta be wondering, what is it gonna take
to remain WWE Champion here tonight?
[J.R.] And is the price worth it?
The supreme physical and mental price
that both these men have paid here tonight is absolutely amazing.
I think he's gotta be wondering, "What's left in my arsenal?
I just delivered the Pedigree
and couldn't put The Game away."
[J.R.] Orton is always… the RKO away--
one RKO away--
from winning any match against any man
at any time.
[King] Well, that's what I meant to say. He delivered the RKO,
and still The Game survives.
[J.R.] Wait a minute.
-Uh-oh. The kick! -[King] The kick! The kick!
[J.R.] Orton looking to punt The Game's head off.
Downstairs!
Downstairs… Oh, a counter again.
Another counter.
[all exclaiming]
-[J.R] Pedigree! Pedigree! -[King] Pedigree!
-[J.R.] The cover! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[King] Oh, my God! -[J.R.] The Game has done it!
Match, set, game over!
[Lilian] Here is your winner
and the new WWE Champion,
Triple H!
[King] We just witnessed the end of the age of Orton.
Unbelievable!
[Triple H's theme song plays]
[J.R.] It's the end of the age of Orton!
And now, it's time to play the game!
The name of the game
is the WWE Championship!
[King] It's a new champion!
New champion here tonight!
[speaks inaudibly]
[J.R.] For an historic 12th time,
Triple H is the WWE Champion!
[King] Earlier in the match,
Randy Orton literally frothing at the mouth
waiting to deliver the RKO.
But it was countered by The Game in mid-air.
[J.R.] The counter of the night.
But this could've been the turning point in the whole match.
The Game avoided a piledriver.
Orton's head smacked in the steel!
And then…
Triple H got right back in the hunt
with that… with that… spinebuster.
We thought that…
that Orton had it right there with the RKO.
[King] And then the kick
that Orton thought would put The Game on dream street,
instead it missed!
One counter after another, and finally
the finishing Pedigree!
Whoa, man! New champion!
[crowd counting] …two, three!
[J.R.] Indeed, ladies and gentlemen, the age of Orton is over.
And, yes, it's time to play the game! he age of Orton is over.