[intro theme music playing]
[man 1] The irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
One of the biggest confrontations of all time.
[Cole] Once in a lifetime!
[King] The Austin era has begun!
[man 2] End of an era!
In a Backlash, it'll be Edge versus Orton.
Are you gonna accept my challenge or what?
Yes! I accept your damn challenge!
[Edge] How did we get here?
I've built every single thing I am.
From nothing...
[King] He is the biggest star on the horizon!
[Edge] ...to legend. All of it.
[Cole] Edge has changed the landscape like no one in history.
[Edge] Everything brought me right here, in this moment.
[Cole] He has won 31 championships at WWE.
[Edge] If you think that The Ultimate Opportunist
backs down now...
[Cole] That is not an opportunist. That is pure greatness.
[Edge] ...then you don't know me.
[Cole] The Rated-R Superstar!
[Orton] It's not arrogance. It's destiny.
[man 3] The business is in his blood.
[Orton] There has never been a more gifted wrestler
in WWE history than me.
[King] The youngest world champion in history!
[Cole] Thirteen-time world champion!
[Orton] I am the legend...
[Cole] The Apex Predator.
[Orton] I know where I'm going.
To end one more.
[Cole] The Viper strikes.
[Orton] We've met in this ring...
[Edge] Together and opposed.
If I can prove I can do this...
[Orton] If I can prove I can do this...
[Edge and Orton] It can only be through you.
["The Greatest Show" playing]
[narrator] Tonight...
living legends...
♪ So tell me do you wanna go ♪
...undisputed icons...
[Corey] The greatest performers of all time.
[narrator] ...at their defining moment...
on this night.
Will this be the greatest
wrestling match ever?
♪ This is the greatest show ♪
♪ Ladies and gents This is the moment you've waited for ♪
[Orton] Your storybook ending...
is over.
[Edge] This is not a story that you write.
[Orton] I write this story!
[narrator] Edge. Orton.
The greatest wrestling match ever.
[TV announcer] And now, WWE Network presents...
Backlash.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] As we prepare for what well could be the greatest wrestling match ever,
you are looking live at the WWE Performance Center
in Orlando, Florida, where tonight we welcome you
to WWE...
Backlash.
[Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross' theme song playing]
[Corey] Here she comes...
and her partner, too.
Oh, my Goddess!
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is a Triple Threat Match
for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship!
Introducing the challengers...
First, the team of Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss!
[Corey] Cole, you light up like a Christmas tree
every time Nikki Cross comes out here.
[Cole] Well, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross are two-time Tag Team Champions,
recently defeated a couple of weeks ago by Sasha, Bayley...
the, uh, Golden Role Models.
And this matchup, Corey, has been talked about
all throughout social media and Twitter over the past week.
[Corey] The entire WWE Universe highly anticipating this one.
We could very well have new champions a few moments from now,
and it could be these women!
[The IIconics theme song playing]
[announcer] Next, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay,
The IIconics!
[Corey] Cole, you know what I just realized?
The IIconics represent Monday Night RAW.
However, the WWE Women's Tag Team Title
must be defended across all brands so selfishly,
this week's Friday Night SmackDown could become a little more iconic!
[Cole] Also, the first title defense for the winner
will be this Wednesday on NXT,
because the winner of this matchup
will take on Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox
for the Women's Tag Team titles Wednesday night.
[Corey] As exciting as these prospects are,
I simply don't see the reigning champions losing tonight!
Although, if they do, I hope it's to Peyton and Billie!
Long history between all three of these teams.
We'll get into that in just a moment.
And there are, of course, Sasha Banks and Bayley,
the current Tag Team Champions!
Sasha, Bayley, we are just...
Kayla, why don't you have some respect and introduce us properly?
Because we are the first-ever, and without a doubt,
the best Women's Tag Team Champions ever.
This is Sasha Banks, The Boss, the blueprint, the standard!
And me, well, Kayla, you can call me...
Bayley Dos Straps!
All right, "Bayley Dos Straps," I will start with you.
If you lose your Tag Team titles,
will you lose your friendship with Sasha Banks?
[scoffs] Whoa, deep question, Kayla!
But you are talking to the most dominant SmackDown Women's Champion in history!
And like I said, on Friday night, our friendship is unstoppable!
[Corey] Well, it's Boss time!
Look, Kayla, I see what you're trying to do, okay?
You're trying to get in my head and make me think
that if we lose this championship match,
that I lose my friendship with Sasha.
Well, guess what?
After we raise our hands in victory, I want you to look in the mirror
and tell yourself how stupid you are for even asking that question.
Next time if you have a question, why don't you send Charly Caruso, okay?
Because we are unstoppable, unbeatable, unconquerable!
And we are the first-ever Women's Tag Team Champions!
Get out of my way.
[Cole] So the question now becomes is what if Sasha and Bayley do lose tonight?
What will that do to their friendship?
[Corey] Listen, Cole, I beat that drum for several years,
and I've been proven wrong.
Nothing is getting between Sasha Banks and Bayley.
They are best friends, through and through.
It took me a while to accept it, but it's the God's honest truth.
[announcer] And introducing the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Sasha Banks, and the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Bayley!
[Cole] I want to talk about a bit of the history in this matchup.
Sasha and Bayley, now of course, two-time Women's Tag Team Champions.
They won the inaugural titles back at the Elimination Chamber
in February of 2019.
They would then go on to lose the titles at WrestleMania II.
The IIconics, who are in this matchup tonight,
Bliss and Cross would win their first Tag Team Titles
by beating The IIconics,
who then would repeat that feat back at WrestleMania.
There's a great deal of history between all three of these teams.
Who will reign supreme tonight? We are about to find out.
Unique rules in this matchup here tonight.
This Triple Threat Women's Tag Team Championship match,
there'll be three women in the ring at one time.
One member of each team.
You can only tag in a member of your team in this matchup.
And that's what it's all about, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
Bayley said that she is not in a mood
after, uh, their championship celebration, Corey,
was interrupted this past Friday night on SmackDown.
[Corey] You cannot argue with Bayley...
-[bell dinging] -...and her dominance recently.
I understand how Bayley's feeling.
She feels disrespected, underrated to this day,
as Bayley Dos Straps.
[Cole] So, it's, uh, Bayley and Billie Kay and Nikki Cross
starting things off in this matchup.
To talk about Bayley's dominance:
For 245 days, Corey,
Bayley has been the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Over her two reigns, she's held the title nearly 400 days.
[indistinct shouting]
Nikki Cross with a right hand to Bayley. Bayley goes right after Nikki.
[Corey] While we're busy casting aspersions,
well, how about The IIconics?
Peyton and Bayley haven't exactly been on the same page all the time lately.
We're noticing some cracks in the foundation of their friendship.
[Cole] A lot to be said about Bayley and Sasha.
It seems that Bliss and Nikki may be the strongest of the friends
in this matchup.
And Bayley tried to make a tag, and I believe it was successful.
[Corey] Peyton Royce sent to the outside, still the legal competitor for her team.
But Nikki Cross is just unhinged right now at the expense of Bayley.
[Cole] That tag was not made, and Billie Kay is still in the matchup.
[women grunting]
[Cole] A waistlock by Nikki Cross, standing switch by Banks.
-Tag made. Bliss is le-- -[Corey and Cole] Ooh!
[Corey] A big right hand from The Goddess on the outside.
Alexa Bliss now legal.
[woman shouts indistinctly]
[Cole] And now a standoff in this Triple Threat Match
for the Women's Tag Team Titles.
[Corey] The potential for chaos in this matchup
at an all-time high.
-Six very talented, very dangerous women. -[crowd chanting]
Shut up!
[Cole] Look at Sasha Banks.
Sasha has been an NXT Women's Champion,
a four-time RAW champion, and a two-time Tag Team champion.
The one title she's never held, Corey... Look at this!
Peyton rolling her up. Shoulders down.
Now Bliss from behind, rolling her up.
Maybe enough-- Sasha Banks breaks things up.
The one title Sasha has not held is the SmackDown Women's Championship,
currently held by her best friend Bayley.
[Corey] I'm sure someday, if someone dethrones Bayley
as SmackDown Women's Champion,
Sasha would love to throw her name in the hat as a challenger.
[Cole] Nice move by Banks, floats into the cover,
and a kick-out by Peyton at two.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Kick right to the midsection from Peyton Royce.
That snapmare takeover by Royce, now looking for a backs--
I thought she was going for the backslide. Banks, though, looking to reverse.
Shoulders down now to win the tag-team titles.
Banks now reverses it.
Now a kick right to the midsection of Bliss.
-Thanks. -Yeah, that's why I'm--
She doesn't matter!
[Corey] I see a lot of temporary alliances in this.
[Cole] You've got all the competitors to work together when necessary.
-Beautiful pinning combination by Bliss. -[Alexa screams]
[Cole] Now shoulders down for Alexa, who's got a kick-out.
The first team to gain a pinfall or submission
-win the tag titles. -One, two--
[Cole] And now, from behind, Peyton Royce.
Oh, I thought she had her in.
[Corey] Alexa Bliss interjected in the pinning attempt.
[Cole] Yes, saving the matchup for her and Nikki.
[Corey] Great series of pinfall attempts from all three of these women.
Smart strategy. You want to end this as quickly as possible,
maybe steal a pin.
[women grunting]
[Cole] Now everybody blasted off the apron,
and it's back to Sasha Banks.
Bliss and Royce, Bayley go in.
Nikki in as well.
And again, another standoff in this match.
[Corey] This one needs to gain control quick.
They seem only to be careful not to get themselves disqualified.
[Cole] A chaotic breakout here in this matchup.
[woman] Get it together!
[Peyton groaning]
[Cole] And now Bliss focuses on Peyton Royce.
[indistinct chatter]
[Cole] Nikki was not legal, that's why she stepped out of the ring.
-Oh, and Bliss with a slap. -[all exclaiming]
And one to Banks as well. Tag made, here comes Cross.
[Nikki screaming]
[Cole] Nikki Cross is very upset that she took the loss for her team
when Alexa and Nikki lost to Sasha and Bayley.
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] Royce with a big kick to the face!
Is it enough for The IIconics to reign for a second time?
A kick-out by Cross.
-And now Bayley... -Come on, get out.
It was a tag! Are you kidding me?
[Cole] Wait a minute. She made a tag, and the official says, "I didn't see it."
Now the tag's made, and here comes Bayley.
[Corey] It doesn't get any more blatant than that!
[Cole] The only competitor in WWE history
to have held the NXT, SmackDown, and RAW Women's Championships,
also the Tag Team Titles, and been Miss Money in the Bank.
[grunts]
[Cole] Incredible career so far for Bayley.
[Corey] Bayley just getting warmed up.
[Cole] Oh, an elbow-- Nobody home.
But Cross runs into a boot by Billie Kay.
Cover by Billie, stacking up Cross.
Almost had her, and Bayley breaks things up.
What?
What? What?
-[crowd chanting] Bayley! Bayley! Bayley! -Better stay out of it!
-[Corey] They're frustrated. -[both grunting]
Let's get her...
All right. All right.
[Cole] And Nikki Cross trying to escape into the corner,
and the double team continues.
Now Billie Kay with a right to the champ.
[Corey] This... Oh! Beautiful.
This is such a chaotic environment for all three of these teams.
It's truly impossible to call.
-What an iconic moment for Billie Kay. -[crowd booing]
[Corey] This could go any way.
Get her out! Get her out! Get her out!
[Cole] And Billie has missed wildly, turns her attention back to Bayley.
Looking for a suplex now.
Double team with Sasha Banks running interference.
Bayley now rolling her up, shoulders down,
and a kick-out at two by Billie Kay.
[Corey] And Banks nearly retained right...
Oh! After that maneuver, Bliss launched to the outside.
[Cole] Sasha Banks is taking out everybody!
[both grunting]
[Corey] Wheelbarrow attempt from Billie Kay. Here comes The Boss.
[Cole] What a double team! Knee right to the side of the face!
Cover by Bayley to put this match away,
and retaining Nikki Cross will break it up.
[Corey] Just in the nick of time.
Fantastic tandem offense from Banks and Bayley.
Let's take one more look.
Bayley holding Billie Kay... Boom, right to the side of the face.
I don't know that Billie Kay herself would have recovered in time
to beat the official's count.
Thank goodness for Nikki Cross.
-[man] Put your hands up! -I had this one. I had this one.
[Cole] And now Billie Kay just slinging Bayley to the mat.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Nikki Cross with a head-butt to the midsection.
-[all exclaiming] -[Cole] Double takedown.
Turning point of this matchup.
All three women are down.
Who will be able to rally?
Who will take advantage
with the Women's Tag Team Titles up for grabs?
Alexa Bliss now legal, and The Goddess is on a roll.
Alexa, couple of right hands by Bliss,
a former five-time Women's Champion.
Alexa with a dropkick, drops Bayley into the ropes.
And Bliss looking to win the tag titles for a record third time here tonight.
What a takedown on Bayley! Bliss now unloading with the right hand.
And Banks runs into Bliss as well.
Look at Alexa Bliss go!
-[screams] -[all exclaiming]
[Corey] Bliss is taking down anybody in her path.
-Oh, what a right hand! -[all exclaiming]
[Cole] Bliss was so proud to be Tag Team Champion,
she wants the title back here tonight.
Double crossbody!
Listen, she's looking better than she ever has, Corey.
[Corey] The Goddess is certainly firing on all cylinders tonight.
Alexa and Nikki would love to reclaim the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles.
[Cole] Banks is now legal off the tag by Bayley.
And Bliss and Banks battle out on the apron.
Now Peyton Royce with a double crossbody.
All women down outside the ring.
[Corey] Like a car crash initiated by Peyton Royce.
Everyone is down.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] Pinfall has to take place inside of the ring.
And Banks is in the ring, and Peyton Royce...
Whoa!
As she's taken to...
[Corey] We promised chaos, and these women are delivering!
[Bayley groans]
A knee delivered by Peyton Royce, Bayley is down and out.
You got it!
-[both grunting] -Don't think so!
[Cole] Oh, and Peyton caught Sasha with that back elbow.
Now the double team by The IIconics!
And now Cross and Bliss getting involved.
Yeah.
[Corey] Alexa came down hard across the knees of Peyton Royce.
[Cole] Nikki looking for the neckbreaker. Double team offense!
Nope.
Peyton able to fight her way out of this.
What a chaotic match-up here at Backlash.
...double team.
Face first goes Royce!
[Corey] Peyton got spiked! This could be it!
We could have new champions!
Billie Kay sent to the outside, dragging Cross along.
[both groan]
[Cole] The fight continues outside the ring.
Meanwhile, inside, Bliss is going to go up top.
Alexa Bliss.
[Corey] Peyton's a long way away.
[Cole] They have the opportunity to put this away.
Off the top rope into Bliss!
And Sasha Banks though, able to counter.
Here's the roll-up on her!
-She got her! -[bell dinging]
Sasha and Bayley retain.
♪ So fresh! ♪
[announcer] Here are your winners and still WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Sasha Banks,
and the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Bayley!
[Corey] Does that answer your question, Cole?
There is no doubt that the friendship is still there
because the titles are still there.
So, Bayley and Banks win yet again...
in very impressive fashion.
[Cole] We're talking about you, Sasha,
we're talking about you, Bayley.
A very dominant performance here tonight
for the Women's Tag Team Titles here at Backlash.
The Golden Role Models win again!
[Corey] Let's take a look at the closing moments.
Alexa Bliss looking for Twisted Bliss and finds the mark...
three seconds away from new champions as we look at it once more,
but The Boss in the right place at the right time,
-able to roll up The Goddess! -[bell dinging]
Banks and Bayley retain.
[Cole] You know, Corey, Bayley said it before this matchup,
"We are unstoppable, we are unbeatable,
we are unconquerable!
We are the Women's Tag Team Champions."
[indistinct conversation]
[Corey] Another very, very impressive defense
from the Women's Tag Team Champions.
And we're just getting started here at WWE Backlash.
Come on, you stupid idiots. Say it with us.
[Cole] If only they were arrogant.
The best!
[Corey] I-I sense a bit of sarcasm in your voice there, Michael Cole.
That is quite the automobile.
[engine idling]
Just listen to it purr.
[engine turns off]
[Cole] This is Braun Strowman, the Universal Champion,
arriving here at the WWE Performance Center.
That is his prized Plymouth Grand National.
This was earlier today,
and he got the car fixed after Miz and Morrison attacked it
with a baseball bat and a golf club a couple of weeks ago.
[Corey] Beautiful Grand National, one of Braun's most prized possessions.
[Cole] Tonight, Braun will defend against Miz and Morrison
in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match.
Listen to this, if Miz and Morrison win,
whichever superstar gets the pinfall or submission is the champion.
We are here tonight at WWE Backlash,
and coming up next, it is Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy,
an extremely personal matchup.
Sheamus has tried to degrade Jeff Hardy with a series of insults
over the past couple of weeks about all the personal demons
that Hardy has been battling throughout his life.
But what adds extra sting to those insults is there's an undeniable element of truth
to many of the accusations.
Well, listen, Jeff Hardy is an admitted alcoholic.
And Jeff Hardy has confronted his problems head-on.
And tonight, he has the opportunity for some redemption, for some vindication,
if he can defeat Sheamus.
But the question also is this:
What if Jeff Hardy loses?
Last week, the WWE Universe witnessed something awful.
[reporter] This accident involved SmackDown superstar Elias.
[Jeff] I pulled up to the Performance Center parking lot.
I grabbed all my stuff.
I got out of the car and bam!
-Everything went dark. -[tires screeching]
[glass shattering]
Jeff Hardy? This is a rental car.
[Jeff] The next thing I knew, police were surrounding me.
They were asking me questions that I couldn't answer.
Oh, my head, man.
My clothes reeked of alcohol.
He smells just like the bottles in the car.
What is happening?
I quit drinking, man.
Elias!
Man, I started to drift back to that dark time
that I vowed I would never return to.
How could I look my wife and my two daughters in the eye
and explain something like this?
-I'm in that police station. -[Jeff groans]
They're throwing every sobriety test at me.
I'm passing right and left.
Eyewitnesses showed up that they interviewed.
They said they saw the person get out of my car, flea the scene,
the person had red hair and a red beard.
-[crowd booing] -[Sheamus] Jeff...
You're just doing what you've done your entire life,
blaming other people for your problems.
You're just a junkie.
You tried to take everything away from me.
Everything I worked for: Sobriety, my career, my family.
I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away with it.
[Sheamus] Don't worry about the disappointment and embarrassment
your wife and daughters would feel after another one of your slip-ups.
They're used to it.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy heard enough!
Now, Hardy takes Sheamus down.
An... Brogue by Sheamus!
Now just a physical assault on Jeff Hardy.
[Corey] Sheamus doing everything in his power
to make Jeff Hardy's life hell.
[Sheamus] You have no idea what you've unleashed at Backlash.
Before I put my signature on that dotted line right there,
you're gonna have to take a urine test.
[mouths] Ah, oh, my God.
I'll even pay for the whole thing myself,
that's how much I care.
And, Jeff, if you fail, which you probably will,
you definitely won't be getting that match at Backlash
because there's no way I'm gonna step in the ring...
with a junkie.
If this is what I have to do to get to you, then fine.
Kids, if you're a user, you're a loser.
Come on, fella. Don't wind up like Jeff Hardy.
Hurry up. We don't have all night.
Whoa! Somebody really enjoyed happy hour today, huh?
Before the doctor gives the bad news,
anything you'd like to say?
Sometimes it's better to be pissed off...
than pissed on.
[crowd exclaiming]
-[Sheamus coughing] -[Jeff] Sheamus...
My path to one last blaze of glory runs right through you.
[Jeff Hardy's theme music playing]
[Cole] A rather embarrassing moment for Sheamus this past Friday night,
and it had to feel good for this man, Jeff Hardy,
who looks for redemption.
[crowd cheering]
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Cameron, North Carolina,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
Jeff Hardy!
[Cole] Corey, Jeff Hardy realizes what is at stake here tonight.
He understands that this could be his last run here in WWE,
that he can no longer make any mistakes, that he has to live every moment,
and he has to try to start here tonight with a win over Sheamus.
[Corey] I have a great deal of respect
for what Jeff Hardy's attempted to do with his life.
He's accepted his demons and confronted them.
But now, tonight, Jeff Hardy must get past a very angry, humiliated Celtic Warrior.
Jeff Hardy said this past week that he wants to be a beacon of light
for everyone who's had personal struggles throughout their life.
But he says, when he faces a man like Sheamus,
he will unleash his personal demons in the presence of him.
[Sheamus' theme music playing]
Faugh a ballagh!
[announcer] And his opponent from Dublin, Ireland,
weighing in at 267 pounds,
Sheamus!
[Cole] For weeks, we've tried to figure out
why is Sheamus attacking Jeff Hardy,
why has he made this so personal?
And I think, Corey, it has something to do with the word "respect."
Sheamus is upset that he doesn't get the respect
that he believes he deserves for everything he's accomplished in WWE.
That people are longing over a man like Jeff Hardy,
who has come and gone a number of times at WWE
as he, well, deals with these personal issues in his life.
Sheamus believes he deserves this spotlight,
not someone like Jeff Hardy.
If you look at Sheamus' resume on paper,
it truly already looks like that of a Hall of Fame career.
But Sheamus is far from finished.
Sheamus wants to continue to build his legacy
tonight at the expense of Jeff Hardy.
So, it's Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy, one-on-one tonight.
Hardy looks to rally and pick up a big win here on Backlash.
Let's get in the mindset of Jeff Hardy before coming into this matchup.
What does Jeff have to do to put The Celtic Warrior away?
[Corey] Jeff Hardy's made a career for himself out of taking risks.
That's what he's going to have to do tonight
because Sheamus with a clear power advantage out of the gate.
[Cole] For Sheamus, he's going to have to be physical, aggressive, and vicious.
Take the fight to Hardy, like he's doing here.
[Corey] The smash-mouth style of Sheamus has been his M.O.
throughout his WWE tenure.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy needs to stay away from the power game.
He needs to use his quickness, the unorthodox offensive style,
keep Sheamus off balance in this matchup.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy needs to be wary of the Brogue Kick.
We've seen Sheamus turn opponents' lights out
in the blink of an eye.
It only takes a second.
[Cole] Sheamus has got to be careful. He's got to stay away from Twist of Fate.
He's got to stay away from the Swanton Bomb.
Sheamus with a cheap shot as he came off the break,
burying his shoulder into the midsection of Hardy.
You piss on me, huh? You show me up, huh?
You made a mockery of my family.
[Corey] Since returning earlier this year, we know how motivated Sheamus has been.
You made a mockery of my family, huh? Huh?
[Cole] Tonight's on a whole other level.
The Celtic Warrior was embarrassed and humiliated
in front of the entire world last week,
and that's what he was just screaming at Jeff Hardy about.
Watch our hand. I warned you.
[Cole] He wants to punish Hardy, make him pay tonight.
Jeff with a kick to Sheamus.
Hardy, with a... Oh, went down low to the knee,
bringing Sheamus off his feet.
[Corey] Smart strategy by Jeff Hardy.
Take out a leg of Sheamus,
neutralize the power of The Celtic Warrior.
[Cole] Take away the Brogue Kick 'cause he can't plant on that left foot.
Remember, he delivers it with his right, but he plants on the left.
And that's what Hardy is doing here with this attack.
-And Hardy again into the corner. -[all exclaiming]
Understands he will have to take the fight to Sheamus in this matchup.
Hardy, a former three-time world champion.
Jeff Hardy's got to be careful not to let his emotions get the best of him.
This is a very important match in the career arc of Jeff Hardy.
[panting]
[Corey] The same could be said for Sheamus.
[Cole] Wow! Since returning back in January,
Sheamus still hasn't received the respect he believes he deserves.
[Cole] And you said it before, Corey, really--
-That's on all of you! -[woman] You suck!
[Cole] Here's a Hall of Fame resume for Sheamus:
Four-time world champion,
he's won the United States title,
he's a five-time Tag Team champ, he's King of the Ring.
Money in the Bank, and he's won the Royal Rumble.
And there's still a great deal of gas left in Sheamus' tank.
I-I believe that he looks better than he ever has
in the past couple of months.
It's over. Come on. Let's go
[Cole] Best shape of his career, he'd tell you about that.
Now, just manhandling Hardy.
[grunts]
[Cole] Sheamus launched up over the top rope,
still lands on the apron.
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -[Cole] Here comes Jeff!
And Hardy takes out Sheamus to the knee again!
[Corey] This is Jeff's wheelhouse.
This is what he's going to have to rely on.
But as opposed to Sheamus and knowing how much gas is left in his tank,
think of the miles on Jeff Hardy's body.
This high-risk, daredevil lifestyle...
[Cole] Look out, Corey, here comes Hardy off the steps
and driving Sheamus down right in front of our announce table!
The high-risk offense that you spoke about earlier.
[Corey] It served Jeff Hardy well throughout his career.
He's got to be asking himself,
how many opportunities does he have left to step up to the plate,
to hit that final run?
[Cole] Sheamus bounced right off the announce table face-first
and now sent back into the ring.
And he understands this could be it.
[Corey] This is one more time Jeff Hardy sacrificing his own body
to take out his opponent.
Hardy now, with bad intentions for the ring stairs.
[Cole] Again, he cannot risk disqualification here
in this matchup tonight.
[Corey] It goes back to Jeff's ability to control his emotions in this matchup.
We saw him do it well at that particular juncture.
Jeff, now, look at him...
Not going to overpower Sheamus under any circumstance.
[Cole] Now, Sheamus is burying Hardy in the corner,
and now look at the well-placed elbows back to the neck by Sheamus.
Every single blow Sheamus delivers is done with malice.
[Corey] Incredible precision.
There's nothing wrong with that.
It's called competition, Cole.
That's why everybody steps in the ring.
[Sheamus yelling]
-[Cole] Oh, my God! -[all exclaiming]
Hung up on the ring post!
Did you hear the thud as Jeff Hardy may be hurt
and hurt badly.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy clutching at his right knee.
I think that was what made contact with the ring post.
[Cole] Remember, Hardy missed a year of his career with a knee injury.
[Sheamus yelling]
-Oh, God. -[all exclaiming]
[Corey] Jeff Hardy's right knee colliding on top of the ring post.
That could be extremely detrimental
to Hardy's opportunity to succeed in this match.
[Cole] If you're going to battle Sheamus at less than 100%,
good luck.
Might as well not even show up on the front lines.
And look at Sheamus now, just manhandling Hardy yet again.
Oh, my God, he just dropped Jeff Hardy. I don't even think Jeff can go.
The official went quickly to check on Jeff when he hit Hardy.
I think Jeff Hardy's leg buckled,
and I think he was attempting to land on his feet,
but slipped off the second rope.
Sheamus into the cover on Hardy,
-hooking the leg... -One, two--
Near fall! Hardy still has fight in him.
I think Jeff Hardy's running on instinct alone right now.
Hardy's body is racked with pain, particularly his right knee.
Well, the other issue is, Corey, the more miles you have on the body,
the older you get, the harder it is for you to try to regroup in the matchup.
It takes a lot longer for your body to recuperate.
And Hardy is going through that right now.
But at the same time...
Every one of you, listen up!
You're all enablers.
-[crowd booing] -Every single one of you.
[Corey] To your point, Cole, you can't substitute experience.
Jeff Hardy has a wealth of knowledge to draw from,
even in these dire situations.
[Cole] He better start drawing from that knowledge now,
because Sheamus is about to put him lights out.
Hardy can barely stand, and now Sheamus is just having his way,
dragging Hardy back into the ring.
Not again... come on.
-[man] Come on, Jeff. -You're on the attack!
Yeah!
[Cole] Now the Irish Curse backbreaker, knee to the spine.
Sheamus, I don't believe, is done there,
and he's going to deliver another one to Hardy,
who collapses in the ring, covered by Sheamus...
Again, Hardy kicks out.
[Corey] To be perfectly honest, at this point,
I think the only way Sheamus loses this matchup
is if he becomes overconfident
and is enjoying punishing Jeff Hardy just a little too much.
[Cole] Oh, he's enjoying it all right. Watch that!
That was the second Irish Curse backbreaker,
but somehow, Jeff is able to stay in it.
And now the chinlock now applied to Jeff Hardy.
Again, ring rust could come into play.
Jeff was out of action for a year and has only had a handful of matches
since being back in WWE.
[Corey] When you're dealing with someone the caliber of The Celtic Warrior,
you can't afford to have any signs of ring rust.
-Hardy... -[Cole] Whoa!
That's going to be a near cover by Sheamus.
Hooks the leg... is it enough?
And somehow, Jeff Hardy able to stay in it.
At what point now will frustration begin to be a part of this matchup for Sheamus?
Sheamus had a look on his face like,
"Oh, boy, what do I need to do to keep him down?"
[Corey] Let's take one more look.
That's what I need to do.
Comments are garbage.
Nobody hears you, you hear.
When you going to learn how to commentate properly?
Sheamus obviously taking offense to the comments, Cole.
Sheamus claims he's not frustrated. Sheamus knows exactly what he needs to do.
That's what he's telling us.
[Cole] Indeed, and Sheamus is now right back on the attack of Jeff Hardy.
But Sheamus has to keep his focus on the former world champion.
And look at Sheamus now,
right in the eyes and the nose of Hardy.
[Corey] Sheamus now continuing to wear down Hardy,
attempting to put Jeff away.
Hardy with some semblance of fight left inside.
[Cole] Here now is Sheamus buried in the corner.
Jeff Hardy trying to rally in this match,
and here now is the back suplex by Jeff Hardy.
Hardy trying to rally.
Could be the best opportunity Hardy's had to this point.
But what does Jeff Hardy have left?
His body has been battered.
[crowd chanting] You're in trouble!
And Jeff Hardy trying to fight back into this.
A couple of right hands by Hardy.
He has made a career out of resilience.
Oh!
And a clothesline like that will stop you in your tracks.
[Corey] We've seen in the past Jeff Hardy make a name for himself,
always having something left,
enduring the worst of beatings,
and always continuing to fight.
But I don't think Sheamus will allow it tonight.
[Cole] Off the top rope, this is why... may have buckled his knee.
Hardy with an elbow caught,
and now Jeff Hardy going up to the top rope...
just where Jeff Hardy loves it!
Little Whisper in the Wind, cover now on Sheamus.
Is it enough? Kick out at two by The Celtic Warrior!
[Corey] Simply can't say enough about Jeff Hardy's pain threshold.
The tolerance that his body has.
When most men would have given up by now, Hardy continues to fight.
-[crowd chanting] Hardy, Hardy, Hardy! -[Cole] And Jeff,
exchanging blows with Sheamus, now getting the better of Sheamus.
He may have Sheamus on the ropes.
Reversal now, whipped across the ring...
Hardy knocks Sheamus down.
And now perhaps the adrenaline building on the inverted atomic drop.
Jeff Hardy now has Sheamus where he wants him.
-[crowd groans] -That's vintage Hardy.
[Corey] Cole, the adrenaline is certainly pumping,
-will it be enough? Cover! -[Cole] Here's the cover on Sheamus.
Kick out at two.
[Corey] Hardy somehow, some way, able to push the pace,
continuing the assault on Sheamus.
[Cole] Another cover on Sheamus, another hook of the leg,
and another near fall by Hardy.
How much does Jeff Hardy have left in the tank?
Is it enough to be able to put Sheamus away?
[Corey] For the past few minutes,
I would have said Jeff Hardy's tank was absolutely on empty,
but Hardy, once again, proving everyone wrong,
fighting his way back into this battle.
Jeff Hardy, kick right to the midsection, went for the Twist of Fate.
Sheamus going to roll him up, trying to steal it here.
Kick out at two by Hardy. Back to his feet...
Sheamus catches Jeff,
Jeff though with a mule kick driving Sheamus back to the corner.
Now Sheamus went for the Brogue,
Jeff ducked underneath it, and he got him there!
A little sling blade action by Hardy.
Hardy's got next to nothing left.
To be perfectly honest, the longer this match goes,
I want to think it benefits The Celtic Warrior.
We spoke earlier about the tremendous physical condition
that Sheamus is in these days.
Jeff Hardy though,
does he have enough left to pull himself up to the top rope
and perhaps deliver the Swanton?
Does Jeff even have enough to climb the ropes?
Now, remember the bad wheel attack early on in the matchup by Sheamus.
Hardy now looking to climb up top.
-Sheamus... -[Corey] This could be a big, big mistake.
[Cole] Back to his feet again, just took too long
trying to get set up on the top rope,
and Sheamus capitalized.
[referee] Stop!
[Corey] Sheamus continuing to pour on the punishment.
[Cole] Hardy in a precarious position, Sheamus joining him on the top rope.
[Corey] Jeff trying to fight his way out of harm's way,
[referee] Someone's gonna get hurt out there pretty bad.
[Cole] And Sheamus now trying to keep his balance up there.
[Corey] I don't know what Sheamus is looking for,
but it'll end the whole match.
[Cole] Hardy fighting back. Sheamus hit hard!
Now Jeff Hardy has him where he wants him.
Can Jeff capitalize? Up to the top goes Hardy.
Is it time to fly?
[Corey] Hardy's perched.
[Cole] Once again, Sheamus takes advantage,
and a bad fall from Jeff off the top rope, landed on Sheamus.
[Corey] Sheamus had a little taken out of him in that collision but...
[Cole] White Noise for Sheamus!
-[Corey] That's it! -[Cole] Cover on Hardy!
Hook of the leg! And somehow, Jeff Hardy is still in it.
[Corey] The guts, the determination, the iron will of Jeff Hardy
on display for Sheamus and the world to see.
[Cole] After that fall that Jeff Hardy took off the top rope,
courtesy of Sheamus,
I didn't think Jeff was even going to be able to continue.
[Corey] I've gotta be careful, not going to say this too loud,
but the look on Sheamus' face appears to be one of doubt
-for the first time in this matchup. -[Cole] Doubt and frustration.
What does he need to do to put away this warrior,
this Jeff Hardy?
He's trying to stumble back to his feet, he can't even stand, Corey.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy's never quit before in his life,
doesn't intend on starting tonight.
[Cole] And Sheamus, realizing that Hardy has an injured knee,
is going to stomp away now at Jeff Hardy,
perhaps set him up for the Texas Cloverleaf submission
that Sheamus has used in the past.
[Corey] Sheamus is savoring every moment of this
and enjoying the punishment he's inflicting.
Hardy doing his best to prevent Sheamus from completing the submission...
There it is!
[Cole] Sheamus has got it locked in the middle of the ring,
Hardy with nowhere to go.
And again, the force of this submission into the legs,
the already injured legs of Jeff Hardy.
Sheamus has it locked in good.
Hardy trying to somehow counter the Cloverleaf.
[Corey] There's no shame in submitting if you're Jeff Hardy.
This is about self-preservation. Live to fight another day, Jeff Hardy.
[Cole] The will to win has always been part of what Jeff Hardy's makeup is,
as he tries to make it to the bottom rope,
which is going to force a break at a five-count by Sheamus.
[Corey] The veteran Sheamus utilizing four of the five seconds
allotted to inflict extra damage.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy fighting for personal redemption,
fighting for vindication,
fighting for another chance in his already storied career.
If you talk to Jeff, he's fighting for his family,
his wife, and his kids,
about having a great performance out here tonight at Backlash
to prove that he is back, to prove that he belongs.
[Corey] Spare me, Cole,
let's talk about Sheamus and the credit that Sheamus doesn't receive,
that he deserves.
It's a feel-good story, yes, Jeff Hardy,
but unfortunately, the truth doesn't always feel good.
And right now, The Celtic Warrior is the truth.
[Cole] The Celtic Warrior continues to make Jeff Hardy pay.
Jeff looks physically beat, physically exhausted.
You know, how long I've waited for this?
[Corey] This is all about competition, Cole. I don't understand.
I'm going to help you with those demons.
I'm going to help you with those demons, Jeff.
Trust me, okay?
[Cole] Cruelty is a part of this business.
Get those demons out of you.
[Corey] And Sheamus is excelling right now.
[Cole] Yeah, the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán done without a smile here tonight
by The Celtic Warrior.
[grunting]
[Corey] Sheamus promised to Brogue Kick Jeff Hardy back off the wagon.
[Cole] And he is well on his way.
[referee] Inside, inside. Come on, inside.
[Corey] And at this point, the official should think about stopping this one
because Jeff Hardy's been essentially helpless.
Off the shirt. Come on. Enough.
[Cole] Dragging Hardy across the ring.
[referee] Let go of the shirt.
[indistinct chatter]
[Cole] What's Sheamus going to do here?
[Corey] And I think at this point, Sheamus just needs to finish this.
[Cole] Now Hardy's still hanging on though.
[Corey] To his own detriment.
[Cole] And Sheamus down to the post, shoulder first!
-Could this be an opening for Jeff Hardy? -[Corey] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Twist of Fate by Hardy! He's got Sheamus where he wants him.
[Corey] No way. Please tell me there is no way this is going to happen.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy going up to the top rope,
lightning can strike just like that.
That's what Hardy's hoping for!
-[all exclaiming] -Swanton Bomb!
-Here's the cover on Sheamus for the win! -One, two--
[Cole] And Sheamus gets his foot on the bottom rope.
[Corey] Lady Luck smiled on Sheamus in that moment.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy cannot believe it,
he believed he had the matchup won with a patented Swanton Bomb.
Sheamus though,
close enough to the bottom rope to survive.
[Corey] And Hardy's got to be crushed inside.
Jeff Hardy just landed his best possible chance
at winning this match, and Sheamus survived.
If that's not crushing and disheartening, I don't know what is.
-[Cole] And now look out-- -[Corey] Classic--
[Cole] Oh, my God, the Brogue Kick right on the chin.
Corey, we were so close,
we could see the boot of Sheamus collapsing the face of Jeff Hardy
with a wicked Brogue outside the ring.
Watch this again... Oh!
Just like that, Hardy taken out.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy's not getting back up from that Brogue Kick.
[Cole] Jeff may have gotten a bit overzealous
as he went up the barricade.
And now Sheamus with another Brogue!
[Corey] That's it, it's over.
-[Cole] The cover by Sheamus and a win. -[bell dinging]
[Sheamus' theme music playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
Sheamus!
[Corey] And everyone who was counting on their hero, Jeff Hardy...
Everyone who was counting on Jeff Hardy is disappointed once again.
-[yelling triumphantly] -[Corey] One more time,
Hardy lets everyone down.
[Cole] Corey, in many ways tonight, Sheamus has exorcised his demons
with his victory over Jeff Hardy.
Tonight he promised it would happen,
and it did happen after a valiant effort by Hardy.
[Corey] Here's where we thought Jeff Hardy was gonna end it all.
The Swanton, on point.
But The Celtic Warrior had the wherewithal to reach the bottom rope
and this is what turned everything around.
Hardy went high-risk, bam,
and was rewarded with a Brogue Kick,
and one more for good measure at the end of this battle,
right on the jaw of Hardy.
-[Cole] Sheamus celebrates a victory. -[yells triumphantly]
[Cole] And that man there, Jeff Hardy...
And Jeff Hardy is ashamed of himself.
And he should be.
Jeff Hardy contemplates what's next.
I grew up in poverty, and meals weren't always easy to come by.
Now with schools closing, 22 million kids across America
have lost the school meals they depend on.
If your family is in need,
Nestlé Pure Life and No Kid Hungry are here to help.
[Cole] WWE Backlash is at the Performance Center here tonight,
live in Orlando, Florida.
Still to come, what could be the greatest wrestling match ever.
Edge vs. Randy Orton.
And the Universal Championship,
Braun Strowman defending in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match
against The Miz and Morrison.
[indistinct conversation]
Miz, Morrison...
Hi, Kayla, we don't have time for media.
We're too busy preparing to be co-Universal Champions.
-Thank you. -Hit the bricks, kid.
That's actually why I wanted to talk to you.
It was announced earlier in the kickoff that the rules of your match stipulate
that whoever scores the pinfall or submission
will be the sole Universal Champion.
What?
-That's cool. -Totally.
I mean, I'd much rather have you be Universal Champion than Braun Strowman.
-Exactly. We're ready. -We're fine.
You know, Kayla, we arrived at the building,
we saw Braun Strowman's car in the parking lot.
He may have fixed his windshield,
but there's no fixing the sense of loss and frustration
he will have when the Universal Championship is in...
-[imitating Braun] These hands! -Yes.
-Using Braun's words against him. -[chuckles]
Go tell him, Kayla. Tell him that--
-Jesus... -Oh, yeah.
Even though you guys said some mean things to say about me,
including saying I'm pregnant with a roasted turkey...
You were glowing. It was a compliment.
Just wanted to let you know, no matter who wins tonight...
I might... cash in.
What Otis is trying to say is if you win,
you may not be Universal Champion for very long.
[chuckles] Come on, let's go.
[laughs] A nice little friendly reminder from John Morrison and The Miz
that Otis very well could cash in his Money in the Bank contract tonight.
It's a guaranteed Universal Championship opportunity anytime, anywhere.
Could it be Otis' night? Don't forget, later on tonight,
Braun Strowman defends his Universal Championship
against both The Miz and John Morrison.
But right now, we're getting set for the RAW Women's Championship match
between our eccentric and charismatic champion,
Asuka, and her monolithic opponent,
the towering Nia Jax.
Let's not forget what sparked this matchup tonight.
The events surrounding the historic
Money in the Bank contract Ladder Match last month.
[somber music playing]
[announcer] Here's your winner of the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match,
Asuka!
The match last night, it wasn't what you thought it was.
You have been the best wrestler in the world for a long time.
You have beaten me when nobody else could.
[bell dinging]
This is why I am so glad that this is happening to you.
I'm the champion?
You are the champion.
Yeah, I'm the champion!
Yeah!
I am the champion!
You go and be a warrior...
because I'm going to go be a mother.
[Asuka whispers] A mother?
[laughs] Yeah!
[Nia] You were literally handed the RAW Women's title
-because of hormones! -[crowd booing]
You leaped your way into the greatest temp job ever.
And soon, you will be replaced by someone far more worthy...
Me.
[man 1] Oh, here we go.
The RAW Women's champion going after Jax.
[man 2] I mean, Nia Jax got more than she bargained for.
[man 1] The hard work has begun for our brand new champion.
Can we stop, please?
Don't believe the hype.
Asuka, you should remember what I did to Kairi,
because that's just a fraction of what's going to happen to you
when I bulldoze over you at Backlash.
[man 1] Nia Jax mocking the RAW Women's champion.
[man 2] Nia Jax is a serious threat to the RAW Women's champion.
[Nia Jax's theme song playing]
[crowd hooting]
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the RAW Women's Championship.
Introducing first from San Diego, California,
Nia Jax.
[Tom] Over the last few weeks, Nia Jax has done everything possible
to try and throw the champion off of her game coming into this match.
But, Joe, has Nia Jax won the psychological warfare against Asuka
-before Backlash began? -[Joe] Oh, she's absolutely ahead.
But beyond that, Nia Jax is a superior athlete.
I mean, let's face it,
there are very few women in this world who can move like she can move.
There are very few women in this world that possess the power that she does,
and tonight could be her crowning moment if she becomes RAW Women's champion.
[Asuka's theme music playing]
[announcer] And her opponent, she is the RAW Women's champion,
Asuka!
[Tom] And, Byron, we talked about
what has been going on psychologically with the champion.
Not only the events surrounding Money in the Bank
and the magnanimous move by Becky Lynch,
but at the same time,
the rivalry with Charlotte Flair has been stirred back up.
There have been distractions for Asuka.
[Saxton] I agree with you, Tom,
and we saw what happened on Monday night.
Nia Jax's presence would cause Asuka to lose to Charlotte Flair.
We've seen Nia Jax take out Iris Nadine,
stole the face paint of Asuka.
But I think Asuka, being the champion she is,
can channel that anger to Nia Jax here tonight.
[Tom] Joe, you know what it means to be a champion here in WWE.
How does Asuka compartmentalize and take down
what you described a much bigger and imposing opponent in Nia Jax?
[Joe] You know, there's one thing that Asuka understands,
it's power to inflict pain.
No matter the target, no matter the person...
size, shape, or grief, she will make you hurt,
and she will make you hurt all night long.
[Tom] So, Nia Jax is ready to go one-on-one with Asuka.
It is the first defense for The Empress
as RAW Women's champion here tonight at Backlash.
[Saxton] All the antics, all the bullying by Nia Jax is over now.
She's got to face the RAW Women's champion,
and Asuka's got a serious opportunity for retribution.
And let's think about this.
At the root of this entire rivalry between Asuka and Nia Jax,
it dates back to their NXT days.
[Tom] Oh, Nia Jax is jealous of the accomplishments of Asuka.
[Joe] And now look at Asuka going after The Irresistible Force
with a series of strikes.
[Saxton] I call it championship envy.
[Tom] Nia Jax has tried to skew the narrative for how Asuka earned her--
[Joe] And watch out here! It might be over early.
[Tom] Went for the sleeper there on Nia Jax,
which has worked in the past for Asuka.
[Saxton] She's going for the Fujiwara Armlock.
[Tom] Going for the left arm, oh, and a big right by Nia Jax!
[grunting]
[all exclaiming]
[Joe] And this is where you do not want to be with Nia Jax.
[Tom] Head-butt right between the eyes!
[Saxton] And so unbelievably powerful...
just one punch, one kick, and she can turn things around.
[Tom] Blocked a spinning back fist attempt by Asuka very early on there.
Now face-first into the top turnbuckle, but what a strike by Nia Jax!
[Saxton] She swatted her away like she wasn't even there,
but watch out!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] The Octopus!
[Joe] It's in deep, deep sea.
[Tom] Octopus center of the ring here, Joe.
[Joe] Oh, there's nowhere... there's nowhere for Nia to go.
I mean, she has to endure this.
Asuka could end this quick. Look at the bend on that arm!
[Tom] Could Asuka secure a submission victory
in the first few minutes of this RAW Women's title defense?
-[Joe] Oh, the power... -[Tom] And slung off by Jax.
[Joe] And this is exactly what I was talking about earlier.
You cannot train to face this kind of power in the ring.
[Tom] And that is going to be the biggest obstacle
for Asuka to overcome in this match.
Find a way to get around the power advantage of Nia Jax.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] You talked about the power, Byron,
and it was on display right there.
Nia Jax endured a serious submission attempt there
by Asuka early on here in this match.
Will she survive this one?
[Saxton] Continuing to go back to that arm.
She's looking for any, any chink in the armor she can find.
[Tom] Going after the left arm of Nia Jax.
Oh, my God, and down went Asuka!
[Saxton] And every time we see Asuka try to target the arm of Nia Jax,
Nia Jax shuts down the RAW Women's Champion.
[Tom] And watch how effortless, boom, Nia Jax makes it look
as she just tossed Asuka about clean across the ring.
[Saxton] Nia Jax makes domination look easy.
[Tom] Nia Jax is executing her game plan.
She's wearing out the champion, taking in her best shots,
walking through them, and beating her to the ground.
[Tom] It has been two long years
since Nia Jax was RAW Women's Champion last,
trying to win her second title tonight.
And a big slam the center of the ring!
Nia Jax now into the cover.
Cover here on Asuka and a kick-out!
And, Byron, the arrogance of Jax coming into play.
[Saxton] We've seen that ever since Asuka won
the RAW Women's Championship, interrupting the championship celebration,
claiming that she had been handed the RAW Women's Title.
[Joe] And she's also... Nia Jax has faced all insurmountable obstacles.
She's recovered from double knee surgery.
She's come back... become a competitor right off the bat.
Challenged for the championship right off the bat.
This is a woman who's driven, Byron, and you don't appreciate that.
[Saxton] And right in the face of the official, the disrespect from Jax.
Nia Jax was on the shelf for a year, Joe.
Double knee surgery! She expected to come back here
and immediately win the RAW Women's Championship.
[Joe] Most athletes return from no sports after experiencing something like that.
[Saxton] And now here she is, competing for the WWE Women's Championship.
-Asuka won't stop fighting, but... -[Tom] Uh-oh!
Nia Jax with a spine buster!
[Joe] And dominating might I add.
[Tom] ...to win the title here at Backlash.
Kick out by Asuka!
[Saxton] This is going to be an insurmountable odd
for the RAW Women's Champion, Asuka, to overcome.
[Tom] At the route that Nia Jax is going, this could be over soon.
What? What power again from Nia Jax!
[Saxton] This is the perfect pace for Nia Jax,
her confidence has gotta be off the charts right now.
Oh, and a beautiful cover lock,
I mean, she's just tightening this in.
[Tom] Nia Jax is trying to wear down the RAW Women's Champion.
And let me... let me make you aware
of what Nia Jax has done this entire match.
She has sat there, and she has made Asuka carry her around.
She's made Asuka carry her weight. She's worn the champion down.
Trying to tire the champion.
-[all exclaiming] -[Saxton] Into the guillotine!
And, Joe, this has worked against Jax in the past.
[Joe] It has, and it's worked to great effect.
It's almost put her out several times. In fact, I think it has put her out.
[Tom] Look at this! Asuka trying to cinch it in,
but the right hand of Nia Jax was trying to free the grip.
And now look at Jax--
[Joe] Beautiful defense and the power once again!
-[Saxton] Oh, my God! -[Tom] The power once again!
[Joe] Nia Jax with a "Jaxhammer!"
[Tom] Asuka into the canvas for the title...
Oh, and kick-out by Asuka.
[Saxton] Very gingerly, Asuka was able to pop her left shoulder up,
but Asuka is hurting, guys.
[Tom] How much more can Asuka handle?
You can see even Jax there, Joe.
Jax trying to wipe the ship, so to speak.
[Joe] These are unbelievable G-forces working on Asuka's body right now.
[Saxton] Disrespect from the challenger.
[Nia] Asuka, where's Kairi?
-[screams] -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] That not only fired up the champion,
Nia Jax even speaking the name of Asuka's tag team partner, Kairi Sane.
[Saxton] Aye, Jax talked a little too much--
[Tom] Bottom out the Samoan drop. Great counter by Asuka!
-[all exclaiming] -[Saxton] She missed!
[Tom] Great job by Asuka!
[Joe] Now look at the shining wizard right to the face to retain the title.
[Tom] Kick out by Jax!
[Joe] And Asuka's found some sort of respite.
She's back on the offensive, but how much damage has she already taken?
[Saxton] Asuka's been hanging around to give herself an advantage,
picking up the pace a little bit.
This could heavily favor the RAW Women's Champion.
[Tom] Going back after the left arm here, Joe,
Asuka is staying on that body part.
[Joe] I don't blame her.
I mean, there's not much you can do to beat a woman like Nia Jax.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Out of the corner!
[Saxton] Nia Jax is down! Nia Jax is down!
[Tom] Asuka measuring the challenger...
and a hip attack right to the face!
Cover! Oh, and a kick-out by Jax!
[man] Come on, Asuka. Come on.
[Tom] Oh, another cover! Oh, another cover!
This is Asuka. Fell off of Jax's body almost.
[Saxton] But Nia Jax right now is the one in trouble.
Nia Jax is the one who's reeling!
[Joe] I mean, she's fading in and out of consciousness out there.
[Tom] The effort that it has taken by Asuka
to put Nia Jax down on the canvas...
This is where Asuka has to capitalize.
[Tom] Now look at this! Kicks fired off here by the champion!
[Joe] And Asuka is absolutely wrecking the challenger!
This could be big. Nia Jax's going for that big bomb!
[Tom] Nia Jax absorbed all of that offense,
now to win the title...
Asuka out at two!
Again, the effort that Asuka has to put forth
just to get any sort of advantage on Jax...
and it proves to no avail to her.
[Joe] Tom, Asuka has to put forth a superhuman effort
because she is facing a superhuman in that ring.
[Saxton] Look, to Asuka's credit, she's found a way
to hang around up to this point in this match.
Maybe getting into the head of Nia Jax a little bit.
[Tom] Now Jax has found a way back up to her feet,
right shoulder into the post.
[Joe] Nia made a mistake. This could be the opening.
-[crowd chanting indistinctly] -[Asuka shouting indistinctly]
[Joe] The champion's feeling it.
[Saxton] Asuka's gotta pick up the pace now.
[Tom] Asuka out to the apron.
Nia Jax is down to her knees inside the ring.
Asuka's going up top!
Nia Jax starting to stir and slows down the champion.
[Joe] And that's the category that you do not want.
[Tom] Oh, wait a second!
-[screams] -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Oh, she hooked the armbar!
[Saxton] Well, she slid off though...
[Tom] She tried for the armbar.
Now dragging Jax to the outside.
[Saxton] Remember, the title can only change hands
via pinfall or submission,
it does not change hands via count-out or disqualification.
[Tom] Oh, my God!
[Tom] That was brilliant by Asuka!
And it's on, but it's going to do her no good out there.
[Saxton] Count of four here from the official.
Asuka continues to inflict damage.
[Tom] Nia starting to pull up like she's a child!
[Saxton] And Jax was able to break the submission along the barricade.
This is up to seven. Count of seven!
[Tom] Jax has to get Asuka back inside the ring.
-[Joe] This doesn't look good. -[Saxton] Eight! Count of eight!
Count of nine!
-Nia Jax has got to hurry! -[Tom] Uh-oh!
-[bell dinging] -[Tom] By the champion!
[Saxton] Nia Jax goes down!
[announcer] The referee has counted out both,
Asuka and Nia Jax,
therefore, still your RAW Women's Champion,
Asuka!
[Joe] Oh, Tom, I know both women are not satisfied with this result.
[Tom] And now Asuka... Look at Asuka continues to attack!
[Saxton] This fight ain't stopped. I'm going to try...
The champion, obviously, Asuka retains,
but this is not how she wanted to win this match.
[Tom] But also, champion's advantage coming in tonight.
Asuka's going to walk away with the RAW Women's title.
You gotta believe, Byron, Asuka did not want this match.
[Saxton] No, no. Asuka wanted to win or to beat Nia Jax inside the ring.
[Joe] You say that now,
but I guarantee the next time that these two women meet,
it'll be Nia Jax walking out victorious.
[Tom] For one more night,
the era of The Empress continues here at Backlash.
Well, still to come tonight, more action from the RAW side.
The friendly rivalry
between two of the most unique tag teams in WWE.
On one side, the smooth-talking and quick-thinking Street Profits
will defend their RAW Tag Team Championship
against the hard-hitting Viking Raiders.
Will we finally get an answer to the timeless question,
"Anything you can do, we can do better?"
We'll find out tonight.
Yeah, we have been waiting for this.
The sadistic Randy Orton attempts to put a stop to Edge's inspirational,
gritty comeback story in what very well could be
the greatest wrestling match ever.
Pride, ego, legacy...
Edge vs. Randy Orton, later tonight.
The entire VIP section.
That's correct. And 20...
Make it 30 bottles of the best champagne that you guys carry.
Right, right.
Well, we're celebrating last season's WWE Championship victory,
so I don't want any issues.
Speaking of which, your security team...
What?
Let me give you a call back in just a minute.
Something came up.
So you just have to understand,
this is the greatest night in my Bobby's career.
And it's taken him 13 years to get this opportunity.
It's because of me that he is this successful and got this opportunity,
so I wanna give you a little bit of advice.
Wait, wait, stop right there.
I'm not the person you should be having this conversation with.
I didn't say that you had to stay backstage during Bobby's matches.
Perhaps you should be having this conversation with your husband.
But you're not going to do that, are you?
Of course not, because you're scared to hear
what he's going to tell you.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I have to tend to the new WWE Heavyweight Champion.
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, up next,
it is The Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman's second defense
of the Universal Championship,
but the odds have never been stacked higher.
It's a 2-on-1 Handicap Match.
Braun hopes to take out these two pranksters once and for all,
Miz and Morrison,
in a rivalry that started on The Dirt Sheet.
Braun Strowman has been given way too much credit.
He doesn't deserve the Universal Championship.
[man 1] Uh-oh.
What's up, boys?
Look at you. Feel like a real badass, I bet.
'Cause we got lucky and pinned me last week during a tag match.
-[yells triumphantly] -[bell dinging]
Newsflash, Braun, you get into the ring with MC M-I-Z,
he's going to come at you like a bag of quarters in a strip club.
-Wait, John. -Swinging.
-Challenge accepted. -Damn it
[Braun] Miz, you're about to get these hands.
-[man 1] Running power slam... -[bell dinging]
[man 1] Strowman with the win.
Big man!
At Backlash,
we're challenging you to something we know you can't do,
and that's beat both of us in a Handicap Match
for the Universal Championship.
You want me?
You got me.
To defeat thine enemy, first destroy his infrastructure.
Translation: We're going to make his life a living hell.
[both] ♪ Miz and Morrison! ♪
♪ Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
♪ Miz and Morrison! ♪
♪ Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
Tonight is the night we're going to make this guy's life miserable.
By the time we get to Backlash,
Braun Strowman's life will be a living hell.
[gasps] Oh, my God!
[Braun] I am so sorry, Kayla.
I 100% know these two jackasses Miz and Morrison are up to this.
I told you to put the bucket on the left side.
-I put it on the left side. -That is not the left side!
You said left! I put it on the stage, left!
Left is left! This is the left!
[both continue arguing]
I am right, you are wrong.
-She is not happy. -[grunts]
Braun Strowman's Buick Grand National!
[Morrison] He's gonna be so pissed.
[both laughing gleefully]
What the... Where are they?
[both gasp]
-Hey! -He doesn't know that we're in here.
-It's fine. -Where did Miz and Morrison go?
-[Miz] Keep their mouth shut. -Where?
They're in the white van.
You're stupid, stupid, stupid!
-Get out of the van. -Get out of the door!
The doors are locked. It's okay.
-It's locked... -[both gasp]
We're protected by a van.
You two are dead men!
[all screaming]
[Miz and Morrison shouting]
[Braun] You guys think you're funny?
Now that's funny!
[laughing]
At Backlash, Miz and Morrison both
are going to get these hands.
[roaring]
♪ Awesome! ♪
[Cole] And, Corey, will that be the fate of these men,
the challengers, here tonight.
[Miz and Morrison's theme song playing]
[Cole] Miz and Morrison have found a way to make Braun's life a living hell,
and to this point, they've done a great job.
Tonight, Miz and Morrison finish the job.
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is a 2-on-1 Handicap Match
for the Universal Championship!
Introducing the challengers...
The Miz and John Morrison!
[Corey] This game is as much mental as it is physical,
and Morrison and Miz have manipulated Braun Strowman
to the point where tonight one of these two men
will be the brand new Universal Champion.
[Cole] Mark my words, in a Handicap Match,
it is the one time where Braun Strowman may be considered an underdog
because he's taking on multiple-time Tag Team Champions
in Miz and Morrison.
[Corey] The greatest tag team in the 21st century.
Ladies and gentlemen,
-before we... -[man] Shut up!
...one of us becomes Universal Champion,
I feel like I need something more to pump me up.
Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. I can use a little pump-up.
What do you think, John? How about this?
How about we share a little something extra special
with everybody here and everybody watching at home?
I'm talking about a music video that's sweeping the nation.
The thing that everybody's talking about right now,
the pay-per-view debut of our new hit single...
♪ Hey! Hey! Hey! Ho, ho! ♪
Roll it!
["Hey, Hey, Hey" playing]
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Braun Strowman Best be watching his back ♪
♪ Gonna put the boots to his big ass ♪
♪ 'Cause nobody likes him, neither do we ♪
♪ Braun's ass and beard Smells like cheese ♪
♪ Send him a tweet and let him know ♪
♪ You want a new champ on the show ♪
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
♪ The Universal Champion needs to go ♪
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! ♪
♪ Braun wet the bed Until he was six years old ♪
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
♪ Braun Strowman's dumber than Lana's TikToks
♪ Instead of dress shoes This dork wears Crocs ♪
Ew.
♪ Braun won't shut up about his hands And that's a fact ♪
♪ This weirdo spent a whole damn year Wearing a sheep mask ♪
[Cole] All right, here's a video of another kind.
Watch out, boys. Here comes The Strowman Express.
[Braun Strowman's theme music playing]
[announcer] And the opponent, weighing at 385 pounds,
he is the Universal Champion,
Braun Strowman!
[Corey] Listen, I'm not gonna tell Braun Strowman how to live his life,
but I think he just interrupted
the biggest video premier since "Thriller," Cole.
[Cole] Nonetheless Braun Strowman defends his Universal Championship tonight, Corey.
You know, you talked about the mental aspect of this type of matchup.
[Corey] ♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
It's in my head, it's like I'm ear-wormed already, Cole.
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
Did you hear what they said about Braun?
I feel bad that he did that till he was six years old.
[Cole] A very Billy Ocean-like performance by Miz and Morrison.
Anyhow, the last time Strowman was in a Handicap Match,
he lost the Intercontinental Championship.
So, will the same thing happen to Strowman here tonight?
Here's what happens: Miz and Morrison have to tag in and out of this matchup.
If Miz and Morrison happen to pick up the pinfall or submission victory,
the person who gets that fall on Strowman will become the Universal Champion.
[Corey] And allow me to just double down on the fact
that Miz and Morrison just found that out moments ago.
They've been preparing all week as a team to become Co-Universal Champions,
but I respect their ability to adapt and overcome.
[Cole] Miz will start things off against Braun Strowman.
Miz, a former WWE Champion, eight-time Intercontinental Champion,
will tag in his longtime friend and partner,
John Morrison.
Morrison in the-- Oh, and Miz from behind with a cheap shot,
and it allows John Morrison to take the attack.
[Corey] There's no doubt about it...
Miz and Morrison have both studied the previous Handicap Match...
Goodness! That cost Strowman the Intercontinental title.
-Great agility from Morrison. -[Cole] Into a kip-up,
and he's going to have to use that speed, quickness,
and parkour style in the ring to avoid and stay away from Strowman
as Miz comes in off the tag.
They'll have to eventually.
Back it up! Back it up!
[Cole] Think about how Miz and Morrison have attempted to embarrass and humiliate
Strowman over the past few weeks.
Now, Miz from behind, and a southpaw unloading on Strowman.
[grunts]
[Cole] And the big man misses wildly!
Frequent tags by Morrison and Miz.
Double team, double dropkick...
Strowman into the corner!
[Corey] That's good teamwork from... Uh-oh! Morrison and Miz!
[Cole] Morrison still landed on the apron,
and then a kick caught Strowman in the nose,
and now Morrison off the top rope, caught by Braun.
-[Corey] Oh, no. -[Cole] But look at Morrison.
Wow!
Incredible athletic ability but that right hand will stop anyone.
[Corey] It's like an emotional roller-coaster.
[Cole] Miz doesn't seem too eager to tag in but he does.
And now Miz will slowly...
[Corey] Cole, it's all mind games.
Miz is an A-lister,
he's no stranger to pretending to be scared of something.
[Cole] You really don't think he's scared?
-[Corey] Absolutely not. -[screams]
[Cole] And Miz went for a kick just barely,
and then Braun just swatted that away.
[Corey] Maybe he's a little scared. Just a little tiny bit.
[Cole] Yeah, he should be scared now.
[Cole] And what you don't want to do is make Braun angry.
That's just not bright and--
Hey, hey, no, no.
[Corey] Oh, that's real funny. Oh, God!
[Cole] Braun with a kick to the midsection...
[Corey] Braun just kicked Miz in the soul!
Uh-oh!
Miz sent into the corner, knocks Morrison off the apron,
and once again, Miz finds himself alone.
[Corey] Johnny Drip Drip recovers quick.
-Oh! -[Cole] Johnny, who?
[Corey] Johnny Drip Drip, Cole. Pay attention.
And MC M-I-Z, they're responsible for the incredible hit we just heard.
Until Braun interrupted it.
[Cole] And now Strowman, outside the ring, loves this.
And now back up to the apron,
John Morrison looks to take advantage of it
with the kick and Strowman down outside the ring...
Tag made!
Here comes Miz.
[Corey] Beautiful teamwork, quick tags in and out,
always keeping the fresh man in.
[Cole] Now Morrison launching himself over the top rope.
Strowman's down!
Braun Strowman is down outside the ring.
This could be the opportunity for Miz and Morrison.
-Can they capitalize? -[Corey] This has been
an expertly crafted strategy from the opening bell by Miz and Morrison.
Let's take one more look at this mind-blowing athleticism
of John Morrison taking down the Universal Champion.
[Cole] Again, champion's advantage...
Braun's got to be pinned or submitted to lose the championship here tonight,
despite the fact that it is a Handicap Match.
Miz realizing that, got him back in the ring.
[Corey] Big kick takes the champion down. Cover by Miz.
[Cole] And a kick-out by Strowman with authority!
But Miz, give him credit, right back on the attack.
Strowman's down.
That's a key point in this match, Corey, that The Monster is down.
[Corey] Miz and Morrison need to work together and keep Braun down
because it won't last long, as we see right here.
Strowman trying to fight his way out of this,
squash Miz in the corner!
[Cole] I think a tag was made.
Morrison with a chop block from behind takes Strowman down.
Smart move by Morrison to make the tag when he did
because Strowman wasn't ready for it.
[Corey] Look at these elbows raining down!
[groans]
[Cole] Morrison has won five Intercontinental Championships
in his career, six Tag Team Titles,
would love to become Universal Champion tonight.
[Corey] Notice how Morrison right now is sticking and moving,
putting the boots to Braun and getting out of Strowman's reach.
[Cole] And again, I cannot overemphasize the fact, Corey,
that Braun Strowman is down.
The huge Monster Among Men is down,
and Miz and Morrison have him where they want him.
And now a double DDT!
The champ's in trouble.
[Corey] That might be it to win the title.
[Cole] And Strowman kicks out!
Strowman looks down and out here, Corey.
[Corey] Strowman's emotions got the best of him.
He came out extremely angry,
and Miz and Morrison have capitalized by picking him apart.
[Cole] Again, one of the great all-time tag teams in Miz and Morrison
are they were using that ability perfectly here tonight,
wearing the champion down with frequent tags in and out of the ring.
[Corey] World-famous hip kicks taking their toll on the champion.
[Cole] Some would say that. Oh, and another one by Miz,
and Strowman absorbing a tremendous amount of punishment.
Miz has got to be careful not to get too cocky here, though.
[Miz and Morrison] ♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
[Corey] It was like a sing-along. This was great! Oh, my God.
[Cole] There you go. That'll stop the vocal cords.
And a big elbow by Strowman, and Braun with a boot!
The Monster's back on his feet!
Right hand to Morrison.
[Corey] Oh, no, look out!
[Cole] What a... to Miz.
Sends him halfway across the ring.
[Corey] Clear the tracks!
-Strowman-- -[Cole] Look at Morrison...
Morrison made a tag. He shoved Miz out of the way.
Strowman posted himself with a shoulder,
and now John Morrison, the legal man,
turns his attack off the second rope, caught Strowman.
Strowman struggling again to stay on his feet.
Morrison again off the second rope, and another kick.
This one brings Braun down!
And a running knee...
And the tag made to Miz.
[Corey] Miz now all the way from the top!
Miz and Morrison can taste victory!
[Cole] Miz, top rope, and Strowman's down!
Braun Strowman is down once again in this match,
a perfect opening for Miz and Morrison.
[Corey] Look at the confidence building on the faces of Miz and Morrison.
They realize that The Monster Among Men is wounded.
[Cole] Tag was made. Morrison is now legal.
Skull-crushing finale!
Stopped from behind!
[Corey] Who's it going to be?
[Cole] John Morrison, the legal man,
into the cover now to win the Universal title!
Meanwhile, Miz just pulled his partner off!
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] Because Miz wants to be champion, right?
[inaudible conversation]
Miz realizes he made a mistake now.
Morrison to the cover again...
and it allows Strowman to kick-out with authority,
tossing Morrison out of the ring!
[Corey] That was simply Miz's championship instinct.
He knew the match needed to end and wanted to execute the cover himself.
[Cole] I think it was selfishness, Corey.
Miz just wanted to be Universal Champion
and may have cost the tag team the matchup.
[Corey] You need to stop with such blasphemy!
[Cole] Miz just changed his mind, is that what you're saying?
-[screams] -[Cole] And look at this!
Now the big chokeslam by Strowman,
-Morrison caught. -[crowd exclaiming]
And now The Monster Among Men on his feet said this one is over.
-[Corey] Oh, this could do it. -[Cole] And a powerslam.
-Cover by Strowman. -One, two, three!
-[Cole] Strowman retains. -[bell dinging]
[Braun Strowman's theme music playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner and still
the Universal Champion,
Braun Strowman!
[Cole] What a win tonight by Braun Strowman.
Miz and Morrison threw everything they had at the Universal Champion,
but The Monster stands tall.
[Corey] And unfortunately,
Miz and Morrison had momentum on their side
they kept reverting back to their musical talents and that song.
[indistinct yelling]
[Corey] Which I personally love. I'm gonna download it on Apple Music,
but not during a Universal title match.
[Cole] Here are the closing moments in the match.
A powerful chokeslam by Miz.
And then Braun Strowman, enough is enough!
[Corey] ♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
-Come on, Cole. -[Cole] Miz and Morrison...
♪ Hey, hey, I've gotta go ♪
And Strowman picks up the victory tonight to retain the Universal Championship.
[Corey] ♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
it's a great song, okay, Cole?
I'm sure it will be... it's catchy.
I'll be singing it probably for the next three or four days at least.
[Cole] It'll take Miz and Morrison a couple of days
just to recuperate from this match.
[Corey] I bet you Braun's probably singing it inside
when he gets backstage.
I mean, come on. Try it one more time.
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
Come on. Just try it one more time.
They're right there.
♪ Hey! Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ♪
Can we switch gears and talk about what happened
this past Friday night on SmackDown?
Remember Sami Zayn was the Intercontinental Champion?
Well, he had to relinquish the title 'cause he couldn't compete.
The title was held in advance so we began a month-long tournament
to crown a brand new Intercontinental Champion.
The finals happened this past Friday night on SmackDown,
Daniel Bryan versus AJ Styles.
The closing moments of what I call an instant classic.
[Corey] And many people around the world agreed with you,
a master class and two masters of their craft.
But in the closing moments, AJ able to land the Styles Clash
and deliver a phenomenal forearm after a grueling battle,
becoming the phenomenal Intercontinental Champion.
[Cole] AJ Styles, congratulations.
This past Friday, the WWE Universe witnessed an instant classic in the finals
of the Intercontinental Championship tournament.
So now, please welcome my guest,
the man who proved victorious in the new Intercontinental Champion,
the phenomenal AJ Styles.
AJ, first off, congratulations,
and I understand that you're here at Backlash
to make a special announcement.
You know, the champ could have taken the night off.
And after my performance last week on SmackDown,
I certainly have earned it.
But I have a special invitation for everyone including you, Kayla,
this Friday night on SmackDown.
[inhales sharply] Yeah, I'm probably the greatest champion in WWE history.
Why not have the greatest championship presentation, right?
I mean, I want everybody to be there, including Daniel Bryan.
Why?
'Cause he has the most to learn.
You see, he likes to fight for his dreams.
I make my dreams happen.
I live in the real world, my world.
I'm not saying Daniel Bryan isn't one of the best to lace up the boots.
What I am saying...
he's just not phenomenal.
[scoffs]
Now, I think gentlemen, we all can agree.
We want to give a big congratulations to AJ Styles
in a absolutely hard-fought, amazing match against one Daniel Bryan.
I hope he gets some time to celebrate with his family, you know.
And celebrate with the WWE Universe
who's coming Friday night on SmackDown on Fox.
But the action continues here tonight at Backlash.
On the RAW side, it's time for the WWE Championship showdown
between the indomitable champion, Drew McIntyre,
as he defends his title against his seemingly unstoppable opponent
Bobby Lashley.
With the scheming MVP in his corner,
will Lashley capitalize on his first one-on-one WWE title opportunity
in 13 years.
That anger that I've been seeing out of you, man,
keep that man, stay angry.
That full nelson, dude, that's one of the most impressive things
I've seen in a really long time, man.
But, Lash, let me ask you something, man.
When is Lashley gonna let Lashley out?
[man 1] Considering the motivation that Bobby Lashley's got from MVP,
he looks like he's firing on all cylinders.
[man 2] Right now Bobby Lashley is at his very best.
Listen, I'm not trying to manage anybody, but if Lashley's looking for a way out,
tell him to come find me.
[screams]
[man 1] Since MVP has taken over helping out Bobby Lashley,
he's been much more focused--
You are nothing but a leech.
[MVP] I'm not trying to cause trouble between you and your wife.
I just want you to think.
What would happen if you put that full-nelson
on a WWE champion?
[both grunting]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen...
The future WWE champion,
The All Mighty Lashley.
[man 2] Tonight, McIntyre steps inside the VIP lounge.
Is this a trap that has been set by Lashley and MVP?
Where is he?
No, no, you don't have to worry about an ambush.
We're gonna save that for Backlash.
Remember the last time I invited you to the VIP lounge?
You need me.
[MVP grunts]
[MVP] After finding myself flat on my back,
I had two thoughts.
Drew McIntyre is definitely gonna become WWE champion.
And when Drew McIntyre loses WWE championship,
I will personally play a role in that outcome.
[Drew] All right, Lashley, here's the truth.
You're the biggest threat to this championship.
So, Backlash...
Bring your absolute best.
[man 2] Oh, a Claymore!
You want this?
You're gonna have to pry it from these cold dead hands.
[man 3] The future WWE Champion, Lashley!
[Drew] We're gonna have a damn fight.
And when it's over, Drew McIntyre will still be standing champion.
[Bobby Lashley's theme music playing]
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Championship.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by MVP,
weighing in at 260 pounds,
The All Mighty Bobby Lashley.
[Saxton] There is no doubt MVP has got this man chapped up, Joe.
Bobby Lashley looks like he's ready to tear through McIntyre.
[Joe] What you are looking at in the ring right now
is the best version of Bobby Lashley I have ever seen.
MVP has focused this man beyond belief.
MVP has told Bobby Lashley what he's always known in his heart
and convinced him that tonight he will leave WWE Champion.
[Tom] MVP is referred to Lashley as a once in a generation athlete,
the type of physical specimen
that none of you can even begin to aspire to be.
[Drew McIntyre's theme music playing]
[Tom] The question is, will Lashley be too much for McIntyre tonight?
[announcer] And his opponent from Ayr, Scotland,
weighing in at 265 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
Drew McIntyre!
[Saxton] Well, Bobby Lashley may be threatening,
Bobby Lashley may be angry,
Bobby Lashley may be the best version of himself,
but that is exactly what the WWE champion Drew McIntyre wanted.
[Tom] Joe, how about the juxtaposition,
Bobby Lashley coming out here looking like he's frothing at the mouth?
[Saxton] Look at the calmness in the eyes of Drew McIntyre
as the champion makes his way to the ring.
[Joe] And he should be calm, he should have poise,
because he has been a dominant and fighting champion.
Unfortunately tonight, the man that he faces in the ring,
this Bobby Lashley, could potentially be the man
who tears that crown away from him.
Drew McIntyre, the man who felled The Beast at WrestleMania,
then put down The Giant, The Big Show,
the very same night in defense of his newly won title,
and then defended it successfully against Seth Rollins
at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
Drew McIntyre has been a fantastic representative
of the WWE Championship thus far.
Hey, what are you doing?
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Wait a minute.
Before this match has even begun!
[Joe] That's locked in.
[Tom] Lashley is going for the full nelson.
[Joe] That's locked in.
[Tom] The full nelson on McIntyre, which McIntyre's from the past?
[Joe] Has this match started yet?
[Tom] The official trying to signal for help.
The match has not begun.
MVP distracting McIntyre,
that gave Lashley an opening to get the full nelson--
[Joe] Oh, he's got the hooks in. He's got the hooks in.
[Tom] And got bodyscissors.
[Joe] You're gonna need a lot more men to pry him off.
[Tom] Three reps now on the ring trying to get Lashley off.
[Saxton] Get more refs out here, come on.
[Tom] And finally Lashley relents.
[Joe] He released that hold...
[breathing heavily]
-[crowd booing] -[Tom] Look at Lashley.
Animalistic in his approach tonight.
[Joe] Look at the champion.
[Saxton] That was dirty,
that was playing dirty by Bobby Lashley and MVP.
They jumped Drew McIntyre before the match even stars.
[Joe] Gentlemen, this is the MVP effect.
This is the intangibles that MVP puts out there.
These are the strategies that make him valuable,
and this is why Bobby Lashley is as dangerous as he is tonight.
[Tom] Come on, Joe, wouldn't Bobby Lashley wanna beat Drew McIntyre at 100%?
[Joe] No. Bobby Lashley is focused on one thing and one thing only,
and it's capturing the WWE Championship by any means necessary.
[Saxton] Maybe it's not a smart decision for Drew McIntyre
-to compete tonight after that ambush. -[bell dinging]
[Tom] McIntyre's told the official he wants to go.
-This match is underway for the WWE title. -[both grunting]
[Joe] You have to understand, Byron, that MVP expects this.
He knew McIntyre would not duck out of this fight,
even if he was hurt.
[Tom] And now look at McIntyre, Joe.
McIntyre looks like he's just trying to get back up to his feet.
What can the effects of the full nelson do to a superstar who's just come to?
[Joe] It's debilitating.
I mean, all that pain going on the spine, resonating through the arms.
You do not want to start official competition like this.
[Tom] Tossing the 260-pounder and a kick-out at one for the title!
[Joe] Drew McIntyre is in absolute trouble right now,
I cannot stress that enough.
To be locked into that full nelson for as long as he was,
to be put to the ground...
Drew McIntyre is in the worst shape he's ever been in his entire career,
I can guarantee you that.
[Tom] There is the wife of Bobby Lashley, Lana, looking on backstage.
She has tried so much to get involved in Lashley's business.
MVP has tried to keep Lana away from Lashley.
[Saxton] It says a lot about how Bobby Lashley thought
he would fare in this match
because he did have to go after Drew McIntyre
before the match started,
just to give himself a little extra advantage.
-[Tom] Oh! -[screams]
[Joe] And Bobby Lashley just pummeling the champion!
-[Tom] Lashley on the move... -[all exclaiming]
...and a knee right to the midsection.
McIntyre's not even had a chance to get his jacket off.
And now these chops from the champ.
[Saxton] McIntyre's had no choice!
[Joe] Oh, man! Which way did he go?
[Tom] Leveled by Lashley, trying to silence the WWE Universe.
Cover and a kick-out at one!
-[Joe] And how can they not be off-- -[Tom] Another cover.
[Joe] ...onslaught by Lashley right now.
[Tom] You ever had an itch you couldn't scratch?
That's exactly why Bobby Lashley is so intense tonight.
Thirteen years since his last one-on-one WWE title opportunity.
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre's jacket is off now,
thanks to Bobby Lashley,
who has not let up on the WWE champion.
[Tom] So if you're McIntyre, how do you get your wits about you
against this type of barrage?
[Joe] Well, first off,
Drew McIntyre needs to establish some form of coherency
because he's been beaten senseless out there by Bobby Lashley.
And after that, he needs to find an opening.
He needs to start raising Lashley,
push him in the corner, crowd him, and finding a way to counter.
[Tom] Now Drew McIntyre standing switch,
trying to reverse things here on Bobby Lashley.
-Two absolute powerhouses! -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] And a bridge off the Northern Lights suplex.
How many 265-pounders can do that?
[Joe] Oh, and right back on that neck.
[Tom] Caught in the neckbreaker!
Now Lashley to win the title--
[Saxton] Kick out at one again!
[Joe] Here's the problem with that Northern Lights suplex,
it just did so much pressure on the neck when trying to complete that bridge,
and I guarantee you it hurt him much more than it hurt Lashley.
[Saxton] That was the one piece of offense that the WWE champion
has had this entire match so far.
[Joe] Things are not looking well for Drew McIntyre.
-[crowd booing] -Don't let up.
He's yours whenever you're ready.
[Saxton] So far, the plan for Bobby Lashley and MVP
has worked to a tee.
[groaning]
[Joe] I mean, this... this is the perfect strategy by MVP.
He's playing on the weaknesses of his opponent.
He knows Drew McIntyre is brave,
he knows what he can do, and now he's taunting him.
-[Drew coughing] -How you feeling, champ?
-Feel like a loser yet? -It's coming.
Knock it off.
-[Drew groaning] -[referee] One, two,
-three, four-- -[MVP] How you feeling?
[Joe] Do you see what's going on right here?
This is why he is far more valuable in that corner than Lana right now.
These are the little things that MVP does that set his clients apart,
that sets his men apart.
He goes out there, and he makes sure that his team wins.
[Tom] Look at the effortless power.
Bobby Lashley tossed McIntyre up on his shoulder.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] And now, McIntyre retorts--
Lashley, hard to the outside.
Remember, champion's advantage to McIntyre tonight,
the title cannot change hands via count-out or disqualification.
The decision has to happen in the ring if Lashley wants to become champion.
[Joe] And McIntyre desperately needs to get the momentum going his way.
[Saxton] I think he's working on that, Joe. Drew McIntyre...
-Don't let him do you like that. -[Joe] Whoa, whoa, yeah.
[breathing heavily]
Four!
[Tom] MVP getting a little too close there.
[referee] Five!
[Tom] Oh, and now Lashley...
Lashley hoisting up the champion, and down went McIntyre!
That's it. You got him. You got him!
[Drew groaning]
Get up!
-One, two-- -Let's go back in the ring, guys.
[Saxton] Bobby Lashley almost threw Drew McIntyre on his head.
[Tom] Uh-oh.
-[Tom] He's gonna do it again. -[Joe] Gonna finish the job!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Into the post!
-[Joe chuckling] -[Saxton] Hi-five.
[Joe] And they love it when a plan comes together!
[Saxton] Of course!
[Tom] Have you ever seen Lashley look this confident?
This is amazing.
[Joe] Absolutely not. What I see in front of me is a champion.
[Saxton] But remember, Bobby Lashley's got to get the champion in the ring.
OK, it's a stupid strategy if you don't.
[Tom] Champion's advantage, of course, to McIntyre,
who now rolls underneath the rope.
This is smart by McIntyre,
who's been assaulted throughout this matchup by a bulldozer,
rolling outside the ring to buy himself some time. He's smart.
[Joe] But you got a piranha circling that ringside.
How smart is this?
[Tom] This has got to be one of the most physical--
-Wait a minute! -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Oh, my God! And Lashley into the edge of the barricade.
[Saxton] McIntyre used Bobby Lashley's momentum against him.
[Tom] And, Joe, you feel like McIntyre.
Right now, he's just reacting like he did here in this moment.
[Saxton] McIntyre is in survival mode right now.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Oh, my God.
Five!
[Tom] A titanic clash for the WWE title here at Backlash!
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre has been in survivor mode
ever since this match started and before it started.
But McIntyre now is doing whatever he can to get back into this.
-[all exclaiming] -[Saxton] Wow.
Muscling up the frame of Bobby Lashley,
[crowd chanting]
[Joe] McIntyre tried to build momentum, but see Bobby Lashley once again-- Whoa!
-[Saxton] Kick right to the midsection! -[Joe] Maybe not.
[Tom] And now McIntyre and Lashley, middle of the ring,
exchanging blows.
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] It's thundered in the Highlands!
My God, the thud behind these chops from the WWE champion!
-[both grunting] -[Drew screams]
[Tom] Now, McIntyre out of the corner.
And the first opportunity, really,
for McIntyre to build any momentum in this match.
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre now quickly ascending up to the top rope.
Bobby Lashley's rocked!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] And right across the chest!
Down went Lashley.
Some valuable time for the champion to recover.
[Joe] Oh, this is key time for him right now, Tom.
Drew McIntyre needs to get his wits about him
and get back on top of...
[Saxton] The thing about Bobby Lashley... as good as he is on offense,
he's really good on defense as well.
He's able to hang in there.
But what does Drew McIntyre have in mind here?
[Joe] We're about to find out.
[crowd chanting] Go, go, go, go, go!
[Tom] And now the champion has gotten Lashley up on his shoulders.
The challenger able to find his way free!
Oh, spinebuster on Lashley!
Into the cover by the champion. Kick out at two!
Get off your back! There you go.
[Joe] MVP desperately trying to rally the troops.
[Drew groans]
Find your feet! Find your feet!
[Tom] Valuable information here from MVP,
trying to help Bobby Lashley
continue on in this fight into the deep water
of this championship battle.
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre has done his best to even the playing field,
-and it's just-- -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Spinebuster in return from Lashley!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Out at one.
[Tom] Wow.
And Byron, this has become common from the WWE champion,
but it's still astounding.
[Saxton] Absolutely, at this stage of the matchup!
Look at the power, the domination of Bobby Lashley!
Almost driving McIntyre through the ring,
and yet McIntyre on the count of one, popping up on the shoulder.
[Joe] And left shoulder into the post!
And now Lashley trying to follow up.
-[Saxton] Ooh, he got him! -[Joe] Champion...
-[Saxton] He got him! -[Joe] ...to win the WW--
[Tom] No! Kick out at one!
MVP can't believe it.
[Saxton] How demoralizing has that got to be for Bobby Lashley?
You got him. Give him something he can't kick-out of.
That's it. You can't kick-out of that.
[Joe] MVP calling the shots.
[Tom] MVP signaling for Lashley to attempt the full nelson.
If Lashley gets McIntyre's back, he can cinch him in and it's over.
[Joe] It's over!
[Saxton] Well, McIntyre has no idea what's coming.
-[Tom] And McIntyre-- -[Saxton] McIntyre--
[Joe] And he's almost... almost...
-[Tom] Nearly caught, but Lashley... -[Saxton] He's fighting it!
[Tom] Lashley trying to reach around so he can get--
[Saxton] Can he cinch those fingers?
[Joe] Can he get his grip around the neck of McIntyre?
[Saxton] He's so close. He's so, so close.
[Joe] He's searching for that grip,
doing anything he can to get behind that neck.
[Tom] But they struggle, center of the ring now, into the corner.
McIntyre trying to use a... and Lashley wasn't able to cinch it in.
McIntyre resisting.
[Saxton] McIntyre dodged one there, but Bobby Lashley can--
[Joe] Softening up the area.
Come on down.
[Tom] Oh, Lashley is in a precarious spot there in the corner.
[Joe] Oh, this isn't good at all. No, no, no, no! Uh-oh.
[Tom] Lashley trying to hold onto the ropes.
[Joe] This could be bad.
[Saxton] McIntyre trying to muscle Bobby Lashley
out to the center of the ring.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Face first, the reverse Alabama Slam!
Can McIntyre close out Lashley to retain the title?
[Joe] Oh, no, no.
I'm telling you, gentlemen, Lashley will not be denied tonight.
[Saxton] But what about the response we've seen from Drew McIntyre
after getting ambushed to start this whole thing?
Drew McIntyre has given himself more than a chance.
[Joe] I agree with you on that, but like you said,
he was ambushed before this.
He's on his last legs.
Trust me, Bobby Lashley is getting ready to fulfill his destiny.
[Tom] All right, sending McIntyre to the outside along the apron.
Caught on that top rope, right to the throat!
McIntyre trying to continue on, trying to follow off the top--
[all exclaiming]
-[Joe] Look at that armbar. -[Tom] And caught...
Caught by Lashley,
Lashley into the cross face,
[Saxton] And the positioning is perfect for Bobby Lashley.
[Joe] And he's working on that same neck and shoulder
that he got with the full nelson earlier in the evening.
Bobby Lashley is absolutely cranking on that neck,
and Drew McIntyre doing everything he can to power out of this.
[Tom] Lashley going to a submission game on the canvas here in this matchup.
McIntyre back up to his feet--
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] Oh, my gosh,
-[Tom] You've got to be kidding me! -[Joe] No way!
[all exclaiming]
[Joe] Nice counter by Lashley!
[Tom] Lashley into an anklelock!
[Joe] Oh, he's got it so deep,
and he's got him in the middle of the ring!
[Tom] And Lashley with the anklelock here on Drew McIntyre.
Is McIntyre gonna tap?
[Saxton] McIntyre trying to hold on, do whatever he can,
and he does break it!
[Tom] Lashley sent off into the corner.
[Saxton] Thought about a Spear, thought about a Spear...
[Joe] But he got him in the corner! He's switching it to the armlock!
And he's got his legs locked up. Oh, this is bad for Lashley.
This is very bad for Lashley.
[Saxton] How resourceful by the WWE champion.
Now it's Bobby Lashley who could tap out.
[Tom] And Lashley... Lashley reaches out for the bottom rope
and, Joe, a submission game we rarely see from McIntyre.
[Joe] Rarely seen, but for extraordinary circumstances,
you must take extraordinary measures,
and Drew McIntyre did right there.
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre wanted the best version of Bobby Lashley,
well, Bobby Lashley is seeing the best version of the WWE Champion.
Come on, man. Let's go.
[Tom] And McIntyre, the pain in his left shoulder,
trying to continue in this battle to retain his WWE title.
And now McIntyre going to the top turnbuckle.
[Joe] Both men.
[Tom] This could be hazardous for Bobby Lashley.
Lashley now on the top turnbuckle.
[Saxton] Drew McIntyre just wailing away now,
all the way to the top.
Perhaps thinking superplex.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] And McIntyre pulled it off!
McIntyre with a superplex!
[Joe] But, Tom, you gotta ask yourself,
how much damage did Drew McIntyre do to his own neck in that?
Now roll to your side, roll to your side. That's it.
[Saxton] Watch the impact of both Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley
from the top...
[Tom] Oh, crashing down to the mat.
[Joe] And pay attention to McIntyre.
[Tom] McIntyre just kept up again in this matchup,
even after a superplex.
-That's pretty amazing. -[MVP] ...the VIP reservation.
[Tom] He does not realize how badly he's hurt out there right now.
-[crowd] Three, two, one. -[Tom] Time for a countdown!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] But a spear on the other end of it!
-Cover by Lashley. -[Joe] This could be it!
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] A kick-out by the champion!
[Tom] One of the best shots that Lashley can muster. MVP style.
It's okay.
[Saxton] W-W-Wait a second!
[Tom] Here comes Lana.
[Saxton] I thought Lana was supposed to remain backstage!
[Joe] Well, not now...
[Saxton] What the...
What are you doing?
-[Joe] Not the best time. -You cheated.
-Hey, you should go! -You cheated. You cheated. I can't.
-You need to go! -Seriously.
[Tom] Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
You need to go!
[all exclaiming]
[Saxton] Oh, man, and Lana went down on the incidental contact.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] A Claymore by McIntyre!
-[Saxton] Cover! -[Saxton] All the chaos at ringside.
-[Joe] And he got him. -[bell dinging]
[Tom] McIntyre puts down Lashley!
[announcer] Here's your winner and still the WWE champion,
-Drew McIntyre! -[Drew McIntyre's theme music playing]
[Joe] And MVP is realizing what just happened.
Thirteen years of hard work for Lashley is gone in the blink of an eye.
[Saxton] Thirteen years just imploded for Bobby Lashley.
Claymore!
And Drew McIntyre is still your WWE champion!
[Tom] All of MVP's strategizing comes to nothing.
[Saxton] Yeah, I still don't understand why Lana chose to come out here
at the point that she did.
[Joe] If I had to make a wager, gentlemen,
I think things will be a little bit contentious
at the Lashley household tonight.
[Saxton] Listen, Bobby Lashley...
Listen, Bobby Lashley did not expect this outcome by any means.
[Tom] We cannot underscore the Herculean effort
of the WWE champion,
however, in this match, but this was critical.
Here, Lashley, took out Lana by accident!
And then this head-butt, definitely incidental contact,
Lana spilling to the outside and takes down MVP.
[Saxton] But then, it was just that one moment, that one moment,
that would allow Drew McIntyre to Claymore Bobby Lashley
and Claymore his way to WWE Championship retention.
One, two, three!
[Tom] The single most devastating move in all of WWE, the Claymore,
gets the job done again for McIntyre tonight.
[Joe] You can say it was well-earned, and it was hard-fought,
-but it was far more than that. -I told him...
I told him to bring the real Lashley, and he brought all his baggage.
I will be the champion for a very long time.
Thank you, everybody. Mwah!
[Tom] What a fight tonight at Backlash.
Bobby Lashley goes down to the WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre.
[crowd cheering]
This is gonna be one hell of a ride.
[crowd cheering]
[man 1] I think bigger, I think better.
[man 2] You're gonna make a little history.
[man 3] You got that right. I've never seen anything like this.
[Bayley] What a time to be alive.
[Undertaker] That's the driving force to prove to the world,
who I am, and what I did.
[Edge] This truly still feels like some kind of crazy dream.
You have so much content that you could connect with.
I can feel there's magic in the air.
[all cheering]
-I can feel the adventure. -Yeah, this is legit.
[Sting] I'm sitting on the edge of my seat,
white-knuckled the whole time.
-It's part of being an attraction. -I love it.
[man 4] The next generation has arrived.
-[crowd] NXT! -[man 4] This is our kingdom.
[crowd cheering]
[man 5] It's been the wildest ride ever.
Everything has led up to this point.
[man 6] We'll see where we go after this.
Well, we saw a tremendous, outstanding match
for the WWE Championship,
and congratulations, Drew McIntyre, on a hard-fought victory.
Yeah, what a fight.
We are on our way to another championship match here
in a matter of moments.
And the rivalry known as Anything You Can Do, We Can Do Better.
The RAW Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits,
are ready to defend against The Viking Raiders.
Now, these are two teams that couldn't be any more...
We're... I'm sorry, we're...
We're getting word right now there's a commotion in the parking lot.
It's The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders.
[both grunting]
[Tom] Just having a RAW Tag Team title match!
-[car alarm blaring] -[Tom] Oh, my God!
Theo!
That's Braun Strowman's car.
-What? -[Tom] That's Braun Strowman's car.
-Let's go! Let's go! -Go, go, go, go!
Open the door!
We got to go. We got to go.
[Tom] Yeah, y'all better run.
Uh-oh.
[all clamoring]
[all grunting]
[indistinct shouting]
[indistinct conversation]
There's a tiger in the woods, boys!
[both laughing]
[both growling]
[grunting]
[both] No!
-I ain't playing no more, man. -We got this.
Let's go. Let's go.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
[both grunting]
[both yelling]
This has gone crazy!
Golf clubs, shields, axes. A bowling ball?
That was out of hand.
You know what? Let's put these down. Let's fight like men.
-Okay? Same time. -Oh, yeah. Same time.
-Same time. -Same time.
-[Montez] Eye contact, eye contact. -[Angelo] There you go.
-[Montez] There you go. -[Angelo] There we go.
-[Montez] Oh, yes, nice. -[Angelo] There we go.
-[Montez] Civilized, right? -[Angelo] There we go.
-Get it out the way. -There we go.
-There you go. -There we go.
Yeah, there you go. We're civilized.
Yeah, you don't need that.
-You don't need that. -See?
-See, right? -Yeah.
But, guys, one question, though.
What did the five fingers say to the face?
-Oh, I know. -What'd they say?
[all grunting]
[yelling]
Yeah!
Oh!
[upbeat music playing]
[Viking Raiders laughing]
-[pins falling] -[gasps, cries]
Strike! [laughs triumphantly]
[groaning]
Sorry, fam.
Erik!
Erik, are you okay?
You okay? What happened? What happened?
[both groaning]
[whimsical music playing]
[both grunting]
Why is there no ball?
[both grunt]
[gasps]
[giggling]
-What? -[laughing]
How?
[both continue groaning]
Anything you can do...
We can do better.
[all groaning]
Come on, hold this together.
Man, why'd you put me through a window?
Man, why'd you pull out a bowling ball.
'Cause you grabbed golf clubs.
Man this escalated so quickly.
[grumbling]
Let's take this outside!
We already outside.
We outside, fam. What you doing?
Go, get your boy, man!
We're gonna finish this!
-We're gonna finish this! -Oh, yeah.
[both grumbling]
-[groaning] -Reach down. Deep inside.
Round two...
[vehicles approaching]
[engines revving]
[speaking in Japanese]
Fam, those are ninjas
Ninjas on bikes.
You know what we gotta do, guys.
It's time, fam.
We gotta do this...
together!
[sweeping music playing]
[laughs manically]
[Viking Prophets laughing]
You know what time it is, boys?
You know you done messed up, right?
-We live our four ways. -You know you done messed up, right?
-Four ways! -Yeah!
We want the smoke!
[grunting]
Ah!
[all grunting]
Come on, dog. Let's go.
[both] Ah!
Easy money!
[laughing gleefully]
[yelling triumphantly]
-Oh! -Oh, watch out!
[both laughing]
[indistinct chatter]
What's up? Go ahead. Call them up. Call them up!
[all chuckling]
Yeah.
[all] Yeah!
[triumphant music playing]
[speaking in Japanese]
[sinister music playing]
[growls]
-I got this one, guys. -No, you don't!
No, you don't! No, you don't!
[all clamoring]
Hey, hey, hey! Come on, come on!
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
[panting]
If you wouldn't be so obsessed with turkey legs,
-you would have been there already. -Right, right.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, boys, he's only tired because he beat up all the ninjas.
[both] Him!
-No, we beat the ninjas, dog. -We. We.
-We did. -Come on, dog.
-We beat up the ninjas. -No, no--
-No, no, no, no, no, stop. -What?
Ivar, what did the five fingers say to the face?
[all grunting]
Smoke season!
Dogs!
Oh, my gosh, this is going crazy.
We're supposed to be the Viking Prophets.
We're fighting everything.
That's it. [screaming]
Air Ivar!
-[objects clatter] -[Montez screams]
[all groaning]
My back. My back.
You threw me off a truck.
[Montez] Your brother pushed me off.
[mumbling]
You threw me off a truck.
[Angelo] No, man, you started it.
-[whimsical music playing] -You're cute.
You're cute.
-You're cute. -[man] Aww!
-You are cute. -[bell dings]
You?
Not so much.
But you?
Not so much.
-Not so much. -[men] Oh!
[Montez] ♪ She wants Ivar and not Erik ♪
[all continue groaning]
What are you guys doing? Your match is next!
Ivar, you're cute.
You?
Not so much.
♪ She wants Ivar and not Erik ♪
♪ She wants the smoke, ooh! ♪
[distant roaring]
-You guys hear that? -You hear that?
-What was that? -What is it?
[all clamoring]
There's something in the thrash.
It's alive!
-[all screaming] -[creature roaring]
["Energy" playing]
♪ I'm on a different level Like my energy ♪
♪ Energy ♪
♪ I'm on a different level Like my energy ♪
Due to the events surrounding The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders,
the RAW Tag Team Championship match will,
in fact, not be happening here tonight.
I imagine so. Ninjas really ruined tonight.
[chuckling] Well, we did start off our night
with a championship match.
That was on the Backlash Kickoff Show.
I want to take you back and show you what happened.
The United States Championship was on the line.
Apollo Crews defending against Andrade.
And right here, it looked like Crews had Andrade.
Garza tried to get involved,
but Kevin Owens came off commentary and stunned Garza.
Kevin Owens was there to make sure Angel Garza didn't get involved.
He did his job, and well, Apollo Crews would do his.
[Tom] Apollo Crews, back inside the ring, able to take out his rival Andrade
and retain his United States Championship.
Some camaraderie shown between Crews and Owens tonight at Backlash.
[announcer] ...the United States Champion.
Well, it wouldn't be fair to the competitors in this next match
if it wasn't performed in front of thousands of people.
Yes, therefore, Edge vs. Randy Orton
will be an event unlike anything you have ever seen before.
WWE is going to enhance your viewing experience
using a variety of production techniques,
including unique camera angles and amplified audio.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to what we believe
will be the greatest wrestling match ever.
[Orton] We enter this ring so that one day we can perform at WrestleMania.
And at WrestleMania, Edge and I, we tore each other apart.
In our Last Man Standing match,
and although it pains me to say this,
on that night...
Edge was the better man.
Now, I know deep inside my gut, without a shadow of doubt,
that Edge is not the superior wrestler.
I am.
If you've got the guts,
then at Backlash,
it'll be Edge vs. Orton
in a straight-up wrestling match.
[Edge] You are quite possibly the most talented person
I've ever seen in wrestling.
If this isn't the life you wanted,
this is the life you were handed.
You don't care.
Are you kidding me? Cut it out. Are you done?
Are you going to accept my challenge or what?
Stop it. Shut your mouth.
Yes! Yes, I accept your damn challenge.
[Tom] We will see Edge vs. Orton.
It's a match that many legends are saying could be...
-The greatest... -Greatest...
Wrestling match ever...
-Ever. -Ever.
["The Greatest Show" playing]
♪ Ladies and gents This is the moment you've waited for ♪
What once was grit and passion...
♪ You've been searchin' in the dark Sweat soakin' through the floor ♪
...there's now doubt and fear.
♪ And buried in your bones There's an ache that you can't ignore ♪
♪ Takin' your breath, stealin' your mind ♪
I haven't had a straight-up wrestling match,
no bells and whistles, for nine and a half years.
♪ Don't fight it, it's comin' for you Runnin' at ya ♪
[Orton] This Edge has self-doubt
because he's about to face a guy in Randy Orton at Backlash
who has been here for those nine and a half years
and is firing on every cylinder.
♪ It's fire, it's freedom It's floodin' open ♪
But at Backlash,
I am going to dig to the very depths of my soul to try.
♪ So tell me do you wanna go ♪
♪ Where it's covered In all the colored lights ♪
♪ Where the runaways are runnin' the night
♪ Impossible comes true It's takin' over you ♪
♪ This is the greatest show ♪
You are going to try,
and I think that is absolutely pathetic.
I am going to embarrass you.
I am going to humiliate you
until you are a broken man.
The redemption of Edge is over.
[man] The grit and passion of Edge
versus the natural ability of Randy Orton.
When it's all said and done,
it could very well be the greatest wrestling match ever.
♪ This is the greatest show ♪
[Orton's theme song playing]
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Tom] The expectations to hide the anticipation,
it couldn't be any higher.
Randy Orton vs. Edge at Backlash.
And, Byron, look, as Orton marches towards the ring.
[Saxton] This is the scene that Randy Orton wanted.
This is the gamble Randy Orton was willing to take,
that his opponent, The Rated-R Superstar Edge,
could not hang with him in a one-on-one pure wrestling match.
[Joe] And, Tom, when the ring announcer announces
Randy Orton's hometown,
it better be inside Edge's head.
Because that's exactly where this man has been living
week after week,
making him doubt himself and making him unprepared for this contest tonight.
[Tom] To that point, many of the WWE Universe questioning
if Randy Orton has won this match before it's even begun.
Has he thrown the Hall of Famer Edge off his game that badly?
We are about to find out.
The Viper looks poised and ready for this opportunity.
[crowd booing]
♪ You think you know me ♪
[Edge's theme song playing]
[Tom] Nine years of questions...
center around the brain of Edge.
Lots of self-doubt that has been sown by Randy Orton.
Joe, how does Edge put that all aside
and compete here tonight?
[Joe] As you said, Tom, it's about questions--
Questions that were asked by Randy Orton,
questions that were asked by his best friend, Christian,
questions that Edge has asked himself,
if he still has the ability to go in there
and put on the greatest wrestling match ever.
[Saxton] And you bring up a good point, Joe,
I could bring up a point about those words of Edge's best friend,
Christian, from this past Monday night.
Christian looked Edge in the eye and said,
"I want to see that belief in your eyes,
the confidence in your eyes
that you can defeat The Viper, Randy Orton.
[Tom] The moment has come,
is Edge ready for this historic opportunity against The Viper?
["The Greatest Show" playing]
♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ Ladies and gents This is the moment you've waited for ♪
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing 240 pounds,
Randy Orton!
[crowd booing]
From Toronto, Canada,
weighing 240 pounds,
Edge!
[crowd cheering]
[referee] Come on in, guys.
Gentlemen, as you know,
this match can be won by pinfall, submission, count-out,
or disqualification.
There will be no hair pulling,
no eye gouging, no choking,
and no low blows.
Shake if you wish, and come out wrestling.
[bell dinging]
[Tom] The moment has arrived: Randy Orton vs. Edge at Backlash.
This is the greatest wrestling match ever.
[Joe] Here we go.
[Tom] And you can feel the intensity from the opening bell.
[Saxton] It is going to be a serious gut-check time,
not only for Edge but also for Randy Orton.
[Tom] Joe, if you're Edge, you haven't competed
in a conventional one-on-one wrestling match
in nine and a half years.
How does Edge lead into this match?
[Joe] Well, first off, Tom, you feel this is the greatest match ever.
That remains to be seen,
but let me explain to you what Edge needs to do in there right now.
He needs to get control of Randy Orton.
He can't let Randy Orton play these games,
taunt him,
and get in his head like he has these past few weeks.
[Tom] You see the smile all over the face of Orton,
and Byron, you've got to believe Orton feels very confident.
He's already beaten Edge mentally before the bell even sounded tonight.
[Saxton] You brought up the long layoff for Edge.
Randy Orton has been consistent.
He has been competing consistently here in WWE.
That's the advantage he knows he holds over Edge.
You know, gentlemen, a wrestling match is totally unlike
the match that Edge had at WrestleMania.
In those types of matches, you know, so much fun to play--
So many intangibles: chairs, ladders, all this stuff.
This is about pure athletic skill and ability.
[Tom] Picking up the pace here.
Now, look at these arm drags here for Orton.
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] And one too many.
One too many, boys.
[Tom] Randy Orton, one step ahead.
Take another look at a couple of deep arm drags by Edge,
but The Viper is so sly.
So wise. Uh-uh.
[Joe] Randy is always one step ahead, Byron.
[Tom] Joe, how much must Edge be second-guessing himself.
[Joe] This start is not helping him whatsoever.
I mean, right now, Edge has to wonder what he has gotten himself into.
[both grunting]
[Saxton] I-I disagree.
Edge cannot think that way.
Edge has got to be in the moment this entire matchup.
[Tom] Oh, and now taking Randy Orton down to the canvas.
Joe, if you're Edge, you're going back to your bread and butter, so to speak.
-What's the strategy? -[Tom] No time to doubt. A cover.
There's no time to doubt yourself right now if you're Edge.
You're in it. You're in the deep water, you've got to go.
[Joe] That's easy to say from your commentary position here at ringside.
Right now, he's got a huge man trying to absolutely beat him unconscious
in that ring, Byron.
[Joe] And Edge has set it up for over 3,000 days.
Randy Orton's been competing all the while
as Edge was recovering from two neck surgeries.
[Tom] And now you can see, Joe, this is very wise by Orton,
the scissors around the neck.
[Saxton] And look at the thighs on Orton.
I mean, just a vice-like grip around that neck.
[Tom] A triple fusion neck surgery shortly after Edge announced his retirement.
[Saxton] And Randy Orton toying with Edge's arms,
not letting them break.
[Tom] The second surgery was necessary within recent years
for Edge to even think about coming back to compete.
[Saxton] And watch what Randy's doing there.
Okay, he's making Edge kick-out and use that neck in ways
that he shouldn't be using it this early in the match.
[Tom] Once again, Randy Orton, one step quicker than Edge.
[Joe] And look at the doubt. Look at the doubt, gentlemen.
[Tom] Randy Orton sees it clear as day,
and now Edge has to gather himself.
[Joe] And look, Orton can smell it. He can smell the fear.
He can smell the doubt.
He knows where he has his opponent right now.
[Tom] Edge trying to get his head back in the game here.
[Saxton] Yeah, welcome to the Animal Kingdom, boys.
It's survival of the fittest,
and The Viper's looking like an apex predator right now.
[Tom] Now Edge is trying to slow down the momentum
that Randy Orton has built early on here in this matchup.
Now it's Edge on the move here against The Viper.
And look at Edge go.
Oh, flipped up by Orton. Edge goes outside of the ring.
[Joe] Again, Randy Orton has Edge's number.
-[Saxton] And Joe, you were talk-- -[Joe] That was embarrassing.
Okay, that was straight-up embarrassing.
[Tom] And now Edge is contemplating his next move.
Randy Orton saying,
"Hey, listen, you said you're going to try coming into this matchup."
Orton wants Edge to do more than try.
[Joe] I mean, he's using day-one schoolboy
clown-him around tactics on him, gentlemen.
[Tom] And Joe, something you talk about again, the rules,
the plethora of rules here in this matchup.
There is a count-out that is applied to Edge
just until the count of ten to get back inside the ring.
[Joe] Oh, this is an athletic competition, make no doubt about it, gentlemen.
Randy Orton is here to prove that he is a superior athlete.
[Tom] It's one of the reasons why Randy Orton asked
for this traditional one-on-one wrestling match.
[Saxton] And Joe, just like you said earlier on,
this is not like the match that these two had at WrestleMania,
which was a Last Man Standing Match.
This is straight-up. It's wrestling.
It's skill set in the middle of the ring.
[Joe] You say that weapons make us all equal,
but it's a man-on-man when we figure out who's the real king of the jungle, boys.
-[both grunt] -[Tom] Right to the midsection by Orton.
[Joe chuckling]
[Tom] Oh, now look at Edge.
[Joe] Oh, there's no escaping Orton, though.
Edge underneath the bottom rope, tries to slide back in,
-trying to catch Orton. -[all exclaiming]
[Saxton] And Edge baited The Viper.
[Tom] This time it was Edge who'd outsmart Randy Orton.
[Joe] Shades of The Master Manipulator at work.
[Tom] Take another look at this.
Edge showing off that he's still got
the athletic ability all these years later.
Well, back inside the ring,
and The Ultimate Opportunist found his window and took advantage.
[Joe] Impressive pinpoint accuracy.
[Saxton] That might be exactly what Edge needed.
Mentally and physically.
[Joe] Edge sends Orton back inside the ring.
Hook to the leg here on Orton, and a kick-out.
[Saxton] And now this is Edge's opportunity.
This is the first bit of sunshine that he's seen
in this very, very rainy cloud of a match.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Another shot to the midsection.
Orton has gone after the ribs of Edge multiple times here.
And now back to the neck.
[Saxton] And that uppercut is devastating.
[panting]
[Saxton] I mean, it starts at the chin,
but it blasts all the way through the back of that skull right into that neck.
[groaning]
[Saxton] Look at that discomfort, gentlemen.
[Tom] Now sending Edge for a ride.
Edge able to slide underneath.
Orton trying to keep pace with the Hall of Famer.
-And now Edge, look at this. -[Joe] Watch out!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Caught him with another arm drag
and going after the shoulder.
[Joe] Oh, and hey! And going deep. One for that overhead hammerlock.
[Tom] And this is smart by Edge.
We talked about, obviously, the history of neck problems for Edge.
How about the history of shoulder problems Randy Orton's had?
[Saxton] That's a very great point, Tom.
In fact, it was over a decade ago that Randy Orton
suffered a separated shoulder in a match with Edge.
[Tom] Yeah, Over the Limit back in 2010.
Edge knows that very, very well.
In fact, Randy Orton's had damage to both shoulders
throughout his career here in WWE.
[Joe] And Edge smartly staying on that wing.
[Tom] How about familiarity?
Two superstars have known each other for nearly 20 years.
Very familiar with their in-ring repertoire.
[Joe] Look at the power from Orton.
Oh, no, no, no, no!
[Tom] Oh, and again, back to the arm.
There's the slightest little torque there.
You know, it makes you wonder
how much that shoulder is actually bothering Randy Orton right now.
[Tom] And this is great, too, Joe, for Edge
because it allows Edge to conserve energy while continuing to punish Randy Orton.
[Joe] This is a much-needed reprieve for Edge, yes.
But I mean, he's got to capitalize on this.
You can't stay here grinding away on this arm.
He has to put some action into work.
[Tom] Edge's done a great job of slowing down the pace here
up against Randy Orton, but now Orton is trying to take over.
[Saxton] Dropping to center... Watch Edge looking for that counter.
Working on the fingers.
One step at a time for Edge tonight at Backlash.
[Joe] Golden rule: Big joints on little joints.
Big joints always win. Edge is powering his way out.
[Saxton] Slowly but surely Edge does.
[Tom] Oh, and again, brings Randy Orton down to the canvas.
[Saxton] And Edge going back to that scarf headlock.
I mean, really looking to get Randy carrying his weight.
[Tom] And Joe, that exchange of product of the hard work that Edge put in
to get himself in shape heading up to the Royal Rumble event.
[Saxton] Oh, absolutely.
And it's absolutely carried over to this match.
I hope that he can hold up this pace.
[Tom] Edge said he's placed his heart, he's placed his soul
into preparing for this matchup here tonight against Randy Orton.
[grunts]
[Tom] A shot again to the ribs. Orton continues to go back to that area,
kind of affect the breathing,
perhaps of Edge here in this matchup as The Rated-R Superstar
still a modicum of control.
[Saxton] And Tom, Orton has been in the ring
active for the past nine years.
Edge hasn't.
You know, there's no replacement for in-ring experience,
being in that ring and getting that ring cardio.
And right now, I can tell you right now
Edge doesn't have the same ring cardio that Randy Orton does.
Let go. Hands up. Let's go, back it up.
Orton, now.
[Tom] You're probably right, Joe, and that's why we're seeing this.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] And a stomp by Orton to the left foot of Edge.
[Saxton] We did see a more conservative approach from Edge.
-Watch this again-- -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Any part of the body is fair game...
-[Joe] Absolutely. -...Randy Orton.
[Joe] Now Edge sent to the corner. Look at this.
-Looking for the headscissors here. -[Tom] Beautiful headscissors!
Oh, and Orton sent hard to the outside.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Edge showing his agility in this matchup.
And look at this! And Orton, hard to the outside.
Remember the referee's ten-count.
[Saxton] Oh, wait a second! Now it's Edge who's not wasting any time.
[Joe] Oh, this could be bad for Orton.
[Tom] Edge going up to the top turnbuckle,
and the power behind that right hand.
[Joe] Ain't no problem a straight right can't fix, Tom.
[Tom] Now Orton able to get his footing here.
Oh, along the apron.
You can only imagine what Edge was thinking about.
High risk, high reward.
[Saxton] Whatever plans Edge had in mind had to be abandoned immediately
from the quick reaction time of Randy Orton.
[Joe] What's Orton doing?
Oh, wait.
Orton's not gonna... A suplex... on the outside?
[Joe] This is a bit...
[Joe] I mean, I got to question what this will do to Orton.
[Tom] Orton's trying to rip Edge off of the top turnbuckle.
We see about a superplex to the outside of the ring.
[Joe] Edge's fighting.
[Saxton] Edge is trying to hold on with everything he's got.
[Joe] Oh!
[Tom] And a head-butt. A head-butt--
[Joe] Oh, that one's out of three. Another one.
-[Tom] The Edge... -[Joe] Down goes Orton.
[Tom] Edge all alone again.
Now maybe he can resume whatever plans he had in mind a few moments ago.
[Joe] Oh, this looks precarious.
-[Tom] Oh, and... -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Off the turnbuckle and down goes Orton.
[crowd cheering]
-[Tom] Oh, my goodness. -[Joe] Oh, my, what do we have here?
[Tom] Busted open. Look at the smile there on Orton's face.
Wincing off of the damage done from the head-butt.
Watch this again. Look at the close range of the head-butt.
Once more. Oh, right there.
You can see right across the brow of Orton.
[Saxton] The forehead is the hardest part of the body.
And any time it makes contact with anything,
-it's going to be damaged. -[Tom] Oh, no, look at this.
Going up to the left shoulder.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Into the hardest part of the ring.
[Joe] And look at his face.
[Tom] That is the face of The Ultimate Opportunist at work.
And let us not forget how we got to this moment.
One of the most personal rivalries in WWE history.
The way that Randy Orton targeted Edge
following the Royal Rumble event,
attacked his wife. Beth Phoenix.
Released the names of his daughters.
-Don't back off. Don't you back off... -[all exclaiming]
[grunts]
[Tom] Emotionally charged is an understatement for Edge.
[breathing heavily]
[Tom] The aggression on the face of Edge.
Randy Orton claimed out of love,
he was going to end the career of Edge at WrestleMania.
That did not happen.
[Saxton] Orton. Really?
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Now Edge is firmly in control of The Viper.
Orton caught with these knees by Edge.
Now Edge...
Oh, the side Russian leg sweep. And now, watch out!
He's over that cross face.
He's ill, he's going to try to dismantle that shoulder.
Isolated to left shoulder and into the cross face.
And Orton guessed...
He's trying to bend on that arm. Getting a little bend...
Any kind of leverage to pull it off. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
And Randy Orton is going to tap it off. And now it's raw,
now it is vice-like.
Orton, Orton, Orton, ever. Oh, this is not good.
Orton gets his foot on the bottom of the foot.
That will break the submission.
Edge has until the count of five, breaks it in three.
[Tom] Again, a very sound and smart decision by Edge
to continue to target the shoulder.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] RKO!
[Saxton] Edge dodged it, Edge dodged it!
[Tom] And now Edge! He's going for that head and arm choke.
Oh, and this is what we saw in WrestleMania, Joe.
What Christian called the anti-venom.
[Joe] Oh, he's got it locked at all. Good... Good escape by Randy.
Great escape by Randy. He needs to do that right here.
He needs to get his wits about him.
[Tom] At WrestleMania, that submission put The Viper on his back.
And Randy Orton afforded catastrophe there against Edge.
That's the one thing about Randy Orton,
he's very well aware of his location inside that ring
and knows how to use that ring to his advantage.
[Joe] Watch Orton. Oh, look at this. Modified.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Joe, to your point, normally it's a backbreaker,
but a modified neckbreaker.
[Joe] Pay attention.
Pay attention to how Edge is holding his neck right now.
This is a turning point.
The way he modified this backbreaker.
But that's a neckbreaker.
That's a neckbreaker.
[Tom] We could see the dread in the eyes of Edge as he went down.
Joe, you know what it's like to have a debilitating neck injury.
Edge is in a world of trouble right now.
[Joe] He was grabbing at that wound as it was being done to him.
[Tom] Randy Orton right there on the hunt, on the prowl.
Gotta get in the ring.
[Joe] Now Edge trying to get his wits about him.
And The Viper coiling. Orton stalking his prey
on the outside of the ring.
A hold of the hair of Edge.
[referee] One...
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] And into the barricade and into the plexiglass.
The neck first.
[referee] Three...
[Joe] And now... Oh, man. Head first.
Oh, first into the barricade. Into the apron
and again into the barricade.
[Saxton] You know, we're seeing the d... Watch out, watch out!
[Joe] Oh, no, here he goes.
[Saxton] You're seeing the definition of Orton
-doing whatever it takes. -Get inside right now.
What are you doing?
[Tom] And Orton rolls back inside the ring, Joe,
your point to reset the count,
so he can inflict more punishment on Edge.
You gotta get back in the ring.
[Joe] If there's one thing Randy Orton has specialized in over his career:
It is taking apart his opponent's system.
-[Tom] Oh, no, no, no! -[all exclaiming]
[Joe] Into the steel stairs.
[Tom] We're witnessing how barbaric Randy Orton can be.
The surgically repaired neck of Edge into the stairs.
Oh, God!
Once more! And a count of six now from the official.
Orton rolls back in and resets the count.
Back out again to inflict more punishment on Edge.
The official just allowing Randy over and over again to reset this count.
Continue this assault on Edge.
And now Randy Orton... Face first into the desk.
Oh, man!
Into our announce desk goes Edge.
[referee] Four!
[Tom] Right now, nothing is off-limits for Randy Orton.
-[referee] Five! -[whispering indistinctly]
[referee] Get in there! Get in!
[panting]
Go inside! Get in!
Now Orton wants to end Edge here at Backlash.
Sends him back inside the ring.
-Randy Orton... -This could be it right here.
Shoots a half into the cover.
Hook to the leg and Edge able to kick-out!
[crowd cheering]
And now Orton's gotta be asking himself questions
after Edge sent into the steel stairs neck first moments ago.
And Orton was completely unhinged on the outside of the ring,
but almost a slight incredulous look on his face.
-[Joe chuckling] -[all exclaiming]
To the right hand of Edge, which Edge, who stated publicly,
his right wrist was fused not too long ago as well.
[Edge groaning]
The classic Garvin Stomp that we've seen from Randy Orton
all throughout his 17-year career here in WWE.
Oh, and again to the right hand.
[Joe chuckling]
And this right here, this, this is where Randy Orton is at his best.
When his opponent is weak, when he is wavering,
and it's time for The Viper to finish him off.
Oh, the leather of the boot right across the eye there, Joe.
That sounds like something out of your playbook.
There's a lot of similarities between what you and Orton do in the ring,
that viciousness.
[Joe] Well, I don't wear boots, Tom, but you're right.
We are equally vicious and I can understand everything
that Randy Orton is doing right now. He is executing a plan to perfection.
[Saxton] So what does it take
for a man like Randy Orton to go to that place in his mind?
[Joe] Listen, the edict has always been very simple.
Randy Orton is a very simple man, and his Edict is this:
He's strikes first, he destroys completely,
and he lets one story be told, Tom.
[Saxton] Look at the despair right now on the face of Edge.
[Joe] That's more than despair.
[Tom] Oh, whoa, whoa. He's gotta be careful there again.
That kind of signal could be a tap out to the official.
[Joe] That might be a Freudian slip, Tom. He might be trying to tap out secretly.
[Saxton] I'm not sure Edge is going to be able to break this grip from Randy Orton.
Randy Orton just vice-like with this grip.
Driving that... driving that shoulder to the head.
[Tom] Oh, and a stomp to the foot of Orton.
[Saxton] I took a page out of Randy Orton's book earlier on.
[Joe] Absolutely right.
The leather's flying.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Neck first into the top turnbuckle.
[Saxton] And that's gotta be a growing concern now for Edge.
Every time it seems like Edge is building a little bit of momentum,
Randy Orton knows he can go right back to the neck.
[Joe] Let's be honest, gentlemen, aside from that,
you gotta think about the stamina.
How much these men have already been through?
Can Randy Orton drag Edge into the deep water and drown him?
-[Saxton] What's this? -[Tom] Looking up.
[Joe] I don't want to like that smirk on his face.
[Tom] That's never a good sign.
Oh, suplex by...
-[Tom] Oh, wait a minute. -[Joe] You see this?
The glance at the heavens.
They see some page out of the book of the late great Hall of Famer,
Eddie Guerrero.
Thinking about Three Amigos.
-[Joe] Oh, it's just... -[Tom] Whoa!
-[Joe] Edge says no. -[Tom] Edge trying to block it.
[all exclaiming]
-[Saxton] Edge has got other plans now. -[Joe chuckling]
[Joe] Two men are new Latino all too well.
And Edge got some Amigos, too.
[Saxton] Can Edge finish it off?
[Tom] And Edge able to hit the third on Orton.
[Joe] He did it for the rise of the top.
[Saxton] Can Edge now somehow find a way to cover Randy Orton?
Just roll over Edge.
[Tom] And again, it's the damage that has been done
to both superstars at this point in the match.
How much they have already given to beat each other tonight at Backlash.
[Saxton] Two superstars who are so proud.
Edge, a Hall of Famer.
No doubt, Randy Orton, a future Hall of Famer.
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe chuckling]
-And that's just pure unbridled contempt. -[groans]
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Lighting up each other's chest hair.
[Tom] Byron, are you thinking what I'm thinking of?
[Saxton] Yeah, it's all those knockdown, drag-out fights that we used to see
between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat.
Tooth and nail, whatever you got.
Let's see who's tougher.
[Tom] Rick Flair, he's weighed in on this match.
Believes Orton will win. Flair is in attendance here tonight.
No doubt watching this match up.
-[both grunting] -[all exclaiming]
[Joe] Break out the flannel 'cause we're chopping wood.
[Saxton] Edge is riding up Randy Orton.
Looking for some sort of escape.
Oh, wait for the chop now. Orton--
[all exclaiming]
[Saxton] Dropkick by Randy Orton.
Almost similar to a Ricky Steamboat.
Dropkick, but Randy Orton
now earning himself just a little bit of a reprieve right now
as he can try to figure out, "What do I do next against Edge?"
[Tom] At the same time, Edge,
putting some space between himself and The Viper on the outside of the ring.
[Joe] And smartly so,
I mean, Edge needs to find a little bit of breathing room here,
so he can get something going.
[referee] Two!
[Joe] And Orton stalking on the outside.
[Saxton] Yeah, but look, Randy Orton's hurt.
He is spent. Edge is spent.
[Joe] But I'll say this, Byron.
Anytime that you think Randy Orton is spent,
that's when he's at his most dangerous, and that RKO comes out of nowhere.
[Saxton] I agree with you, Joe, firmly.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Oh, God!
Right into the chest of Edge.
But again, Joe, you've got to think about the neck.
The neck had to get really jacked up in that instance.
[Joe] Oh, without a doubt.
Anytime your body takes any kind of impact of that metric,
it's a steel post,
it's definitely going to resonate in that spine.
[Tom] Right into that lower metal connector for the turnbuckle
that impacted the throat of Edge.
[Joe] Look at the eyes of Edge right now. That's not good.
That's not a man who's 100% present in the moment.
[Tom] Again, Orton going after the hair,
has got to keep an eye on that per the official.
[Joe] He's going after that neck, Tom.
Orton trying to pull Edge up here along the turnbuckles.
[Saxton] Randy Orton looking to put the finishing touches on Edge.
[Joe] And I can't think of a worse place for Edge to be right now.
[Edge groans]
[Saxton] Randy Orton just throwing those meat hooks down on him.
Randy Orton, we saw him try it earlier,
looks like he might be looking for a superplex again here.
[Tom] He's got Edge hooked,
can Randy Orton pry Edge off of the top turnbuckle?
[Joe] Doing everything he can to power him up.
Orton trying to use his ability--
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Superplex by Orton, down goes Edge.
-[Joe] Look at Edge. -[Joe] Edge is not good right now.
Edge is not good right now.
And look at the look on Orton's face, he's ecstatic.
[Tom] Orton's got to be hurting, but obviously Edge is worse for wear
after the impact of the superplex.
[Joe] Oh, Edge knows. Edge knows he's got him.
He knows the damage that he did to...
Randy Orton knows the damage he has done to Edge right now.
[Tom] Orton trying to shrug off the damage down to his left shoulder,
now into the cover on Edge, no!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Edge kicks out.
Edge able to kick-out.
[Saxton] That had to be pure instinct from Edge.
[Tom] A page out of his Hall of Fame father's playbook,
the superplex, shades of cowboy Bob Orton,
and down went Edge.
And again, the damaged neck, Joe,
what does this feel like for Edge in this instance?
[Joe] I mean, right now, this is where he seriously questions his art.
I mean, his arms are buzzing.
His body hurts in places he didn't think were possible.
[Tom] If they saw again, Joe,
you referenced it, the sick smile on the face of Randy Orton.
He knows he's got Edge in serious danger.
[Joe] This is why Randy Orton is dangerous in this situation
because he enjoys it.
He revels in the pain.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Another uppercut just radiating pain throughout the body of Edge.
[Joe] And the stomp...
Just the relentless pressure
that Randy Orton keeps pushing and pushing.
Now it's again trying to quickly pace--
Both Superstars meeting in the middle of the ring,
both thinking the same thing.
[Tom] Both thinking about a crossbody, apparently,
taking out each other in the process.
Both Orton and Edge down.
Here is another look at this collision.
Watch this. Boom!
Both men's upper bodies right in midair.
[Joe] Orton landed on his shoulder on the way down.
[Tom] Both men have until the count of ten to get back up to their feet.
Something they should know well from their hellacious
Last Man Standing Match at WrestleMania.
[Saxton] And Orton sitting up, Edge starting to stir.
-Seven! -[Tom] Count of seven.
Orton trying to roll over and get up to his feet,
count of eight.
And it's Orton, the first man officially back up to his feet,
and Edge holding onto the ropes to do so.
-[all exclaiming] -That's desperation, that's instinct.
-[Tom] Oh, that's not... -Great instinct.
Right between the eyes,
Edge connects with the kick.
[Saxton] Look, Edge is just draped over that top rope.
And Edge, I don't know if this is smart,
Edge is trying to ascend to the top again.
-[Tom and Joe] Oh! -[Saxton] Orton right there to catch him.
[Tom] And Randy Orton again,
these right hands right to the face of Edge.
-[Joe] Punishing him. -[Tom] Orton doing anything he can
to try and slow the ascent of Edge
when Edge is going up to the top turnbuckle.
[Joe] And that uppercut has been absolutely brutal the entire match.
Oh, and it's about to get much, much more brutal.
[Saxton] What is Randy Orton... Oh, my gosh.
[Tom] No, no, no, no. Not from this height.
Looking for the DDT. Hold on a second.
-Edge! -[all exclaiming]
Edge-u-cution
Edge responds with a DDT of his own.
[Saxton] Edge stunned him, but can Edge cover him?
Can Edge cover Randy Orton?
[Tom] He needs to wake up and make this cover.
[Saxton] He's trying to, Edge is trying.
[Joe] Edge trying to roll over. Trying to push.
Trying to shoot the half...
-[Saxton] This could be it. -...here's going to be Randy Orton.
-[Tom] There's the cover by Edge. -[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Watch this again,
Randy Orton went for his patented draping DDT.
And what a response by Edge with the DDT of his own.
It's the execution, but again,
it's the damage that has been done to Edge
that slowed up the Hall of Famer.
[Saxton] Edge...
[Tom] And look at Edge right now. Look at Edge right now.
He is asking himself serious questions right now.
He's asking himself, "What is it going to take to take out Randy Orton?"
"What do I have to do to defeat this man in front of me?"
[all exclaiming]
[Joe] And a rising knee strike by Edge,
crumpling Orton.
[Saxton] What does Edge have to do That's one step in the right direction?
[Tom] Keep on attacking Randy Orton.
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] And attack he shall.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Orton reeling from the bevy of knees.
[Tom] Now Edge on the move.
Oh! And the elbow right to the heart.
-[Joe] Strike! -[Tom] Edge into the cover
to close out...
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] And a kick-out!
[muffled shouting]
[Tom] The wear and tear of this matchup
coming into play for both these superstars.
And now Edge trying to think,
"What is it going to take to keep Orton down?
[Saxton] Go all out.
I mean, Edge, we've seen him multiple times now in this match,
climbing to the top.
Edge is going to try it again.
[Joe] And this is the worst position Randy Orton has been in all night long.
[Tom] Another climb to the top for Edge.
[Joe] Oh, he's focused in.
Edge poised to strike!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Crossbody!
Cover by Edge!
-[Orton yells] -[Tom] No!
Gets his shoulder off the canvas.
All this hard work by Edge to make it back to this moment.
Nobody thought he would come back in this capacity,
but after nine and a half years away,
Edge isn't going to stop at anything.
[Saxton] It's one word, Tom. It's grit.
We are seeing the grit of Edge right here, right now.
[Joe] I'll tell you this, gentlemen,
it's going to take a lot more than grit to outlast Randy Orton.
[Tom] And Randy Orton has somehow gotten back up to his feet,
labored breathing right now for The Viper.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Went to bury that shoulder into the gut.
Now the cover by Orton. Kick out.
[Joe] Oh, no. Oh, no.
Edge looking to complete.
No, he's switching out. Back to the crossface.
-Back to the crossface. -[Tom] Back to the crossface.
Using the left shoulder all the way around in the match, now the right.
[Joe] Hey, what's good for one arm, it's great for the other.
[Saxton] And now he's sliding that-- Wait, wait, wait...
He's sliding that underneath the throat.
He's changing this hold. This is very different.
He's underneath that throat. He's trying to--
-he's trying to choke out Randy Orton. -[Tom] Could Orton go out right here?
[Saxton] Official allowing a lot of leeway right now,
understanding the magnitude of this matchup.
Randy's turning purple.
-[Tom] Randy Orton trying to turn around. -[Joe] Break down!
[Tom] Turn it into a cover. Oh, and a kick-out!
-Edge goes back to the left shoulder. -[Saxton] He's going back to that arm.
[Tom] Going back to the left shoulder that Edge worked on early on.
-[Saxton] Rolled up by Orton. -[all exclaiming]
-[Tom] And a big slam by Orton. -Oh, wow.
And now Orton trying to back up into the cover to put away Edge.
[all exclaiming]
And remember, the Hall of Famer Kurt Angle picked Edge to win this matchup.
There is a part of this that you gotta think
Randy Orton was thumbing his nose at the Olympic gold medalist.
[Saxton] Oh, without a doubt, Tom.
[Joe] That's something we don't think, Tom, that's something we know.
[Tom] Randy Orton is one of the most calculating superstars we've ever seen.
[Joe] How about the arrogance in the middle of this historic match
to hit the Olympic Slam.
[Tom] Well, this is the same guy who came out a couple of weeks ago and said,
"I have folded in for 20 years
and I'm still better than everybody else."
[Joe] Besides, arrogance-ambition, tamato-tomato, Tom.
[Tom] Orton back up to his feet.
How much more of this can Edge endure?
[Joe] And Orton is incensed.
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Cover with a powerbomb!
Powerbomb!
Oh, kick-out by Orton.
That was nearly over in the blink of an eye.
[Joe] And the look on Orton's face says it all.
I mean, he is writhing in pain.
[Saxton] Quick thinking from Edge to catch Randy Orton in motion.
[Tom] Take another look at this.
Maybe Orton was thinking about going for a dropkick,
but Edge got back to him so quickly.
Edge was able to counter and nearly put away The Viper.
[Joe] He forgot the drop. He forgot the kick.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Edge. Let's go, Orton,
Let's go, Edge.
[Tom] This is competition at its finest.
[chanting continues] Let's go, Orton, let's go, Edge.
[Joe] I think for the first time this entire match,
Randy Orton starting to show a little bit of doubt.
[Tom] Edge finds his way back up to his feet.
And now Orton dumping Edge hard on the outside,
and every last impact that Edge takes has got to affect his neck.
[Joe] Oh, without a doubt. I mean, the punishment he's taken,
regardless of everything he's taking now,
is going to keep adding up and adding up.
And honestly, his neck isn't gonna outlast him.
Two!
[Saxton] I can't begin to imagine what kind of pain
Edge is going through right now.
[Tom] You can see Edge is looking
the very anticipation and hype of this moment
right in the eye along the ring apron.
And now it's Edge
trying to climb up to the apron, but Orton might have him here.
[Joe] And that pain you talked about, Byron,
well, he's just about to experience a whole lot more.
-[Tom] In the clutches-- -[Joe] Oh, no.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Bam! face first into the canvas!
Could this be it for Edge?
[Saxton] Look at the eyes of Edge glazed over, Edge is out!
[Joe] And The Rated-R Superstar is no longer with us.
I can tell you that much. He's definitely in La La Land.
[Tom] And Orton sliding away!
You can see the foot of Edge on the bottom rope,
it wouldn't have done him much good to go for a cover there
unless he pulled it away.
And now Edge is trying to get back into his right mind.
Again, the damage to the neck from the DDT...
[Joe] And Tom, let me be honest with you here.
Orton does not slide away, no, he stalks!
And that's exactly what he's doing right now.
-He is stalking Edge. -[Tom] Uh-oh!
We've seen this how many times, gentlemen?
Randy Orton is starting to head to that place...
[Joe] The three most destructive letters.
Oh, wait a minute!
-But for the RKO-- -[Joe] Hold on a second!
[Tom] Trying to turn him around.
[Joe] Beautiful counter by Orton!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Edge-o-matic.
Cover! Oh!
Kicked out again.
[Saxton] Man, you gotta be kidding me!
How close was that?
How close was Edge to putting away Randy Orton?
[Tom] Watch this sequence.
Both superstars counter for counter, but then this--
Bam! Driven into the canvas by Edge!
And still, The Viper able to kick-out.
Now look at Edge's face.
[Saxton] Every time we think Edge is done,
he pulls something else out of his back pocket.
But right now, looks like... he looks shocked!
He looks shocked that Randy Orton is still in this.
[Tom] Oh, but that shock, it's turning into resolve!
Oh, we've seen that look in the eyes
of the 11-time World Champion many times.
[Saxton] Have we ever. That incensed look,
that crazed look of the Rated-R Superstar?
[Joe] The fire's been lit in Edge.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Edge mentioning The Viper.
[Joe] I can guarantee you, Edge is feeling no pain right now.
The adrenaline is flowing, and the thirst for vengeance is on!
[Tom] Orton back up to his feet, here comes Edge!
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Thought about the power slam? Thought about the power slam.
[all exclaiming]
[Saxton] Will that do it?
[Tom] A page out of Christian's playbook! Here's the cover!
Oh, and a kick-out by Orton.
The man who gave him tough love and The Peep Show
this past Monday night on RAW,
inspiring Edge in this moment,
muscle his way into Unprettier.
[Saxton] What a story it would have been if Edge was able to put Randy Orton away
utilizing the Unprettier and nearly did.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Joe] Both men struggling to their feet.
[Saxton] As much as we talked about the incredible resolve of Edge,
the same can be said for Randy Orton.
[Tom] Superhuman effort tonight from Edge and Orton at Backlash...
and the fight just continues!
[Joe] And Edge just dropped the last of his strengthen those bombs.
Whoa, Orton...
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Orton's gone after the midsection multiple times
-until that top rope right to the ribs. -[Joe] So, in regards to the midsection,
when you get draped over the rope like that,
your whole spine bends.
That neck once again bends in unnatural positions,
and it's just as hurtful as falling out of the ring.
[Saxton] And Joe, that's also gonna severely hamper the breathing of Edge.
[Joe] Oh, absolutely!
[Tom] Now Edge staggers back to his feet, shot right to the midsection.
[Joe] Whoa, what is this?
[Tom] Wait a minute. I think we know exactly what it is.
[Joe] From his evolution--
[Tom] The smug look on Randy Orton's face...
[Joe] His mentor, Triple H's--
Pedigree! A Pedigree from Randy Orton.
-[Tom] A kick-out! -[Joe] What? Are you kidding me?
Are you kidding me?
Edge kicked out of the Pedigree!
[Joe] And Randy Orton has every right in the world
to be disappointed in the referee.
[Tom] Randy Orton looking for verification from the official just to make sure,
but Edge did kick-out!
[Saxton] And Edge checking his grill.
I don't blame him.
[Joe] Edge is trying to crawl,
trying to give himself backup to his feet, using the ropes.
[Tom] We saw Randy Orton use the Olympic Slam
made famous by Kurt Angle earlier on,
and now Triple H's Pedigree.
[Joe] Whoa, nice switch!
-Up we go! -[Tom] Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
Rock bottom! Rock bottom!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Kick out again.
[Saxton] I guess it's only appropriate.
One of Triple H's greatest rivalries in The Rock?
[Tom] So, I guess in this circumstance,
it's going to that place where... What would another legend do?
What would another Hall of Famer do?
[Joe] It looks like both guys are running the gamut of legends.
[Tom] It's like, if you run out of options in your own playbook,
why not use somebody else's?
This is incredible!
[Joe] And Edge has to wonder what he needs to do...
to put away The Viper.
[Tom] Edge has something else in mind, Joe.
Tension on the face of Edge.
[Joe] It's a Canadian favorite.
[Tom] Thought about the Sharpshooter, maybe the Educator?
And it was Orton who tried to kick him off there.
[Saxton] Look how gingerly Edge is moving after that kick-off of Randy Orton!
-[Tom] Oh! -[Joe] Backslide!
[Tom] Going for the backslide! Going for the backslide!
[Joe] Desperately fighting for position.
[Tom] Power Randy Orton here, center of the ring!
[Saxton] How much power is left in them?
[Tom] Shot to the left knee. Here's the cover!
-And a kick-out! -[Joe] Not so fast.
-[Saxton] Orton back a quicker -[Tom] Another uppercut!
Stymies that flurry by Edge!
Watch this again!
Randy Orton rattling the spine, the neck of Edge!
[Saxton] It goes back to that damage that was done to the neck.
Edge was just one step slower getting back to his feet.
[Joe] Viciousness, grace, and attention, boys.
That's what Randy specializes in!
[Edge groaning]
[Joe] And The Viper has his prey.
[Tom] Trying to drag Edge into position.
Is he thinking about another DDT?
-[Joe] Oh, no, he is. -[Tom] On a Hall of Famer--
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Edge had other plans.
From the top rope, rope first.
Oh, here we go.
[Tom] Edge trying to catch one along the ropes.
Cover and a kick-out!
-Now Edge-- -[Joe] Beautiful roll up!
[Tom] Edge, here's the cover! Shoulders down on Orton.
Orton trying to stay with Edge.
[Joe] Nice Inside cradle.
[To] Another cover, and a kick-out by Orton!
-[all exclaiming] -[Joe] Got him!
-He's got him! -[Tom] RKO! RKO!
Cover. Oh, my God!
[Saxton] Edge kicked out at the RKO.
Can you believe it?
[Joe] There are not many in Randy Orton's career
that can say they have kicked out of this.
Randy Orton, bam, from out of nowhere,
gets all of the RKO.
Let's take one more look at this.
[Saxton] Did he make it?
-[Joe] Wow! -[Tom] Barely!
It looked like he got his left shoulder off of the mat.
That is what Randy Orton is discussing with the official right now,
and he should be tremendously frustrated with this official!
[inaudible conversation]
[Saxton] Again, what's even more amazing is that Edge kicked out of the RKO
at this stage of the matchup after everything he has taken,
after all the punishment he has suffered,
Edge still had enough.
[Joe] This right here, gentlemen.
Let me tell you something. Some people ask what they need to do.
Randy Orton, right now he understands
what he needs to do to finish this encounter.
He's going to that dark place,
I know it in my mind.
He's gonna find the thing that he needs to do,
and he's gonna do it right now to finish this match.
[Tom] That is a frightening sight right there!
Randy Orton perhaps envisioning
what he has to do right now to put Edge away.
[Joe] This right here is the true Randy Orton.
-This is the malice-- -[Tom] Whoa, wait a second.
No, no, not this.
Eerie calm all over the face of Randy Orton!
The positioning of Randy Orton. I hope Orton's not thinking about what--
[Joe] This is how Orton makes people understand!
[Tom] Zeroing in on Edge, here come Orton!
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] A Spear.
A Spear by Edge.
[Saxton] Edge had enough to deliver a Spear,
and now Edge can taste the victory!
He can feel it!
[Tom] That could have been a disaster for what Randy Orton was planning,
but Edge responds with a Spear!
[Saxton] This is Edge's moment!
This is Edge's time!
[Joe] Oh, and I think it was more than a Spear!
Oh, the fuse has been lit, gentlemen!
[Tom] Another Spear!
Cover!
Orton has kicked out after two Spears in a row.
[Saxton] How?
Tell me how in the world Randy Orton just kicked out of two Spears!
[Tom] Watch this again!
Whoa! Orton nearly cut in half on that second Spear.
A move that has helped Edge capture multiple World Titles,
and it doesn't keep Orton down!
[Saxton] Edge is in complete disbelief, and you can't blame him!
Two Spears to Randy Orton, that should have finished him!
That should have ended Randy Orton! Orton should be done?
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Tom] And there is disbelief still on the face of Edge after that exchange!
[Joe] I can tell you this, now is not the time for doubt, Tom.
[Saxton] The wheels... wheels gotta be turning for Edge,
but what do you do?
What do you do to Randy Orton?
What else can you do?
[Tom] Edge knows what he has to do!
He needs to go to that same dark place Randy Orton is willing to go to!
-Oh, now Edge, Edge it up-- -[Saxton] Oh, he got him again!
[Tom] Another RKO! Another RKO!
Cover by The Viper and a kick-out.
Edge did it again!
Unreal!
Edge kicked out of the RKO again!
And now it's Orton who can't believe it!
Watch this!
Out of the corner from out of nowhere, yet again!
Boom! That neck crashing into the canvas!
And watch again!
Edge convincingly... This time it's the right shoulder up.
[Joe] You know, I can understand Orton's frustration!
But right now, he needs to be careful and not upset that ref
because he almost has this encounter won!
[Saxton] Edge's body might be failing him right now,
but his fighting spirit is keeping him in the game!
[Tom] But you know as well as I do, Byron, the heart may be willing,
and the mind may be willing,
but that body is a very, very different proposition!
[all exclaiming]
Oh, he's got the head in a chokehold again!
The anti-venom for The Viper!
[Joe] Oh, and he's got it locked! Oh, he's looking to put Orton down!
-[all exclaiming] -[Saxton] What was that?
-[Tom] That went low! -[Saxton] Yeah, it did look a little low.
Randy Orton looked like he went low.
-[all exclaiming] -[Tom] Punt! The Punt!
Cover by The Viper!
-Randy has beaten Edge. -[bell dinging]
[Orton's theme song playing]
[announcer] ...Randy Orton!
[Saxton] Who knew Randy Orton would be willing to do anything,
and I mean anything, to win!
And Randy Orton has done just that!
[Tom] An astonishing effort tonight by Edge,
but in the end, it's Randy Orton who is the victor!
[inaudible conversation]
[inaudible conversation continues]
[Saxton] Randy Orton... took the gamble and it paid off.
[Tom] Take a look back at this matchup!
We talked about the damage done to the neck of Edge throughout.
This superplex from Randy Orton,
was one of the many moves that Orton used to go after the neck!
And, Joe, you talk about this neckbreaker,
sent shivers down the spine of Edge.
Edge able to counter this DDT attempt into the Edgecution.
Edge had so much fight in him tonight.
[Saxton] And that's exactly the key.
I mean, everything that Randy Orton did to Edge.
We have no idea what kind of condition Edge's neck has been in,
really for the majority of this match,
but Edge kicking out of RKOs,
continuing to fight, continuing to hold on no matter what Randy Orton threw his way.
[Tom] Both superstars threw their best moves
and then some out of each other.
The RKO, and then two successive Spears still couldn't get the job done.
And then it was a second RKO for The Apex Predator.
Nearly thought he'd close out Edge, but the match would continue.
[Saxton] A true superhuman effort by Edge.
And Edge thought, "This is my chance.
I'm gonna make Randy Orton pay."
[Tom] One for the anti-venom submission and then this,
it looked like Randy Orton went low.
And then the punch that has put away so many
throughout Randy Orton's career.
Randy Orton defeats Edge at Backlash.
You know, tonight was a perfectly executed game plan.
He picked the battlefield. He played the psychological games.
And tonight, Randy Orton not only stands victorious...
but he stands once again, a legend killer.
[Randy Orton's theme music plays]
[Tom] What about the fact that Edge defied the odds
for an improbable return.
Randy Orton said a few weeks ago he didn't need tables,
he didn't need ladders, he didn't need chairs,
he didn't need Last Man Standing.
Randy Orton proved he was the superior wrestler,
like Orton said he would be.
[Joe] Oh, my gosh. It's not a good sign.
[Saxton] You really immediately have to wonder how hurt is Edge?
'Cause Edge truly sacrificed his health
just to try to win this matchup.
Randy might be thinking that Edge
is getting himself into more trouble by refusing help from our officials here.
What is Edge thinking?
In defeat, what is going through the mind of Edge?
[Tom] Tonight at Backlash...
did Randy Orton just end the redemption story of Edge?
Was this the greatest wrestling match ever? y of Edge?