[narrator] They walk this road…
[Triple H] The age of Orton…
[narrator] …alone.
[Triple H] …is officially dead.
[narrator] Sentenced…
[Vickie] You had been stripped…
[narrator] …for their sins.
[Vickie] …of the World Heavyweight Championship.
[narrator] The truth is elusive.
[Shawn] It's who you are. It's what you were built to do.
[narrator] And rage their burden.
[JBL] I will destroy John Cena
and I am prepared to do whatever I have to do.
[John] You want to find me? I will be standing in your way.
And I am right here.
[Orton] Judge not lest ye be judged.
[Vickie] From this moment on, that chokehold is banned.
[Edge] The Undertaker has never defeated me
unless he's used an illegal chokehold.
You're looking at the new world heavyweight champion.
[Orton] I've played your game.
Now, you'll play mine.
[Triple H] It's judgment day.
And I am getting my title back tonight.
Without a shadow of a doubt, The Game is back.
[Jim] The finality inside a steel cage.
It's time to play the game at Judgment Day.
♪ Yeah, when the lights are shining! ♪
♪ Boy, tonight's the night I'm gonna take it all ♪
[narrator] And now…
WWE Judgment Day!
[fireworks explode]
[audience cheering]
[Jim] From the heartland of America,
we welcome you to the 10th WWE Judgment Day,
where tonight, four championships will be decided.
And what a night it's gonna be!
I'm Jim Ross, alongside Jerry "The King" Lawler.
We have the privilege of having you in the action for Monday Night RAW.
[Jerry] And as you can see from our fans, they are ready for action.
["Longhorn" playing]
There it is, JR, the long-stretched limo.
And look at those longhorns, JR.
You don't want to get gored by one of those, would you?
[Jim] I'm not good on the longhorns.
[Jerry] Stay on the sidewalk, then.
Oh!
[bell rings]
[Lillian] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from New York City,
John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
[Jim] You know, ladies and gentlemen, JBL is still saying
to anyone that will listen, loud and long,
that it was John Cena who cost JBL
the WWE title at Backlash.
No, he's not just saying it.
JBL would bet his millions that he'd be WWE champion today
if it were not for John Cena.
[Jim] Well, I don't look for this match to be,
as far as JBL's mindset is concerned, as a catch-as-catch-can classic.
I think this is gonna be one of the most intense battles
we've seen on a WWE spectacular in a long time.
[Jerry] Well, better not be a disqualification or a count-out.
[audience cheering]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[Lillian] And from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 240 pounds, John Cena.
[Jim] A rousing ovation for John Cena.
And certainly, we all know that John Cena and JBL
have a very illustrious history,
as they have combated on occasions
that we'll never forget, including at WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Well, you're right.
I don't know if illustrious is exactly the right word.
These guys have been at each other's throats
more times than not, and tonight should be no exception.
Did you see the intensity on the face of JBL? Look at that look.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[Jim] Both, these men know full well what it's like to be the champion.
But this match is not about championship gold.
It's about championship pride.
I think it could resemble a bar fight, and this will not be a happy hour.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[Jerry] John Cena has never lost at a Judgment Day event.
He is 4-0, dating back to 2003.
[audience cheering]
[bell rings]
[Jim] Marty Elias, the official, has officially started this match.
[Jerry] And I don't like this look on the face of JBL.
He's all business tonight.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] Nice clean break by Cena.
John Cena looking to use that amazing power and strength
that he possesses, and that headlock is a great example of exactly that…
Hold on, Bradshaw back it up in the corner.
Let's go. Come on. One, two…
[Jim] …that Bradshaw's going to try to stay away from that.
[Jerry] Look at that. We're gonna have a clean break from Bradshaw.
[Jim] I'm pleasantly surprised at that turn of events.
Cena's certainly prepared for the worst.
[Jerry] You don't want to rush in there
and be a victim of the strength of John Cena.
I'll never forget the day that Cena actually FU'd the Big Show.
-You remember that? -[Jim] Amazing.
That's when the Big Show was over 500 pounds as well,
and now it's JBL with the side headlock, keeping it very basic here.
Not a man wanting to make a mistake here in the early going.
[Jerry] Well, so far, it doesn't look like a bar fight.
I don't think I've ever seen a headlock in a bar fight.
[Jim] This one-fall match will be won by pinfall or submission.
[Jerry] Seen a few of those.
Look out.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh, my God, a drop toehold in.
Break it up. Come on, back up.
A man with the high IQ, the self-made millionaire,
JBL got to the ropes and then takes advantage
of where he was near the ropes to earn an advantage.
[Jerry] You're right. That was just an example of that IQ on the part of JBL.
-Oh, this is not going to be good. -[Jim] Oh!
Cena all the way to the steel ring post.
Cena's shoulder smashing the ring post.
And as you notice, the ring post hasn't moved an inch.
[grunts]
[Jerry] Bradshaw risking disqualification here now. Watch this again.
Watch the shoulder of Cena.
[Jim] And now let's see if JBL will intelligently
exploit the arm of John Cena.
[Jerry] Oh, Cena's left arm definitely hurting
and JBL's those big right hands are just devastating,
and he is zeroing in on that wounded shoulder.
Oh, oh, man.
[Jim] Cena taken down with authority.
And the…
methodical pace is very dangerous
that JBL has established here.
Again, focusing on the left arm of John Cena.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] John Cena knows he can't stay in that,
in that distance that, that position he was in for very long.
[Jerry] And look at, look at Cena exhibiting that strength,
even with that weakened shoulder.
Oh, still able to power out, but Bradshaw right back on top.
[Jim] And Bradshaw now is looking for a submission.
[groans]
And wouldn't it be something
if JBL can make John Cena submit
in this first match here tonight at Judgment Day?
[Jerry] Are you kidding? We'd never hear the end of that.
His limousine would be twice as long next time we saw it.
One.
[audience screaming]
[Jim] And Cena with that strength has rolled.
-Oh, wait a minute. -One. Two.
-Cena kept look at this. -[Jim] Good lord.
[Jerry] Look at this, you gotta be kidding me?
[Jim] The strength of John Cena,
the brute force that Cena can, can manifest is what caused that break.
-What do you say, John can you continue? -But what price has Cena pay?
[Jerry] I don't know, but he was able to power out of that hold
by lifting Bradshaw's dead weight right off, of the mat.
[Jim] Bradshaw, a very braggadocios, very vocal,
former Texan, now living in New York City,
a self-made millionaire with a bonafide mean streak.
[Jerry] Those right hands and that big right boots
I was talking about from Bradshaw.
Once he opens up those on you, you're in trouble.
-[Jim] And again, now the count on him. -One, two.
[Jim] Referee got a near-fall.
Bradshaw looking back to see if it was three.
[Jerry] I think that was the first attempt at a cover by JBL
or anyone for that matter.
Oh, there's another one of those big right hands.
Get out of the corner. Watch your hands.
[Jim] And those right hands now more resembling that,
-that bar fight we thought we might see. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] The resiliency and the will to compete from John Cena.
Cena going upstairs and down.
[Jerry] And Cena had resembled a one handed man in that fight.
-[grunts] -[thuds]
[Jim] And with the right arm, came the power.
And Cena with the left shoulder.
You can see how badly that left shoulder is injured.
Cena's shoulder block unless that hurt himself.
But Cena fighting through the pain.
John Cena really hurting here.
[Jerry] I'm going to tell you something that I have never,
I don't remember seeing Cena favor a shoulder this bad.
That may be a more serious injury that we think.
Oh, missed! Nobody home!
[Jim] Cena known for his power, strength and ground and pound.
Went to the air, took the chance.
And this time the high risk obviously did not pay dividends
as it relates to the self-made millionaire.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] I'm going to tell you, Cena…
does not bode well for John Cena at all.
I mean, his whole body's hurting now.
Let him up, JBL.
-One, two… -[audience cheering]
[Jim] It's been a long time since we've seen Cena
take this much sustained punishment from any WWE superstar.
[Jerry] Cena's shoulder going in. Oh, look at that block. Nice block.
Bradshaw wanted to suplex John Cena into the ring.
But look at this!
Oh, Cena attempted to suplex Bradshaw outside the ring!
Bradshaw better block that with everything he's got. Oh, my goodness.
[Jim] And that was a huge counter for JBL to be able to make.
One can only assume the condition JBL would be in right now
if he had been suplexed to the floor.
[Jerry] You're not kidding. That's what I was about to say.
Can you imagine what that would have meant to this match?
it probably would've been over, look out!
[audience cheering]
Once again, Cena landing on that shoulder.
One, two, three.
Bradshaw, let's go.
[Jim] Both men gotta be careful they're not counted out.
Referee has a 10 count to work with.
JBL well aware of the rules,
even though he's very proficient at breaking them when he chooses.
-And now the cover again. -One, two.
And yet again, it is JBL forcing the advantage with a near-fall.
[Jerry] Well, make no mistake about it.
JBL came here tonight with a sole purpose of proving to the world
that he can beat John Cena.
Oh, those kicks to the head.
[Jim] The money… the molar.
JBL looking and finding this time a two count.
Certainly the hostile takeover
must be in JBL's mindset tonight as it relates to John Cena.
[groans]
And, when a man is trying to catch his breath,
trying to get that oxygen back in those lungs,
that bear-hug's a very effective counter to that.
[Jerry] You're right. Bradshaw knows that.
That's why he's locked it on John Cena here.
Work his way down to the kidneys there and really put that pressure on him.
[Jim] And again, Cena's left arm may not be of great help to him right now
after being introduced to the ring post earlier.
Come on Cena talk to me.
[Jim] Obviously, the object here is for John Cena
to separate the hands of JBL, easier said than done.
[Jerry] Referee asking John Cena if he wants to give it up here.
Ooh, man, you feel that over here.
[Jim] One could hear the impact.
And again, right to the spine.
[Jerry] Look back at how this all started.
These big, massive, right hand bombs landed by JBL throughout this match.
-[groans] -Okay, Cena.
[Jim] And JBL intelligently goes from a bear hug
restricting Cena's breathing
into the body scissors doing the same thing.
Look at Cena gasping for air.
[Jerry] And at the same time, extending that left shoulder,
that injured shoulder that John Cena's been favoring.
And I'm going to tell you something. I--
That shoulder's hurting more than Cena's letting on.
[screams]
[audience cheering]
[Jim] JBL knows that shoulder, the left shoulder is injured,
continues to exploit it
as he maintains control of-- JBL on John Cena.
[Jerry] Oh, man, John Cena's really in a predicament now.
Look at this.
[Jim] Two former WWE champions.
Two men that could have easily left the fatal four-way
three weeks ago with the WWE title again.
[audience clapping]
[Jerry] Watch once again as JBL,
oh, does damage to the ribs of John Cena
as he draped him and dropped him right across that top rope.
[Jim] And look at the, my gosh, look at the strength of John Cena.
[Jerry] This is unbelievable!
[Jim] Cena standing up, carrying the body weight of JBL.
A full Nelson applied indeed,
but the story was the strength and the power of John Cena.
[Jerry] Oh, but that full Nelson is really locked in there by JBL.
[Jim] JBL not stirring away too far from the basics.
The headlock, the body scissors.
Now the full Nelson, all punishing John Cena.
[Jerry] We just saw an amazing example of Cena's strength,
but you got to hand it to JBL. Let's look at this one more time.
The strength of John Cena being able to stand,
but then JBL realizing the trouble he was in,
hanging on for dear life.
[Jim] Cena, gotta go back to what…
-[Jerry] Look at this! -[Jim] The strength and the power.
[Jerry] That grip is broken!
Look at the strength of Cena! Oh, here we go!
[Jim] John Cena looking for the FU, but it wasn't there,
and Cena's body would not cooperate.
John Cena looking for the FU,
and look at the eyes, look at the eyes of JBL.
[Jerry] Oh, was that Cena's shoulder, or was that his rib cage?
Whatever it was, he was not able to execute that FU that he wanted to do.
[Jim] And the bottom line is, if John Cena's unable to execute the FU,
then he is really in a tough predicament here
against a motivated JBL tonight.
[Jerry] Well, motivated to say the least and the strategy,
you gotta hand it to JBL.
This is great strategy that he's used so far in this match.
He's pretty much dominated John Cena.
Asking time! Ask him!
[Jim] Cena's had been controlled or was.
His ribs are hurt.
Then JBL exploiting that.
How many more times can Cena reach down to that amazing and miraculous strength?
[Jerry] Once again, look out JBL's face! He realizes he's in the trouble!
[Jim] And Cena, amazingly strong and out of desperation,
John Cena able to reach down as far as he possibly humanly could,
and call again upon the resources.
[Jerry] Well, the referee, after that devastating move,
came over and you can hear him asked John Cena
if he wanted to continue, and Cena mainly… said yes,
but, man, the look on his face tells a different story.
[Jim] Referee's count.
Oh, what a right hand!
-Both men exchanging. -[Jerry] Here we go.
[Jim] Big time fight!
[Jerry] Here's that bar fight, that slug fest we talked about.
[screams]
[Jim] And Cena, a step away from delivering the contact,
-but that's the story. -[Jerry] Oh, my God!
[Jim] Speaking of a step and a big foot!
[Jerry] That's a knockout!
[Jim] What a shot to the head!
And now right back to the ribs goes, oh, John "Bradshaw" Layfield!
[Jerry] I mean, I've complimented Bradshaw's strategy up to now,
but I think all Bradshaw had to do was pin Cena,
and it would have been over after that huge boot to the jaw.
[Jim] JBL's business plan here tonight is Money in the Bank, I'll tell you.
[grunts]
Cena fighting just to get to one knee.
[Jerry] You're right, this is personal.
This is personal!
I think JBL could have already won this thing.
He just wanted to inflict pain and suffering on John Cena now.
[Jim] I think JBL wants to win,
and win decisively with no questions ask.
What a smack for that slobber-knackering clothesline,
and Cena, you see the results.
[Jerry] You've heard of insult to injury, well, you're seeing it now.
Oh, and the fingers slap at the side of the head.
[Jim] JBL wouldn't be above breaking John Cena's hand.
[Jerry] Another clothesline, uh-oh, wait a minute.
[Jim] Clothesline.
-[Jerry] FU. -[Jim] FU. The FU.
Cena got the FU.
-[Jerry] Oh, my goodness. -[bell ringing]
[Jim] Out of nowhere Cena wins it!
[Lillian] Here is your winner, John Cena!
[Jerry] Oh, man!
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
[Jim] Bradshaw's stock market just crashed!
Courtesy of an FU!
♪ A soldier, And I stay under you fighting ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breakin' me, kid, I'm harder than nails ♪
♪ Plus I keep it on lock like I'm part of the jail ♪
♪ I'm slaughterin' stale competition ♪
♪ I got the whole block wishin' They could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishin' with no bait ♪
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight I got my soul straight ♪
♪ I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better, Your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ If they hate, let 'em hate I drop ya whole clan ♪
[Jerry] Look at this one more time.
JBL throughout the match, just absolutely brutalizing John Cena.
Dropping him across that top rope, injuring the ribs.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] John Cena showing amazing power, but the tenacity of JBL to hold on.
You gotta give JBL credit for that.
[Jerry] Well, and there's a vicious clothesline, did you hear that impact?
And he went for it again, then out of nowhere, bang, FU.
-[Jim] The amazing will of John Cena… -[bell ringing]
to pull this one out from the bottom of the ninth.
♪ I rock a timepiece by Benny, if any The same reason y'all could love me ♪
♪ Is the same reason y'all condemn me ♪
♪ A man's measured by the way That he thinks ♪
♪ Not clothin' lines, ice links, Leather and minks ♪
[Jerry] This is a big victory for John Cena.
[audience cheering]
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ You time is up, my time is now ♪
[Jim] Ladies and gentlemen, we're glad you're with us here at Judgment Day.
And there you see the king of all the WWE.
[Jerry] Wow. King William Regal, the general manager of RAW.
Best seat in the house is up, on one of the luxury suites here.
[Jim] Only the best for the king of the WWE.
[Jerry] Oh, what a match.
[Jim] Well, let's take it over to Michael Cole
and the hardcore legend himself, Mick Foley.
[Michael] Well, guys, King Regal may not care what our fans think,
but we hear and the rest of World Wrestling Entertainment knew,
especially at SmackDown.
And we want to know what you think about the World Heavyweight Championship
matchup later tonight between The Undertaker and Edge
with the vacated world title.
So we've cooked up a way to do that via text messaging
with our exclusive global partner, AT&T.
All you got to do is text who you think is going to win the championship match
to the number on your screen.
Results will be revealed later on in the program
and of course standard text messaging rates apply.
Mick, are you going to vote?
[Mick] Well, of course I am.
Don't try to get my answer out of me. My vote is sacred.
[Michael] Also here tonight at Judgment Day from ECW,
Mike Adamle and Tazz.
There they are.
And we've got a big championship match coming up.
The WWE Tag Team Championship featuring the Big Red Machine Kane
and his partner, Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk
versus the defending champions, The Miz and John Morrison, Tazz.
And The Miz and John Morrison are WWE Tag Team champions
and also the stars of the Dirt Sheet,
which, by the way, is the most watched show at WWE.com.
Well, basically the champs had a little fun at the challenger's expense.
[narrator] In a world full of winners and losers,
two men have risen above to bring you The Dirt Sheet.
Right now, we're going to take a closer look at our opponents from Judgment Day
in a segment we like to call, ''Behind the Superstar.''
I'm lactose intolerant,
but I drink strawberry cheese-quake blizzards from the DQ anyways.
-[pops] -[purring]
And I got backstage passes to The New Kids on the Block reunion tour.
-Be jealous. -[screams]
Some kids are so afraid of monsters
in their closets that they wet their beds.
[laughs]
Well, I'm a monster.
And I wet my bed too.
[baby crying]
[bell ringing]
[Justin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE
Tag Team Championship.
["Ain't No Make Believe" plays]
[Mike] And that's the championship that John Morrison, The "Shaman of Sexy",
and his partner, The Miz, have had for the last five months.
They won it five months ago back in November,
and tonight they defend it against two of the very best.
[Tazz] That's rock star-like material right there, Mr. Adamle.
Look at that entrance. Are you kidding me or what?
You gotta love John Morrison, I'm telling you, baby.
[Mike] I was asking him about his wrestling attributes.
He told me rockin' body, face made for Hollywood.
He's like a Corvette, only his opponent's like a Geo Metro.
[Tazz] Well, I don't know about that. I think maybe his opponent Kane.
One of his opponents is like an 18-wheeler.
And arguably, CM Punk is like a Porsche.
Enough with the automobile references.
Right now, we're about to see the WWE Tag Team titles defended.
[chuckles] Talk to this, baby.
["I Came To Play" plays]
[Mike] Last week on ECW, John Morrison actually beat Kane in a singles match…
…as he awaits his partner, The Miz. And there he is.
[Tazz] There was no doubt
that John Morrison definitely was successful last week.
But speaking of successful last week, we saw this man, The Miz, was successful
earlier that night against Morrison.
But watch what happens here.
Kane was momentarily distracted by CM Punk,
who was trying to put an end to The Miz
who kept playing games with Kane throughout the match.
[Mike] Miz had beat CM Punk earlier.
[Tazz] See right here, through a distraction,
Kane got caught more or less.
And then you see, it wasn't over by the Tag Team champions.
CM Punk, to his credit, tried to come to the rescue,
but got caught up in the numbers game, Mike, as you see here.
Tough night.
Tough night for Mr. Money in the Bank, CM Punk, and the ECW champion, Kane.
That was last week, Mike. That was last week.
Tonight's where it matters.
[Mike] And very much like two teams who play in the exhibition season,
say the Giants and Patriots in week five with the exhibition season,
and then they meet again in week two. It's a total different scenario.
["Cult Of Personality" music plays]
Mr. Money in the Bank, CM Punk.
His left hand wrapped around the handle of that briefcase,
which, of course, inside carries the contract,
the Money in the Bank contract,
which can cashed in, be cashed in at any time,
for the championship title of his choice.
["Veil Of Fire" plays]
And the Big Red Machine.
He has had a wonderful last month and a half.
Ever since he dominated at WrestleMania, it has been the reign of Kane.
["Veil Of Fire" plays]
[Tazz] Very intimidating force to say the least.
He's the ECW champion, baby.
[explosions]
Oh, red hot out here at ring side, Mike.
[Mike] As we take a look at the seven-foot-plus Big Red Monster,
remember that knee, that bad knee.
[Justin] Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the challengers first,
weighing in at 323 pounds,
is the ECW champion,
Kane.
[audience cheering]
And his partner, from Chicago, Illinois,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
CM Punk.
[audience cheering]
And their opponents, at a combined weight of 461 pounds,
they are the WWE Tag Team Champions,
John Morrison and The Miz.
[Mike] That's what it's about right there, baby. WWE Tag Team Titles.
-[Tazz] Go time, bro. -[Mike] [laughs] Here we go.
And I'm not sure I've seen Miz and Morrison
looking more confident as well they should.
They've held the title for the last five months.
[Tazz] We're underway.
I'll tell you what, CM Punk,
I noticed earlier today, I saw CM Punk in the locker room area.
Able to catch a shot of his--
He's got a massive muscle bruise on his right leg.
And that came from the man he's in the ring with right now,
last week, The Miz.
Punk right now, oh, nice.
Here we go.
That's smart.
If you're CM Punk, maybe you go for a quick near-fall,
early going of the match, he could catch the champions off guard.
[Mike] Punk has driven Morrison into the corner, tags Kane.
And now The Miz is getting double-teamed big time.
[Tazz] Oh, yeah. You don't want to be sitting in the corner
and getting roughed up
when the ECW champion is in the house, baby.
Oh, my God. Look at the power here.
[Mike] He is picking up a 235 pound man basically on his back by his chin.
[Tazz] Well, Kane, I think it's safe to say is hell bent for some revenge
when it comes to Miz and Morrison.
-[yells] -[grunts]
[Mike] That stopped his bull rush momentarily. Kane's, that is.
[Tazz] If you noticed what The Miz did there.
He tried and he did successfully get Kane into his own corner.
To try and get Morrison involved here. Uh-oh.
[thuds]
Not where you want to be.
Oh!
Not where you want to be if you had a face of John Morrison.
-Here we go. -[Mike] Kane on top.
-[Tazz] Come on. -[Mike] Kane delivers that kick
with just about as well as anyone.
And the power behind it, uncalculatable.
[yells]
[Tazz] Oh, watch Punk. Watch Punk. Oh.
Holy cow. That was ugly, nasty, baby.
-Here we go. -[Mike] CM now with the cover.
[Tazz] Watch this kick.
Watch by Kane right here, baby. A little icky thump. Uh-oh.
[Mike] That's right. I said Becky thump. It's an Becky and a thump.
[grunts]
[Tazz] Oh, what the heck?
[Mike] Nice maneuver there by CM.
[Tazz] CM Punk.
Outstanding submission hold.
But CM Punk has a five count to break that maneuver.
[Mike] The illegal hold.
-[Tazz] Oh, whoa, whoa. Here we go. -One, two.
[grunts]
[Tazz] Get Punk here.
[groans]
Well, I'll tell you what, man.
I will take this moment to say our audience here,
as you can tell, having a blast tonight.
And I'll tell you, I'm sure our fans from around the world are doing the same.
Over 60 countries, Mike, watching Judgment Day right now.
Including the United Kingdom, Australia, Egypt, Italy, and Germany.
[Mike] And to our German friends, we say… [speaking in German].
Thank you very much for watching.
-[Tazz] Exactly. -[Mike] Watch out.
Punk in trouble.
[Tazz] See right here, now Miz, again, controlling CM Punk.
Keeping Punk at bay in the middle of the ring.
Miz keeping his back to Kane
to avoid him from making the tag to Kane--
[Mike] You mean Punk.
Punk driving hard.
Out of nowhere, with the right hand, CM delivers the kick.
Now Kane delivers the right hand.
[both grunt]
[Tazz] Oh, baby, watch out. [chuckles]
[Mike] You think Kane and CM
don't remember what happened to them individually last week on ECW?
[Tazz] You're damned. Skippy Kane and CM Punk do.
[Mike] Look at this.
[Tazz] Watch out.
[Mike] From about five feet in the air, 320 pounds coming at you.
[Tazz] Oh, nice point tag there. CM Punk, I'm sorry, John Morrison.
[thuds]
[Mike] And we alluded to it earlier.
Kane, in the last couple of weeks, he's hit,
he'd been basically a one-legged fighter.
[both grunt]
[Tazz] Look at that.
John Morrison grounding and pounding on the ECW champion.
[Mike] This uppercut with the forearm.
Surprising, they're not working that knee a little more.
[Tazz] I mean, you know, the champion's got a game plan.
Oh, man, gotta say, Mike, he's working right now.
You know, the success we've seen on ECW, unexpected, with John Morrison…
-Here we go. -[Mike] Got a knee to the chin.
[Tazz] Both John Morrison and The Miz the tag team champion,
I'm shocked they've been so successful.
With the colliding egos of both these men,
but yet, they are the proverbial well-oiled machines, are the champions.
[Mike] Again, remember, CM Punk and Kane lost to Miz and Morrison
in individual matches on ECW last Tuesday.
-[audience cheering] -[Tazz] Oh, God.
But Kane, Kane was not able to capitalize.
Tremendous way to stop and slow down The Miz.
-[Mike] Miz's hurting probably right now. -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[Mike] Here comes Punk, here comes Morrison.
Thought we're gonna have a mid collision.
[Tazz] It was a collision. Punk's on with Morrison's head.
[Mike] That's twice now that Punk has delivered that 360 roundhouse kick.
-Oh, man. -[Tazz] Oh, beautiful.
-One, two. -Here we go, new champs. Two, oh, man.
Sweet power slam, CM Punk.
Quickly, quick catch, quick momentum here.
-[groans] -[audience cheering]
Oh, nice. Oh, man. Here we go.
-One, two. -[Mike] Talk about a back counter.
-[Tazz] CM Punk digging on his feet, man. -[Mike] That was impressive.
-[Tazz] Well, that's not… Speaking of a… -[Mike] No.
Punk here on fire now. He is a one-man wrecking crew.
-One, two. -Morrison's down, here we go.
[audience cheering]
[Tazz] So CM Punk came down in that hip that I alluded to earlier.
But Punk, don't stop, don't quit. Here we go, baby. GTS action.
[Mike] Kane is trying to get back into the ring.
The referee's saying you can't do that. Not yet, anyway.
-[Tazz] Oh, baby, oh, watch out. -[Mike] Morrison in trouble.
[Tazz] Wait a minute. Oh. [chuckles]
They're just wanting to snatch up. Speaking of snatching.
-[audience cheering] -See you later, baby. Oh, man.
[Mike] Chokeslam time.
[Tazz] Oh, watch out.
[Mike] This is what counts in the middle of the ring.
And that is it.
Kane on it.
[Justin] Here are the winners
and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
John Morrison and The Miz.
[Tazz] Tell you what, impressive victory for the champions.
What a matchup!
What a match, Mike!
I'm telling you straight up, from where I sit. Physical to the max.
But someway, somehow, the Tag Team Champions
leave the hot land of this country with titles intact
due to the distraction here on the outside.
You know, The Miz getting involved, unbeknownst to the referee,
was trying to get rid of Kane.
[Mike] Not unlike what he did a week ago. And then the chokeslam here.
[Tazz] Meanwhile, in the ring, though, this is what's going down.
[Mike] And this is what counts.
[Tazz] Well, yeah, John Morrison is setting up CM Punk
for a little moonlight driving.
-It is all about the shunt, baby. -One, two, three.
Impressive victory for the champions. Hell of a match.
[Mike] CM Punk and Kane can't believe it.
But the winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
The Miz and Morrison.
[Jim] In just a moment,
we're gonna see two of the biggest stars in the history of the WWE go one-on-one.
And you know, ladies and gentlemen, we're talking about
Shawn Michaels versus Chris Jericho.
Many people speculate that this match
is a story about deception.
But will tonight be Shawn Michaels' judgment day?
[Shawn] I'm The "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
The man that you say will take any advantage to get ahead.
The man that you say will stop at absolutely nothing to win.
The guy you're going to face at Backlash.
[man 1] Batista has his own statement to make.
Here he is.
[man 2] Uh-oh.
Michaels fought out of the predicament, but Michaels' left knee got all tangled up
when he hit the canvas.
We may have an abrupt end to this one.
[man 3] Oh, my God!
[man 4] Where did that come from?
[man 3] Batista was drawn into Sweet Chin Music!
Shawn Michaels said that he would do any and everything to win this match,
and we just saw it.
[Chris] Tonight, it's my honor and pleasure to present this.
The award for best actor in sports entertainment.
Shawn Michaels.
The masterpiece of a performance, Shawn.
Look, Chris, I'm hurt.
[Chris] Shawn, look, the facade is done.
You flat-out told Batista that you would do
whatever it took to win the match at Backlash, and you did.
[Batista] It would make me sick to my stomach to even think
that Shawn Michaels would fake an injury.
Shawn, for your sake, I hope you are actually hurt.
Because if you're not, when I see you, you will be.
[William] You said that Shawn Michaels is okay.
Absolutely, 100% okay.
[William] That's very good, because tonight
you'll be teaming with Shawn Michaels
to face the WWE Tag Champions, John Morrison and The Miz.
And if Shawn Michaels is, 100%,
you've got nothing to worry about, have you?
[man 5] Oh, good Lord! What Sweet Chin Music!
[man 6] Oh, man, look how bad that hurt Michael.
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels' presence, even on one leg, has been felt greatly.
I wonder if that was enough to make a believer out of Jericho.
[Chris] Something happened last week that changed my mind.
Shawn Michaels really, really is hurt.
And for questioning Shawn's injury and questioning his very integrity,
I just wanted to come out here tonight and tell Shawn that I'm sorry.
And Shawn, if you want to call off our match this Sunday
at Judgment Day, I completely understand. As a matter of fact, I think you should.
And if you have too much pride to call it off,
I'll do it for you.
[Shawn] Chris, you're not the one that needs to apologize.
You are right.
I'm not hurt.
[Chris] I'm not buying it.
I know that you're hurt. I know in my heart that you're hurt.
It doesn't matter what you say. It doesn't matter what you do…
Trust me when I tell you…
I'm not hurt.
[suspenseful music plays]
[Shawn] Trust me when I tell you.
I'm not hurt.
["Break the walls down" plays]
[fireworks explode]
["Break the walls down" plays]
[bell rings]
[Lillian] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, weighing in at 226 pounds,
He is the Intercontinental Champion,
Y2J, Chris Jericho!
♪ You know I got ya ♪
♪ Yeah. Jericho! ♪
♪ I'm awaken from a deep sleep, You're all weak ♪
♪ You're livin' in the agony of defeat ♪
♪ I am the master of your whole heap ♪
[Jim] No one in the history of the WWE has been the Intercontinental Champion
four times than that man, Chris Jericho.
But tonight, this amazing, show-stopping match,
isn't about the Intercontinental title.
♪ Jericho! Comin' down Now you know… ♪
["Sexy Boy" plays]
[Lillian] And making his way to the ring from San Antonio, Texas,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
♪ I send chills Up and down their spine ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
[fireworks explode]
[Jim] You know ladies and gentlemen,
there only have been five men in the history of the WWE
that have been Grand Slam champions.
Meaning that they have won every major championship.
Five in the history of the WWE.
We're about to see two of those five go one on one here and now.
[Jerry] Well, one thing for certain tonight,
there's nothing wrong with Shawn Michaels' knee, is there?
[Jim] Shawn Michaels is 100%.
But so is Chris Jericho.
[Jerry] You know the old saying is,
"you fool some of the people all the time,
and all of the people some of the time". And you think that's enough.
But, I mean, Chris Jericho actually had Shawn Michaels figured out.
But then Shawn Michaels was able
to re-convince or re-fool Chris Jericho,
and make Jericho believe that Shawn Michaels was hurt.
[Jim] Michaels, the master of the mind game, the veteran,
in the head of Chris Jericho.
And that could be a big factor in this match as well.
Jericho's expression, quite frankly, hasn't changed since he entered the ring.
Nor has he taken his eyes off HBK.
[Jerry] Well, I don't think you can blame Chris Jericho,
and I think that expression, to me,
says that Jericho feels like he's betrayed and been betrayed by Shawn Michaels.
Would you agree with that?
[Jim] Well, not necessarily. Like all's fair in love and war.
Shawn Michaels said he was going to do whatever it took
to get the job done.
[Jerry] Well, and give the devil his due, Shawn Michaels,
you know, he's said this before, he's not 6'4".
He's not 295 pounds. So, sometimes he does have to do whatever it takes to win. Whoa!
[Jim] Nice back heel trip.
Jericho going to look, looking to exploit the leg of Shawn Michaels.
And, uh, Michaels making sure that doesn't happen.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Somehow, I think that Jericho may still believe
that Shawn Michaels' knee is not 100%.
[Jim] And you know what? Jericho may be right.
[Jerry] Oh, wait a minute.
Are we going to be duped again as well?
I'm going to, I for one, I'm going to take Shawn Michaels' word for it.
[Jim] When you're dealing with Shawn Michaels, you just never know.
…Two. [inaudible].
-Did you say now? -No.
[Jim] As I said before, when it comes to competition,
Shawn Michaels is the show stopper.
He loves those mind games.
Will take any advantage that he can create.
[audience chanting]
He can be controversial, as we all know.
But who's better than Shawn Michaels?
[Jerry] Uh, maybe Y2J? I don't know.
That's why this is going to be a classic matchup.
[Jim] I think that's why they're having this match.
[Jerry] Both of these guys' egos need their own zip code.
-One, two. -[Jim] And Michaels got him down.
-One, two. -And Jericho back with the advantage.
One, two…
[Jim] Whoa! Looks like Michaels' knees are in pretty good shape right there.
[Jerry] He's certainly got some good upper body strength. Uh-oh.
[thuds]
He may take the wind out of him. Hey! Look at this again!
[Jim] Shawn Michaels showing great strength.
[Jerry] Trying to turn that into a backslide,
but Jericho showing a little strength of his own.
Oh, man! What a counter! And another counter!
[Jim] A beautiful two counters, one in midair.
Double leg take down, and now, Uh-oh.
Michaels has an inverted figure four.
[audience cheering]
Could it be a version of a Native American death lock?
In any event, Jericho is in a position
to give up and submit here in the early going of this match.
[Jerry] I'll tell you, I never saw this
coming from Shawn Michaels, but Jericho is in a precarious position.
It's going to be hard to make it to the ropes. He may have to tap here.
[Jim] How in the heck can you ever predict what Shawn Michaels is going to do?
[Jerry] No, you can't do it. Jericho closer to those ropes than I thought.
This way. This way.
[Jim] That's a smart, timely move by Chris Jericho.
And Michaels has a little bit of a smirk on his face.
-[Jerry] Smirk? -[Jim] Almost saying, "I got you".
[Jerry] He's cocky, if you ask me.
[Jim] Or confident, depending on your perspective.
I'll say this to Chris Jericho, he never did,
he didn't do any whining and moaning about, uh, what happened to…
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[Jim] His interactions with Shawn Michaels were…
[Jerry] What a slap!
[Jim] And, Michaels again getting in Jericho's head,
and Michaels infuriating Chris Jericho…
…with that slap to the face--
[Jerry] And now that cocky little smile.
That's not confidence, that's cockiness.
[Jim] Michaels is the dealer, and Jericho is playing Michaels' game.
[Jerry] Michaels wants to play a little rope-a-dope.
Now he's inviting Jericho in, he's gonna lay back on those ropes.
Look at Jericho's face.
[Jim] Red welts on Jericho's face, thanks to Shawn Michaels.
And this match is just really getting underway.
[Jerry] Oh, man!
Were those teeth flying?
[Jim] That's a little bit of a payback.
Hard shots to the face.
[Jerry] I think that Shawn Michaels
may have raised the ire of, uh, Chris Jericho.
[Jim] You think?
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Way to cool it off.
-[Jim] Jericho walked right into that. -[Jerry] Oh, look out!
[Jim] Michaels is punishing Chris Jericho.
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[Jim] And what a unique, Michaels really couldn't win the match in the ropes.
But Michaels really can sure inflict some punishment.
[Jerry] Ripped Jericho's shoulder out of socket. Oh!
[Jim] The arm bar takedown and that arm breaker
in Jericho's left arm now,
the object of the affection, if you will, of Shawn Michaels.
That's the object of the aggression of HBK.
…Three. Hey, hey, hey.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -Let's go, out of there.
Michaels content to work on the shoulder
and Jericho continuously putting his hand right in Michaels' face.
And then Michaels put his fist in Jericho's face.
Whoa!
[Jim] Beautiful reversal by Jericho.
And that hung Michaels upside down from the velocity.
And now it's Chris Jericho who has seen the momentum swing back into his favor.
Two extremely cocky WWE superstars.
[Jerry] This is not looking good for Shawn Michaels at the moment.
What's Jericho got in mind?
[Jim] Those smacks to the spine.
[inaudible]
Michaels trying to create some distance and does.
And that was out of desperation.
[Jerry] The back of Jericho's skull just bouncing off that mat.
Oh! Look at that! Uh-oh!
Uh-oh, man!
[Jim] Michaels landing gingerly on the turnbuckle.
One leg went east, the other went west.
And now let's see if Jericho can capitalize.
[audience screaming]
Jericho was looking for something big just moments ago.
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels holding on to that top rope for dear life.
-Oh! -[Jim] And instead it's Michaels
who scores with the high impact.
Michaels taking a chance.
[Jerry] There it is!
Oh, my God!
[Jim] Jericho got his knees up as Michaels was trying to deliver that elbow.
And Michaels' ribs have, I think,
Michaels' ribs have absorbed the blunt of that blow.
[Jerry] And I want to see that again.
Michaels' rib cage, that knee of Jericho, driven right in.
Watch this knee come up at the last second.
Look. Oh, man!
[Jim] Absolutely right in the ribs. Michaels off the top rope.
-And now Jericho has a real opportunity -[groans]
to exploit Shawn Michaels' ribs.
And that's exactly what the 8-time Intercontinental Champion is doing.
[Jerry] What a fair game!
[groans] Oh, gosh!
[Jerry] You could easily have cracked ribs from an impact like that.
[Jim] Well, we can all remember back it happened right on our announce table.
WrestleMania 24. Michaels crashed and burned on our table.
And he's suffered a rib injury in his match against Ric Flair.
I don't know the condition of Michaels' ribs.
I don't know how, you know, the ribs can be a nagging injury.
[Jerry] Well, you talk about what happened to Michaels at WrestleMania 24.
Rib injury on our desk.
But somehow, Michaels continued on and won that match against Flair.
[Jim] I remember.
[Jerry] So, Jericho better keep that in his mind
because that could certainly still happen here tonight.
[Jim] Let me tell you something.
Out of nowhere, that Sweet Chin Music has beaten many a WWE superstar.
But right now, Jericho is making sure…
is making sure that there's no Sweet Chin Music
from this abdominal stretch.
[Jerry] Good strategy here.
Jericho knows that the damage was done by his knee into the ribs of Michaels.
And now he's grinding Michaels down, concentrating on that midsection,
upper body, rib cage.
[Jim] The abdominal stretch when applied is a great submission maneuver
and puts a great deal of torque on the ribs.
And here we go now.
-One, two. -The foreleg is hooked.
And Michaels somehow reaching down and kicking out.
But just the look on Shawn Michaels' face tells an amazing story.
I guess, of resilience.
[Jerry] That was painful.
You could tell from Shawn's face just to kick out of that cover.
[Jim] One has to wonder how much longer,
how much more resilience Michaels has in that anatomy of his.
[Jerry] Do you hear how hard Shawn is being driven into those turnbuckles.
Bulldog coming now! Oh! Oh!
[Jim] HBK using Jericho's own momentum
to sidestep the offense of Jericho.
-What do you say, Jericho? -[Jim] And you see the results.
[groans]
[Jerry] That top rope, middle rope both doing damage to Chris Jericho.
Shawn just put on the brakes. Jericho kept going. Oh!
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Michaels scores with that patented forearm.
-No that didn't do Michaels any favor? -[Jerry] Oh!
[Jerry] And Jericho takes advantage.
[Jerry] Walls of Jericho coming!
-[Jim] Turn him around. -[Jerry] It's locked in.
[Jim] Jericho, the Walls of Jericho.
Oh, the ribs of Michaels injured in the center of the ring.
Michaels is desperate.
Can Michaels reach the bottom rope?
-Oh, gosh. -[audience cheering]
The hold is broken. The match will continue.
But is it going to be too little, too late for HBK?
One, two… [inaudible].
You hear me?
[Jerry] Referee admonishing Jericho, but look out here.
[Jim] Good grief.
[Jerry] You said it.
Shawn Michaels can strike with that Sweet Chin Music
from anywhere, anytime!
[Jim] The band didn't even have to tune up.
[audience] Two…
[Jim] Michaels could win this one by count out.
[audience] …four, five, six…
[Jerry] Referee's up to six.
[audience] …seven.
It looks like Michaels doesn't want a count out here.
[Jim] Well, Jericho in at eight, Michaels in at nine.
And Michaels is now trying to--
[Jerry] Is trying to cover or what?
[Jim] I was thinking Michaels was going for the cover, but he--
[Jerry] Like he wants to get Jericho out in the center of the ring
so that Jericho can't reach those ropes.
[Jim] And now there's a cover. Good lord.
Jericho just his will to win and compete.
[Jerry] Let's go back and look at that, like we said, super kick out of nowhere.
Jericho finally he had the advantage and then his lights were turned out.
[Jim] But hand it Jericho, he was able to kick out of that last predicament.
And Michaels looking now to put the Intercontinental Champion away.
[Jerry] Remember your ribs. This is going to hurt you as much as it does Jericho.
What'd I say? Come on.
[Jim] Michaels neglecting his own pain.
Forgetting about what his body must be feeling.
Looking for the high impact offense and found it.
[Jerry] That's what's made Shawn Michaels famous.
That's what he's done his entire career.
He'll sacrifice his body for a victory.
And now, the band tunes up.
[Jim] But look at Jericho.
[audience] …Three…
[Jim] Jericho finally stirring a little bit.
[audience] …four…
Jericho may not be up long.
[Jerry] Don't turn around, Chris, you're not going to like the view.
[audience cheering]
Here he comes… Oh!
[Jim] And Jericho's equilibrium has been compromised.
[Jerry] Well, maybe.
I don't know about Jericho here. He--
-Here he comes. Oh, look at that. -[Jim] Oh, Codebreaker…
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] …out of nowhere.
Jericho driving his knees into Michaels' sternum with a Codebreaker.
[Jerry] Oh, I'm not so sure Jericho didn't have that Codebreaker
up his sleeve all the time.
[Jim] But the issue is, is that Jericho has…
hasn't been able to capitalize on his biggest,
most impactful offensive record.
[Jerry] Cover, call across and cover him.
-Here it is… -[Jim] Jericho's got the cover.
Jericho's got the… Oh, the near-fall.
[Jerry] Too much hesitation.
Watch this, Shawn Michaels thought
he's going to deliver some Sweet Chin Music.
Instead, the Codebreaker was delivered.
[Jim] Well, both men have hit their A material.
The Codebreaker and Sweet Chin Music.
As Jericho goes right back to ripping a hard shot.
Right to the ribs.
[Jerry] Well, you're right. Now it's on to plan B.
When you've hit him with your best shot, they still survive.
You got to have something else in your arms.
Look out, Shawn Michaels does!
[Jim] A crossface! The crossface!
And Jericho is trapped into the crossface submission.
[Jerry] Oh, and Shawn Michaels has it locked in.
He's gonna tap! You have to tap!
[Jim] Can Jericho counter? Can Jericho survive?
[Jerry] Look at the color of Jericho's face,
turning deep red.
[Jim] Jericho's face distorted moments ago.
[Jerry] There you go, he's gonna tap.
Oh, look at Michaels, cranking on and on. Look at this! Look at this!
[Jim] Jericho somehow, someway,
gutted it out long enough to get to the bottom rope.
But Michaels has done some kind of damage with that crossface.
[Jerry] Boy, how Jericho survived that, I don't know.
Shawn Michaels going for it again, Jericho rolling out of it.
[Jim] That was a good counter by Jericho.
And now Jericho fights back in this match.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Jim] Ribs again!
The ribs of Michaels taking a pounding.
[Jerry] You saw that earlier, and you know how effective that can be.
At least Shawn Michaels does now.
[Jim] Michaels holding his ribs, as you can see.
Jericho making sure that Michaels is in the center of the ring.
[Jerry] Lion assault! Oh! Wait a minute!
Michael puts his knees up, and Jericho blocks it!
[Jim] Jericho one step ahead of Michaels! Jericho blocked!
Jericho looking for the walls!
Jericho looking to beat Shawn Michaels!
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels trying to hold the head counter!
[Jim] What a counter! Cover. Michaels wins it!
-Good Lord. -[Jerry] What a match!
What a hellacious counter match!
[Lillian] Here's your winner,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels!
♪ I got the moves That really move them ♪
♪ I send chills Up and down their spine ♪
-♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪ -♪ Sexy boy ♪
-♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ -♪ Boy toy ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪ -♪ Sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ ♪ Boy toy ♪
♪ I make them hot I make them shiver ♪
♪ Their knees get weak Whenever I'm around ♪
♪ They see me walk They hear me talk ♪
♪ I make them feel Like they're on Cloud nine ♪
-♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪ -♪ Sexy boy ♪
-♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ -♪ Boy toy ♪
-♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪ -♪ Sexy boy ♪
-♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ -♪ Boy toy ♪
-[Jim] Wow! -[Jerry] Picture's worth a thousand words!
Both these men, literally spin, what a great match!
[Jim] Well, I tell you what, as a WWE fan,
I could watch these two men wrestle everyday of the week!
What an amazing match-up!
Great effort by both men! Somebody had to win, somebody had to lose!
[Jerry] These guys are veterans,
but I don't think they can go at it everyday of the week!
Somebody wouldn't survive!
-♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ -♪ Boy toy ♪
I don't know!
[audience cheering]
[audience cheers and applause]
["Sexy Boy" plays]
[Jerry] I liked it! I liked it!
[Jim] A great show of respect!
Between two amazing WWE superstars!
Respect is earned! It's not awarded!
-♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪ -♪ Boy toy ♪
[Jerry] Well, we liked it!
I wonder what our general manager, King William Regal, thought of it!
He got a hard face for me to read!
♪ I make them hot I make them shiver ♪
♪ Their knees get weak Whenever I'm around ♪
♪ They see me walk They hear me talk ♪
[Jim] Good thing this wasn't a championship match for Y2J.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the WWE Women's Champion, Mickie James!
Hi!
Mickie, you're just moments away from your Triple Threat match
for the Women's Championship. How are you feeling right now?
Well, I'm feeling pretty confident.
You know, Shawn Michaels was just victorious.
And so was John Cena, so I'm feeling pretty good.
Since you brought up the name John Cena, a lot of people are wondering,
last week after RAW, you went out with John Cena. How did that go?
It went good. It was fun, yeah. He's a nice guy. I like him.
You can go.
I'm not asking you.
You want to ask her a question about John Cena?
Why don't you ask me a question about John Cena?
Um, okay. Earlier, John Cena beat you.
What are you going to be doing in the weeks and months to come,
in order to get some sort of revenge against John Cena?
You've never been in a fight, have you, son?
A little trust-a-fairy and giving a job my mommy and daddy,
wake up on third, you think you hit a triple, don't you?
I don't know who you're talking about beating who.
I just beat John Cena for 20 straight minutes.
John Cena is the one that's in the training room right now.
Now who beat who?
And if you ever ask me a stupid…
…asinine question like that again,
it will be your first…
…and last fight.
[Jim] Let's send out a big thank you to one of our favorite bands,
ZIDIDADA, for their tune, "Take It All",
the official theme song of Judgment Day.
[Jerry] Who's gonna take it all tonight
for the vacated World Championship
from SmackDown up for grabs,
it's The Undertaker vs. Edge?
And we want all our great fans to get involved.
Give us your opinion, your prediction via text voting
brought to you exclusively by AT&T.
The question is simple. Who will win the World Title?
Standard text messaging rates apply.
[bell ringing]
The following is a Triple Threat match
and it is for the WWE Women's Championship.
["Glamazon" plays]
[Jim] This will be a first for Judgment Day,
a Triple Threat match
for the Women's Title, The Glamazon.
[Jerry] Oh, man…
[Jim] What a combination of beauty and strength by her own words.
Has had some, not a great last two weeks. Couple miscues between she and Melina.
[Jerry] I think she would be considered favorite in this match, don't you?
[Jim] For the last week, it was The Glamazon and Melina
as tag team partners,
when The Glamazon decided just to walk out on her partner, Melina.
And that did not end very well for either lady.
[Jerry] No, they met later on backstage.
Beth, what the hell were you thinking leaving me all alone out there?
Well, don't act so surprised, Melina.
Last week, you cost me the WWE Women's Championship
and you hit me in the head with your boot.
That was an accident.
-I know. You did it on purpose. -She did not.
Why would I do that?
Because you know you can beat Mickie James
a hell of a lot easier than you can beat me.
And quite frankly tonight, I let you off easy.
-Is that so? -Yes.
-No. No! -Oh, my God.
No!
[Melina grunts]
[screams]
Oh, my God.
-Hey, hey, hey. -No, no, no, break up, break up, no.
Stop this. Break up now.
[inaudible]
[Jim] You ever fought in front of your locker in school like that?
[Jerry] I don't know, but I think it's safe.
[Jim] Did they have lockers when you went to school?
[Jerry] I think it's safe to say that the, uh,
Tag Team or partnership of Beth Phoenix, "The Glamazon"
and Melina is kaput.
[Jim] At least that's what we're led to believe.
["Paparazzi" playing]
[Jerry] I don't know about fights in front of my locker room
but I've seen that from women in my past
and it never turned out good.
[Jim] On your last honeymoon maybe?
[Jerry] [laughs] Yeah.
[Jim] A former three-time women's champion,
Melina, looking to get right back, oh.
Well, I tried that just a couple of day ago on my back porch.
-[Jerry] You did? -[Jim] I did.
It didn't work.
["Obsession" playing]
[Jim] Can you say feisty little girl on pay-per-view?
Mickie James, a four-time women's champion
did what many people thought was impossible.
She beat The Glamazon
and become the Women's champion just a few weeks ago in London, England.
And now introducing the challengers,
first, from Buffalo New York, Beth Phoenix, The Glamazon.
[audience cheering]
And from Los Angeles California, Melina.
[audience cheering]
From Richmond, Virginia,
she is the WWE women's champion, Mickie James.
[Jerry] Oh, Mickie.
[Jim] After Lilian's introduction
we have no more time, ladies and gentlemen.
Good night. Thanks for coming. No, we're kidding.
Hey, remember now the first person
to score a pinfall or submission in this match
leaves the WWE women's champion,
so there's no disqualification and no count out as I understand it.
And again the first Triple Threat, uh, women's title match ever
at a Judgment Day.
What's going on here?
Get out of my ring. You don't belong in my ring.
Get out of my ring.
Get out of my ring right now.
-You want me to get out of that ring? -Get out of my ring.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
-[Jim] Well-- -[Jerry] Beth Phoenix.
[Jim] Somebody left the ring, all right. Over to Mickie.
This is… oh.
What a beautiful victory roll by Mickie James.
[Jerry] This is going to be one of the fastest
women's title matches in history.
Oh.
[Jim] Mickie James certainly an overachiever,
The Glamazon taking advantage and Mickie a little, oh, look, look…
the powerful and strong is The Glamazon
who now has Melina, so to speak, all to herself.
And remember, Mickie doesn't have to be involved
in the equation to lose her championship.
[Jerry] Well, Melina got The Glamazon kicked out
but then Mickie paid the price. Now look at this! Look at Melina go.
[Jim] Melina mounted on The Glamazon, was hammering those right hands
until the, it just so, it's so hard to restrain a woman
with this kind of power. Referring to The Glamazon.
[Jerry] It'd be fun to try, but you're right, it would be difficult.
-Look out. -[Jim] What the heck!
-[Jerry] Man. -[Jim] Mickie James--
[Jerry] Very resourceful.
[Jim] Mickie James coming in the back door there
with that cradle, oh, nicely done.
[yells]
[Jerry] Hey, look what in the world.
[Jim] And Melina taken down and--
[Jerry laughs]
[Jerry] I am impressed with the offense of Mickie James. She's everywhere.
[Jim] Mickie's got a lot of grit.
She's got a tremendous amount of heart.
And Mickie now with that kind of a modified sleeper hold
-on The Glamazon. -[screams]
[Jerry] Oh, no. Mickie not being intimidated by The Glamazon.
I had the opportunity,
I actually took a chance and spoke with Beth Phoenix earlier today,
you know, she told me that when she was in high school,
the boys were so intimidated by her
that she didn't even get asked to her senior prom.
[Jerry] Oh, that's kind of sad. Oh, she went.
She just told her date that he was taking her.
[Jim] That I can believe as Melina,
I can believe Melina winning the women's championship again.
Again, a two-time champ.
Some call her a hellcat, King.
-[grunts] -Oh.
Mickie James again, scoring with nice offense.
-[Jerry] Yes. -[audience cheering]
I love the high risk maneuver from Mickie James.
Oh, no.
That didn't turn out well.
[Jim] It's one calculated risk that didn't materialize later on.
Hey, hey, hey--
[Jim] You're talking about strength and power.
You're seeing it and The Glamazon, look at Melina.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] A one-woman electric chair.
-Full voltage. -[Jerry] Hey, watch Mickie.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh, horse, cross bounty, the leg is hooked and too much power.
-[grunts] -[thuds]
-Good Lord. -[Jerry] Whoa.
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] Call the orthodontist.
[Jerry] Oh, double dropkick both feet right to the face of The Glamazon.
[Jim] And for the moment The Glamazon is out of the, out of the picture.
Oh, man, what a shot to Mickie's nose.
[screams]
[Jerry] Hey, come on, ref, that can't be legal.
[Jim] But there's no disqualification.
[Jerry] Like I said that's legal.
[Jim] I know backbreaker.
Oh, no come on that's impossible.
-There's no way, there's no way. -[Jerry] What?
-[Jim] Good Lord. -[Jerry] What?
[Jim] I've never seen that in my entire life.
Two women a double backbreaker.
[Jerry] Being executed by the unbelievable strength of Beth phoenix, The Glamazon.
[Jim] And The Glamazon held both women up there for an inordinate length of time.
It just seems to be The Glamazon's night.
Melina from behind.
[Jerry] I think that's gonna be the only hope to neutralize Beth Phoenix.
It's gonna take double teaming, whoa, what a DDT.
-[Jim] Mickie James. -One, two, three.
-[Jerry] Yes. -[Jim] Yes.
[Jerry] Mickie James takes it on Melina.
[Lillian] Here is your winner
and still the WWE women's champion,
Mickie James.
[Jerry] Wow.
[Jim] Well, I'll tell you something,
Mickie caught a break or two in this match.
So we're not gonna take anything away from her amazing efforts
but when The Glamazon got put on the equation, thanks to Melina.
[Jerry] Let's go back to early in the match, Melina with that big boot.
Put The Glamazon out of action for a few minutes
and then, uh, watch this, uh, I want to show you…
watch this kick by Mickie James coming up this was, oh, unmerciful!
[Jim] But it didn't put The Glamazon away because look at this.
[Jerry] I've never seen the likes of this in my career
this was absolutely impressive.
[Jim] Could be the diva moment of the year
and then Mickie James channeling Jake "The Snake" Roberts
-One, two, three. -for the famous DDT.
The Virginia farm girl leaves with a smile on her face
can't say the same for The Glamazon or Melina.
Shawn…
…I told you, if you're lying about your injury,
the next time I saw you I was gonna hurt you.
But I'm gonna make you wait for it
and I'm gonna dictate the time and the place
but I am gonna hurt you.
And this rivalry between Edge and The Undertaker
going on the better part of the year really heated up in WrestleMania
but coming up next another chapter going to be written for the vacated World Title.
All throughout the night we've asked you our great fans to participate,
uh, via our exclusive partnership with AT&T.
Who's going to win this matchup via text messaging.
-Let's see what our fans picked, Mick. -[Mick] Okay.
[Michael] Wow, Undertaker overwhelmingly, are you surprised?
[Mick] A landslide. Well, I was going to text I swear I was and I found out,
I don't know how to. I don't know how.
[Michael] Up next Undertaker versus Edge for the Vacant World Championship.
What I'm about to say has nothing to do with my fiancée.
[man 1] Look at this, he's got it on the lethal submission hold.
[Vickie] Undertaker, for the past several months,
you have injured several superstars
when you have applied that chokehold.
[man 2] He needs to tap and he needs to do it now
to prevent serious injury.
[Vickie] And you have also ruptured
the larynx of many superstars.
Oh, my God. Baby I love you. I'm so sorry.
From this moment on, that chokehold is banned.
Since you have not shown any remorse, I regret to inform you,
that you have been stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship.
I'm sorry.
Contrary to what many people have been saying,
I did not want to strip The Undertaker of the World Title.
The Judgment Day, there will be a match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
And in the interest of fairness,
one of the men competing for the title, The Undertaker.
As for who will face The Undertaker.
Well, that brings me to tonight's
Championship Chase to Judgment Day.
[Michael] The Championship Chase to Judgment Day is underway.
[Mick] A stellar number of matches
put together with an all star roster of superstars,
all for an opportunity to battle for the World Title.
[Vickie] The winners will advance
to an over-the-top world challenge in our main event.
[Michael] The winner of this matchup
to face The Undertaker at Judgment Day for the World Title.
There goes Kane.
We are down to two, Batista and the Big Show,
two former world champions, one of these men going to Judgment Day.
[Mick] Oh, my goodness, Batista's going to Judgment Day.
[Vickie] Hold on, wait. Wait a minute.
The Championship Chase is not over.
And the reason is,
my fiancee has just now been medically cleared.
The Championship Chase continues.
[Michael] Edge with a spear Batista eliminated.
The Ultimate Opportunist has struck again.
[Edge] This Sunday at Judgment Day I will beat The Undertaker,
you're looking at the New World Heavyweight Champion.
[explodes]
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, simply what this match is about
is that vacated World Championship.
[bell rings]
[Justin] This bout set for one fall
is for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.
[audience cheering]
["Metalingus" playing]
♪ On this day ♪
♪ I see clearly Everything has come to life ♪
♪ A bitter place and a broken dream ♪
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
over the years the World Heavyweight Championship
has been relinquished or vacated a few times
in the past for injuries and other reasons.
Ironically, it was last year that Edge actually vacated the championship
due to injury,
but never before in history has the World Title been stripped
from the champion.
General manager Vickie Guerrero made history a few weeks ago
when she stripped The Undertaker of the championship,
giving her fiance Edge the opportunity to once again win the gold.
[Mick] Well, Edge has proven that no situation is too despicable to exploit.
No trust is too sacred to betray.
There's no telling what Edge might be willing to do
to recapture the World Heavyweight Championship.
♪ On this day ♪
♪ I see clearly Everything has come to life ♪
[Michael] Edge called it a medical miracle that he was able to recuperate
in time for the Championship Chase a couple of weeks ago
but because of that medical miracle,
Edge has an opportunity tonight
to become a five-time, five-time champion
[Mick] That medical miracle he talked about
has angered a long list of WWE superstars.
Should Edge be lucky enough to recapture the championship?
He won't be hurting for a list of waiting contenders.
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[audience cheering]
["Rest in Peace" continuing]
[bell tolling]
[Michael] In The Undertaker's scoring
and legendary career he's only beaten that man Edge twice,
once in WrestleMania and once in Backlash
in both times Mick, Undertaker used that that lethal chokehold
but he cannot use that hold tonight.
Remember it has been banned by the general manager.
[Mick] But these two men know each other so well
we've seen a couple of series of holds
and counterholds at WrestleMania and Backlash
with that chokehold providing the Edge
in both cases…
…I couldn't bother but a guess as to what Undertaker
might have in store for Edge tonight.
[Michael] We've talked a lot about The Undertaker,
well, evolving and adapting
over the years and changing his style to his opponents.
Well, once again tonight The Undertaker's gonna have to adapt,
gonna have to evolve gonna have to find another way to defeat Edge.
Introducing the challenger first from Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
weighing 250 pounds
he is The Rated-R Superstar,
Edge!
[audience cheering]
And his opponent from Death Valley,
weighing 299 pounds,
The Undertaker.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] It was last May that Edge cashed in The Money in the Bank briefcase
to take the World Championship from The Undertaker
and over the past year their lives have well, one paralleled each other
and zigzagged in and out.
And here again tonight, we write another chapter
the winner to win the vacated World Championship.
The Undertaker versus Edge.
[Mick] For so many years,
The Undertaker has been the undisputed master of mind games
in WWE.
But there is one man who get inside The Undertaker's head,
it's that man, Edge.
[Michael] That leads to a good point early on in this matchup.
The Undertaker has so much anger and frustration
built up inside him over the wrongs that have been done to him
at the hands of Vickie Guerrero and Edge.
The Undertaker must channel that energy, not get out of control here tonight.
For Edge, Mick, The Master Manipulator,
he's gonna have to try to force The Undertaker
to lose his cool and then exploit that.
[audience chanting]
[Mick] And we'll see how those factors play out.
Undertaker has been around a long time there's a long, long list of superstars
who fall in The Undertaker's wrath without benefit of that chokehold
we'll see if he can find a way to add Edge to that list tonight.
[Michael] Well, I don't know if Edge wants to get into a slugfest
with the feet on The Undertaker.
[Mick] Probably not, Michael. Probably not.
[Michael] Former six-time world champion unloading on The Rated-R Superstar.
[Mick] All of those punches throwing some bad intentions tonight,
maybe even a little worse than normal.
Three, four, get off the choke.
[Michael] Undertaker using the complete five count
from referee Charles Robinson.
And Mick, let's talk strategy first off for The Undertaker
what does he need to do to win the title?
[Mick] Well, I think you hit upon a key.
He needs to keep his cool
Remember that--
Remember to channel the animosity he feels towards Vickie Guerrero exactly at Edge--
Remember there's enough amount of animosity to go around.
Undertaker has not only been wronged by Vickie Guerrero
and all of La Familia but by Edge as well.
[Michael] You notice, The Undertaker targeting the left arm and shoulder
of The Rated-R Superstar…
[audience scream]
By damaging that wing,
Undertaker may be forcing Edge to think twice
about delivering that lethal spear.
[Mick] But last month The Undertaker started out his match with Edge
in Backlash by mouthing the words
"I'm going to hurt you". I think The Undertaker knows the best way
to hurt Edge is to win that Heavyweight Championship.
[Michael] Well, punish Edge and torture him again
for the wrongs that have been done to The Undertaker.
Including the fact that he was stripped of that World Championship
And Mick, you've been involved in so many battles with The Undertaker
over the years.
You know, how proud of a man he is
and to be stripped of the title not to lose it but to be stripped of it
must prey on The Undertaker's pride.
[Mick] Well, I said it before titles should be won or lost in the ring,
not in board rooms
I think the actions that Vickie Guerrero has taken have been despicable.
And I'm not sure that angering that man
who's capable of unleashing so much fury is the proper thing to do.
[Michael] Undertaker went for old school, but these men know each other so well,
Edge had it scouted perfectly and notice how the Rated-R Superstar
waited for Undertaker to take his perch on the top rope
and allowed to use that rope as a weapon when he knocked The Undertaker off.
[Mick] I think what's been lost in all this Vickie Guerrero scenario
is the fact that Edge is one of the greatest superstars of all time,
like you said there, biding his time, the right hand just poking the leg out
from underneath The Undertaker and down he goes.
[Michael] And this is where Edge becomes so dangerous,
when he gets just a slight bit of an upper hand in a match-up.
He calls himself the predator
and this is where Edge can be a predator on The Undertaker.
[Mick] He is like a shark with the scent of blood.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Oh, and Undertaker, the power game at its best.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Again, this is for the vacated World Heavyweight Championship.
[Michael] A title that has been worn proudly
over the years by the likes of Triple H and Shawn Michaels
and Rick flair and Batista.
-These two men, The Undertaker and Edge. -[audience cheering]
[Mick] Look at the impact and the power game is not a game
that Edge is going to want to play tonight.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Great counter by Edge.
[Mick] Did you feel that impact, Cole?
[Michael] You could see Undertaker's knees buckle
as they smashed straight into the steel steps.
Look at the look on The Undertaker's face, literally grimacing.
Six…
[Michael] Referee Charles Robinson in a count of seven
and that will break the count,
but Edge where he could punish Undertaker even more.
[Mick] No one more aggressive
when they have things going in their way than is Edge.
[Michael] Again, Edge realized
that Undertaker was probably gonna beat the count
back into the ring, so what does he do?
He made sure he punishes the man more.
[Mick] There's the sliding kick sending Undertaker back first
to our restraining barrier.
Spread out, back it up now. Go, move it.
[Mick] That impact into the stairs was so jarring.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] Six feet ten is The Undertaker,
not quite so tall when he has his legs taken out from underneath him.
[Michael] Undertaker outweighing his opponent Edge here tonight as well
in a rivalry that dates back a year…
and have been evolved in so many scenarios.
Oh, and Undertaker back to the legs again, got caught up on the top rope.
This could be a huge opening, Mick, for The Ultimate Opportunist, Edge.
Could he take advantage?
Crawls to the cover,
Edge hooks both legs and forces The Undertaker to power out.
[Mick] If anyone can take advantage of any given situation,
-it's The Rated-R Superstar. -[audience cheering]
[Michael] And the thing with Edge,
he's one of those guys when he gains confidence
it starts to give the upper hand, the momentum begins to build
and he becomes almost unstoppable.
[Mick] Well, you're exactly right.
A few weeks back after Backlash,
I thought he almost looked like the ghost of Edge out there,
like Edge wasn't being completely himself.
Then when the World Heavyweight Championship went up in flames,
he seemed to be falling victim to The Undertaker's mind games.
Now it looks like he's found his way like he is the Edge of old.
[Michael] Well, The Undertaker's psychological factor
that chokehold another mind game
that he used, taken out of the equation.
Edge does not have to fear that here tonight.
And Undertaker employs that hold, he will not win the World Title.
[Mick] Nonetheless, Cole, I asked the question last week,
when a superstar comes face to face with his own mortality
as Edge did at WrestleMania and Backlash, will that superstar ever been the same?
Edge doing a great job, as you mentioned earlier, Mick,
trying to cut The Undertaker down to size.
Undertaker great counter, blocking.
Edge, trying to wrap that leg around the pole.
And he does.
[Mick] Standing up, The Undertaker is almost supernatural.
On his side he becomes just another man.
[Michael] And Mick, not only standing up but when you take the leg out
and you can't put any weight on it for The Undertaker
completely takes The Undertaker's power game out of the game,
out of the equation.
Takes away the Chokeslam, takes away the last ride,
even takes away the Tombstone Pile Driver.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] Michael, I wouldn't bet against The Undertaker
being able to pull off any power move,
even with the traction of only one leg.
[Michael] And you're maybe right but it's not gonna be easy.
[Mick] No, no. It won't be easy.
Winning the World Heavyweight Championship is never easy.
But I've seen this man endure so much,
go through so much pain and come out on top.
It's difficult to bet against him.
[Michael] Ooh.
Edge went for the cover.
-[Mick] He's going for the choke. -[Michael] Going for the chokehold. No.
[Michael] And you saw referee, Charles Robinson, waving it off.
Undertaker could not lock that chokehold then he would have been disqualified.
[Mick] It seems as if Undertaker is almost acting on instinct
and then understood, hey, if I lock this thing on,
this game is over.
[Michael] It would definitely been over, Edge taping to that twice,
once in WrestleMania, once in Backlash.
[Mick] And make no mistake about it,
Edge will take winning this championship anyway he can.
[Michael] Of course he will.
[Mick] Is Edge going old school?
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] Undertaker countered.
Deja Vu.
[Mick] Two can play at that game, Michael.
[Michael] And Undertaker buys himself some time,
trying to regain his composure.
-[Mick] Here it is Deja Vu all over again. -[Michael] Ooh.
[Mick] Chopping out the blocks from underneath Edge.
[Michael] And Undertaker suddenly look to feel momentum.
Again, I'm not sure if Edge wants to get into a slugfest with The Phenom.
[Mick] Probably not.
It's something I learned a long time ago, something everybody's seen,
Edge has an incredible underrated ability to withstand enormous punishment,
just like The Undertaker.
[Michael] That is vintage Undertaker.
And suddenly like that the momentum has shifted,
but can Undertaker take advantage on what is perhaps a bad wheel?
Ooh.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] And like a freight train rolling down the tracks,
it's often hard to stop The Undertaker when he gets on a roll like this.
Undertaker going for the chokeslam.
Oh, and he, instead of a chokeslam he just tossed Edge into the corner.
-[Mick] And the big boot. -[Michael] Following up with a boot.
-Here's the cover. -[Mick] This could be it, Michael.
[Michael] World Title on the line and a kick-out at two by Edge.
Here is the power of The Phenom.
[Mick] He drives Edge back first into the turnbuckle.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] It's got to affect the psychologically too, Mick,
when you're being tossed around by a man like The Undertaker.
[Mick] He's going for old school again and this time he connects.
[Michael] And Undertaker could be closing in!
Could be closing in!
[Mick] And let's see if that leg has enough strength to pull off.
[Michael] Undertaker going for his seventh world championship.
-Ooh. -[Michael] Well, look at this.
Ryder and Hawkins, Edge's buddies in ringside.
And as they provide a distraction, what is Edge doing over in the corner?
[Mick] He appears to be working on the turnbuckle…
[Michael] Working on it? He took the protective padding off.
[Mick] …exposing that metal edge.
[Michael] The turnbuckle, the steel has been exposed.
Referee Charles Robinson without a clue.
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] Uh-oh.
Undertaker.
Could overall be the last stop for the last ride for Edge?
Edge with a counter.
And this could be it.
Can Edge capitalize and win the World Title?
Hook on the leg. There's two-- Undertaker powers out at two and a half.
[Mick] In its own odd way, this is beautiful to watch.
Hold, counter, hold, counter, both of these men so evenly matched.
[Michael] It fit the story of their rivalry, Mick.
Counter after counter, after counter.
[Mick] And in the past two months it's been Undertaker
with that choke as an equalizer.
Who will have the equalizer here?
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] Edge right to the spear.
And a quick side step by The Undertaker may turn the tables to The Deadman.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Undertaker--
-Oh. -[audience cheering]
[Michael] It was the version of the last ride
dumping Edge spine first into the corner.
Here's the cover.
-One, two… -[Michael] World championship on the brink
-and Edge with the wherewithal. -[audience cheering]
The ring sets.
[Mick] And he just barely put that foot on the rope
to save his Championship quest.
Undertaker seems to be finding new twist
to old ways of inflicting misery on the body of Edge.
[Michael] Again it's the evolution and the adaptation
that we continue to talk to about.
Undertaker using many of the same moves he usually uses
but to your point, Mick, a new twist on them all.
[Mick] And although I said The Undertaker should know the best way to harm Edge
and to take that championship you have to believe he wants to inflict…
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] Look at this.
Undertaker was thinking Snake eyes
to the exposed turnbuckle and it's countered.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Undertaker almost turning the tables
on the controversial Rated-R Superstar.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] And now the cunning, Machiavellian like Edge.
-Oh. -[audience cheering]
-Snake eyes! -[Michael] Off the exposed steel.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] That steel turnbuckle bounced off the temple of Edge.
Edge may be out cold.
Can Undertaker take advantage?
[Mick] If he can make it over in time
we could have that three-count we're looking for.
[Michael] The vacated World Heavyweight Championship is on the line.
The title that was stripped
by general manager Vickie Guerrero off The Undertaker.
At a count of eight Undertaker back to his feet.
[audience cheering]
-[Michael] Oh, a Spear! -[audience cheering]
[Michael] From out of nowhere.
A sly fox lying in wait.
There's two and a…
[Michael] Kick out again at two and a half.
[audience cheering]
And Edge with frustration building grabbing his skull,
saying seemingly to himself,
"What do I have to do to pull away The Deadman?"
[Mick] And although The Undertaker is not so outward in his emotion
you have to believe the same thoughts are running through his mind as well.
[audience chanting]
[Michael] It is the electric from our fans here in Omaha
trying to will The Undertaker on to get him back in the game
-with the World Title on the line. -[audience cheering]
[Mick] It has become almost a war of attrition here in Omaha.
Each superstar dealing out their best blows.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Undertaker can barely keep his arms up.
-Uh-oh. -[audience cheering]
[Michael] Good night, Edge!
The World Title may be coming back to The Deadman.
And does The Undertaker have anything left to capitalize.
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] Rolling and crawling.
-One, two… -[Jerry] Lying into the cover--
-Two and a half and a kick out again. -[audience cheering]
[Mick] And I think we have to give so much credit to Edge here.
He's been able to inflict punishment on the body of The Undertaker
rendering him not completely able.
[Michael] Look at the height here
of this Chokeslam.
And then when Undertaker went for the cover, Mick,
did you see Undertaker's eyes
nearly rolling to the back of his head out of frustration and desperation--
[Mick] He does not have the strength and energy
to take advantage of the predicaments that Undertaker has put Edge in.
Near out for our table.
[Michael] Edge trying to regroup.
Undertaker was been through battle after battle.
Remember the month of April for The Undertaker
leading to backlash was a battle--
-[Mick] And he got smack out. -[Michael] Oh!
[Michael] Both men careening into the crowd.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] The momentum of that thunderous clothesline
sending both men over the top.
[Michael] The World Heavyweight Championship
stripped from The Undertaker…
is on the line at Judgment Day.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Referee Charles Robinson has begun the count.
Undertaker trying to struggle back over the barricade as is Edge.
-[audience cheering] -[Michael] The race to the ring has begun.
[Mick] I see a dazed look on the eyes of both men.
I'm not sure either one are gonna make it into the ring to beat the count.
[Michael] And they beat the hell out of each other outside the ring
and the count of six for the referee.
Edge trying to crawl towards the square circle,
Undertaker in pursuit.
-Oh. -[audience cheering]
-[Michael] Undertaker… -[Mick] Undertaker rolling up.
A count of 10, Undertaker's in.
[Michael] Undertaker has won the World Title.
Undertaker has won the World Title for a 7th time.
Undertaker winning the Vacated World Championship--
[Justin] The winner of this match as a result of the count out…
-And new… -[Vickie] Excuse me? Excuse me?
-Excuse me? -[audience cheering]
Pardon me.
I need… Excuse me?
Pardon me.
[audience chanting]
[Vickie] Excuse me?
I need to interrupt this announcement.
Excuse me?
[audience jeering]
I need to interrupt this announcement.
[audience booing]
It is…
…it is common knowledge…
[audience jeering]
I am here to make an announcement.
It is common knowledge that a Championship…
can only be won by pin-fall…
…or submission.
Not via disqualification or count out.
Therefore…
the World Heavyweight Title remains vacant.
[audience booing]
Undertaker…
you are not the new champion.
[audience booing]
[audience cheering]
[Michael] You had got to be kidding me?
General manager Guerrero apparently…
Well, on my estimation, Mick,
while manipulating and changing rules again.
I thought it was that a title can't change hands
that a champion can't lose the title, unless it's via pin-fall or submission
but there's no champion in this case.
[Mick] It's such a long list of a pouring act--
[Michael] Look at this. The Undertaker had enough.
-Undertaker has had enough-- -[Vickie] No! Oh, please no!
-[Michael] Tombstone. -[audience cheering]
You…
son of bitch!
[audience cheering]
[audience chanting]
[referee] [inaudible].
[Michael] Absolutely startling.
Absolutely, I mean just shocking.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] It's enough to bother the mind,
first, The Undertaker is undeservingly stripped
of a World Championship he fought so hard to earn
and it was just taken out of his grasp.
[Michael] Well, fact to the matter is, this is according
to our general manager, Vickie Guerrero,
there's no World Champion.
The World Championship is still vacant.
Mick, this is historic.
[Mick] The blatant abuse of power.
[audience cheering]
[upbeat music playing]
[Jerry] Wow. What a shocking turn of events we just witnessed.
The Undertaker and everyone here thought
that he was the new World Heavyweight champion
but not to be.
[Jim] Well, we experienced similar controversies
still to come tonight
inside a steel cage
when the WWE title will be decided at Judgment Day.
[audience cheering]
For six months I was the WWE champion.
I defeated the top stars in the WWE, John Cena, Jeff Hardy,
Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels
and of course, the man that I won the title from in the first place,
Triple H.
Triple H tried to downplay my reign, he called it luck.
Luck, Triple H, is winning a title on your third try in a fatal 4-way match.
What I did was something else…
when we were in Evolution, Hunter,
you made sure not to teach me a damn thing
because you knew this day was coming
where there were no triple threats, no four-ways,
no shortcuts, nowhere to run.
You have to deal with me, Triple H, inside of a steel cage
which is why tonight is truly Judgment Day.
You constantly talk about being the best, Triple H,
but in the end I'm gonna be the one walking out of that cage
getting my title back and reclaiming the age of Orton.
[audience cheering]
Judge not, Triple H…
…lest ye be judged.
[audience cheering]
[clock ticking]
♪ 1,2, You hear the clock tickin'? ♪
♪ Tick-tock, You about to stop livin' ♪
♪ Tick-tock, I want you to remember me ♪
[Michael] Well, I was settling in to watch
the WWE championship match
inside the steel cage with Randy Orton and Triple H, Mick,
but here comes MVP,
being the former United States champion who…
who lost that championship last month at Backlash, but…
[Mick] Well, he must have something important in his mind,
I just can't get over the foul stench filling the arena,
the stench of blatant sabotage.
[Michael] Our fans still in shock here.
[Mick] I don't know.
Have I ever seen one human being so wrong, so often.
As is The Undertaker.
[audience cheering]
Let me make sure I got this straight.
The Marquee says Judgment Day, a major WWE pay-per-view
but somehow MVP was left off of the card.
[audience cheering]
I see I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that
because last time I checked,
I was still the highest paid entertainer in the history SmackDown…
and love it or hate it, it's in the record books
longest reigning United States champion in WWE history.
[audience cheering]
So my being left off the Judgment Day card,
see that goes beyond disrespect.
That's just pure stupidity. That's bad business.
[audience cheering]
MVP is synonymous with top tier entertainment.
[audience cheering]
And I'm a top tier talent,
so I will not be denied a match on Judgment Day.
[audience cheering]
So if there happens to be any so called top tier talent
they would like to expel me from this ring…
I'll give you one opportunity…
because I am still half man, half amazing
and whether I got bling around my neck,
bling around my back, waist,
there's enough bling in my bank account that I will always be ballin'.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] Sounds like a challenge doesn't it, Cole?
Come on, man,
there's got to be someone back there that thinks they're on my level.
[audience cheering]
-[Michael] MVP rather-- -See that's what I thought.
-[Michael] Is that a point-- -See, I made my point.
["Live for the Moment" music playing]
[Michael] Hey…
[Mick] Well, talk about your top-tier talent.
[Michael] Well, here's the man we know better.
The man who beat MVP
for the United States Championship, Matt Hardy.
[Mick] The man who said the simple words to MVP.
I am better than you.
Matt Hardy gonna come out here in his street clothes
and accept this challenge?
It would seem to me
that the wrestling Gods have answered my prayers,
bring your ass down here and bring my title with you.
No, no, no, no, no. Not so fast, Montel Vontavious.
I've already proven that I'm better than you.
[audience cheering]
So instead of coming down there and doing that again,
there's someone else here tonight…
[audience cheering]
There's someone else here tonight
that's gonna prove that he's better than you.
[audience cheering]
-["No More Words" playing] -[audience cheering]
[fireworks explode]
[Michael] Jeff Hardy has blown the roof off at Judgment Day.
[Mick] Well, when you mentioned top tier talent
the name Jeff Hardy does bring to mind.
[Michael] And he's still in return last Monday night on RAW.
A stunning and emotional win for Jeff Hardy over Umaga.
And the new rock star, the high flyer.
Innovation, the name of Jeff Hardy's game
and MVP is gonna get all the odds more and more
here tonight at Judgment Day.
[Mick] Oh, it's certainly was great to see Jeff Hardy back in the ring,
it's gonna be great to see this match up right here at Judgment Day.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] An impromptu brand versus brand matchup.
RAW versus SmackDown.
What a Judgment Day treat.
[Mick] You got to a production to bind, doesn't it?
-[Michael] Why? -[Mick] Yeah, because we're SmackDown guys
yet MVP has proven to be such a, such a jerk at times.
[Michael] We got a referee in here now. We're going to have this matchup.
Hey, I'm a big Jeff Hardy fan.
I know I'm on SmackDown but I love to watch Jeff wrestling.
Here we go. MVP, former United States champion
one-on-one with Jeff Hardy.
[Mick] And how much pleasure would it give MVP
to put a beating on Matt's little brother Jeff?
[audience cheering]
[Michael] One thing MVP did say earlier he was [inaudible].
And look at MVP trying to end this matchup early and a kick out.
MVP was the longest running US champion in history of the WWE. And kick out.
[Mick] He's looking for a quick pinfall here
to prove his point.
[Michael] Jeff Hardy, a great champion in his own right,
four time Intercontinental champion,
held the Tag Team Titles numerous times with his brother Matt Hardy.
[Mick] I like to point out here that Matt is over,
Jeff rather is overcoming a serious personal setback.
His house went down in flames…
[audience cheering]
Several weeks back, and I know it was a devastating thing for him.
He lost almost all his possessions from his youth to his, uh, his adulthood.
All his wrestling memories went up in flames.
[Michael] I want to think Jeff Hardy did say, Mick,
as I was talking to him last week is that he finds his solace in the ring,
loves to come out here and compete for the great fans and Jeff Hardy…
[Mick] Well, this is how Jeff Hardy heals himself by electrifying fans
doing things that only Jeff can do inside that ring
and outside for that matter.
[Michael] MVP buying himself some time looking to regroup,
the master strategist, MVP likes to refer to himself.
We're gonna find a different way to attack the high flying Jeff Hardy and he does.
[Mick] Well, he made that open challenge
and obviously had no game plan for any superstar. How can anybody…
-One, two… -[Michael] A cover and kick out.
[Mick] How can anybody plan for Jeff Hardy?
[Michael] MVP realizes that around Jeff Hardy
you got great chance in a matchup.
-[Mick] And shoulders… -[Michael] Oh, and again.
[Mick] So, unpredictable I…
It always bothered me to matchup with somebody
who just couldn't be predicted.
[audience chanting]
[Michael] One think you've talked about, Mick, is he,
is the anger that is overtaking MVP isn't the same
since losing that United States Championship
back at Backlash, very bitter, disgusted.
[Mick] But thus far he's been able to keep his cool
and I've been very impressed with the way he's been able to hold Jeff at bay.
This hammer lock while standing.
All right. Let's have a break. Break the hold and you may step back.
-He's got me. -[inaudible].
[Michael] A cheap shot by MVP.
Heard referee Nicky Henson calling for the clean break
straight out of MVP's playbook.
And Jeff Hardy, there goes MVP.
[audience cheering]
[Mick] But for so long MVP was so focused on holding on--
Oh!
[Michael] MVP catching Jeff Hardy.
[Mick] Can he gain the advantage here?
-[crowd cheering] -[Mick] And definitely not.
Hey, get back and come inside…
[Michael] MVP instead gaining the advantage.
[Mick] He's so focused on holding
onto that United States Heavyweight Championship
that he was more or less wrestling not to lose,
instead of wrestling to winning,
he needs to learn how to do that right here.
Watch this seizing the advantage.
-Ooh. -[audience cheering]
[Mick] Sending Jeff Hardy hard back that time.
[Michael] Jeff Hardy's high octane offense caused him there.
MVP going for the cover.
-Rolls Jeff in and hooks the leg. -Two…
[Michael] Kick out by Jeff Hardy.
[Mick] No question that Jeff's high impact offense
often comes with the price to pay.
[screams]
[Michael] You'll live by it and you'll die by it.
Here's the cover. Shoulders down.
-Two… -[Michael] Two count, kick out again.
[Mick] Which is why they call it high risk offense.
[Michael] Numerous near-falls with former United States champion MVP--
I will break that damn arm.
[audience cheering]
You said it there.
[Mick] I've been impressed with MVP these past several weeks,
he seemed to be finding a way to focus on body parts
really dissecting one part of the anatomy.
[Michael] But when you lose a Championship like MVP did
and what does it do to your psyche and can it make you a better wrestler?
[Mick] Well, it can. It remains to be seen whether that championship
which meant so much which really defines the man MVP was.
Watch him pull the hair to gain the advantage.
I like it, I like that.
[Michael] Cover again and a kick out by Jeff Hardy.
[Mick] And a man's got to do what a man's got to do here in WWE.
Like I said that belt really came to define him.
We need to see what type of performer MVP could be
without that championship title.
[Michael] A much more vicious performer. That's for sure.
MVP saying it once that a title meant everything to him,
that it validated him as an athlete,
the highest paid athlete SmackDown history.
One of his gripes tonight not being included
in the Judgment Day card.
-Here's the cover on Jeff Hardy… -One, two…
-[Michael] …who kicks out. -Two.
[Mick] Well, he's got a good point, Cole, and now he finds himself on the card
and what better way to make sure he's on every great pay-per-view event
that he score a big decisive victory over Jeff Hardy.
[Michael] And what's been impressive about MVP so far, Mick,
he has not allowed Jeff Hardy to get rolling, to build momentum,
to start flying around the ring, he's grounded Jeff Hardy, great game plan.
[Mick] Oh, sure. We've yet to see Jeff Hardy
unveil some of that real big offense.
But Jeff is the type of guy feeds off the energy of the crowd.
And that, the crowd is been kind of shut out…
[Michael] Ooh!
Look at the grin, see the grin.
[Mick] Well, it seemed to me almost as if the arm that MVP
had been working on,
the arm of Jeff Hardy just wasn't strong enough
to do that, to do that move,
look like he was trying to paunch up on that turnbuckle,
it didn't work out so well.
[Michael] You see similarities of Jeff Hardy
and his brother, Matt Hardy's style.
And if so does that help MVP have the upper hand in this impromptu match?
[Mick] And they have a completely different style, so I'm not sure.
Matt is a great technical wrestler, Jeff-- and I mean this is weird compliment.
It's kind of in a world onto himself.
He is a lone cat without a doubt.
[Michael] MVP, looking to dislocate the shoulder.
Shoots the half, here's the cover and a kick out by Jeff again.
The damage continues to be inflicted on the left shoulder.
[Mick] And the victory coming with an injury attached
-would indeed be an insult to the injury. -[groans]
[Michael] Will be a short-lived return for Jeff Hardy.
Oh, and MVP has his way.
-Cover yet again. -Come on. One, two…
[Michael] Forearm in the face of Jeff Hardy this time.
-Who didn't have the energy to kick out… -[Mick] No. No.
It seems like desperation has set in on the part of Jeff Hardy.
And we've seen superstars who have taken a long break
and it's taken them awhile to come back.
Matt Hardy being kind of the exception proving the rule.
Matt came back and capture
that United States Heavyweight Championship.
[audience cheering]
[grunts]
Kick to that shoulder.
[Michael] MVP looking to put Jeff hardy away.
[thuds]
[Mick] And I like the look in Montel's eyes.
[Michael] He's methodically picking apart Jeff.
[Mick] Dissecting Jeff. And can we see that big boot?
-Yes. -Ooh.
[Michael] That kick.
So, powerful.
Directed right to the bad arm.
[Mick] That boot seems to be the greatest tool in the MVP's shed
and he uses it here like no one else.
Almost like that look in his eyes signifies that big boots untapped.
[Michael] And usually MVP uses that--
Oh! Again shoulder first to the barricade.
[audience] Get up. Get up.
[Michael] Usually MVP uses that boot directed at the head.
And notice how he directed it to the injured wing of Jeff Hardy.
[Mick] Yeah. He's adapting
and that's what it's gonna take to reclaim his place of…
[Michael] MVP quickly into the cover,
hooks the leg, puts his full body weight on Jeff Hardy who kicks out.
[Mick] No question if Jeff wants to climb up to the top of the,
or MVP does.
He wants to re-climb the WWE mountain he's gonna have to adapt.
[Michael] How much can the injured arm of Jeff Hardy take?
[Mick] It seems, Michael, for the lack of better term,
he is just beating the hell out of Jeff Hardy here.
[Michael] Look how he adds insult to injury to MVP
just smacking Hardy across the face, sort of rubbing it in.
[Mick] MVP kind of being a tough judge on Jeff Hardy here at Judgment Day.
[Michael] You mean a jerk as well.
[Mick] He's a competitor and that he's a jerk,
he's a pretty rich jerk.
[Michael] Going for the Playmaker,
MVP looking to put Jeff Hardy away who countered.
[Mick] But he countered with that injured arm
and we have to see how much is left in the gas tank of Jeff Hardy.
[Michael] But the counter
may have bought Jeff Hardy a little bit of time to regroup.
[Mick] I think he's gonna need a lot of time to regroup here, Michael.
[both grunt]
[Michael] Jeff Hardy with the good arm.
[audience cheering]
[Michael] Jeff needs to build momentum.
Really, he's got to get into that reckless out of control style
to turn this match up around.
Jeff Hardy vintage, right to the jaw.
That'll shut up the loud mouth.
[Mick] As I said, up until this point,
the crowd has been taking out of the equation.
Can they enter back into that equation?
[Michael] Well, you got your answer.
Jeff Hardy top rope.
Ooh. The Swanton, nobody home.
And this could be the beginning of the end.
[Mick] And for a guy with no time to prepare a game plan,
MVP certainly doing an impressive job
of countering every move that Jeff Hardy makes.
[Michael] High risk offense caused Jeff Hardy again.
MVP looking to put Jeff hardy away.
He was setting up for that kick with that toehold.
MVP bounced off the top turnbuckle.
Jeff, top rope.
Whisper in the Wind, hooks the leg.
-Got it! -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Jeff Hardy from out of nowhere.
[Justin] The winner of this match, Jeff Hardy.
[Michael] And that is where the explosive high-style offense
that Jeff Hardy can catch you out of nowhere.
[Mick] Well, you never count a guy with that many weapons
out of the game as Jeff showed with that Whisper in the Wind.
[Michael] MVP dominating this matchup early from the get-go
but Jeff Hardy from out of nowhere,
explosive victory over the former United States champion.
["No More Words" playing]
[Mick] Here's the beginning of the end for MVP, that devastating boot to the jaw.
Swanton, nobody home.
[Michael] MVP looked like he was gonna get right back into it.
And then Jeff Hardy
with the pretty yet effective Whisper in the Wind.
One, two, three…
[Michael] Chalk one up for RAW here tonight.
RAW's Jeff Hardy knocking off SmackDown's MVP.
[Mick] But I have to believe we have not seen the last of MVP.
Very impressive showing
by the former United States Heavyweight Champion.
[Michael] Hey, what do you think the RAW general manager,
the king of the entire WWE,
William Regal has to think about Jeff Hardy's victory?
[Mick] Well, he's got a great seat, why isn't he a little bit happier?
[Michael] I'm happy. I've got a good seat.
["No More Words" plays]
[Michael] Well, I'll tell you what, tonight the WWE title
will be decided inside a solid steel cage.
Now, we'd like to take you back three weeks ago
when business really picked up for Triple H
when he became the WWE champion.
[man 1] And now we are down to two.
[Triple H] One will emerge as the WWE champion.
I can tell you with every bit of my being…
…that will be me.
[Randy Orton] Tonight, Triple H, I will leave you broken, battered,
beaten in that ring as I leave as I came,
the WWE champion.
[Jerry] Whoa, this match is gonna continue.
[Triple H] There's no seeing Randy…
[Jerry] The kick missed.
[Triple H] …pride.
[Jim] Another counter.
[Triple H] Don't you before the fall.
-[Jim] Pedigree. -[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Jerry] For an historic 12th time, Triple H
is the WWE champion.
[Triple H] As of right now…
the age of Orton is officially dead.
[Orton] You're wrong,
it has only just begun.
And I am gonna use my rematch clause
to get back what belongs to me.
[man 2] And the match between Triple H and Randy Orton
for the WWE championship will be contested in Judgment Day
inside the steel cage.
[upbeat music playing]
[Orton] I had that six months of dominance, it's the age of Orton.
And it's gonna be on full display at Judgment Day
when I beat Triple H and take back what is mine, the WWE championship.
-[tense music playing] -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Jim] The lights went out in the arena and for the WWE champion.
Where in the hell did Randy Orton come from?
[Triple H] At Judgment Day,
I will fight
for the WWE championship like my life depends on it.
[Orton] The age of Orton…
resumes
because as far as I'm concerned, it does.
[Jerry] The penalty inside a steel cage at Judgment Day.
[bell ringing]
[Lillian] The following is a steel cage match
and it is for the WWE championship.
Now, in this match, the only way to win is by pin-fall,
submission or escaping the cage with both feet hitting the floor.
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me ♪
♪ They understand They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules and your religion ♪
♪ All designed to keep you safe ♪
♪ But when rules start getting broken ♪
♪ You start questioning your faith ♪
♪ I have a voice that is my savior ♪
♪ Hates to love and loves to hate ♪
♪ I have a voice that has the knowledge ♪
♪ And the power to rule your fate ♪
♪ I hear voices crying I see heroes dying ♪
♪ I taste blood that's drying I feel tension rising ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me, they talk to me, oh ♪
♪ They tell me things that I will do They show me things I'll do to you ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me! ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Jim] Yes, I'm wondering what the number one contender is thinking,
'Is this is cold uncaring steel
the structure that's going to carry me, Mr. RKO…
to the WWE championship?'
♪ All you judges, you are guilty ♪
♪ All the bosses I will fire ♪
[Jerry] Well, I can tell you this, JR, from--
Personally, I have been in this type of matches.
That is an eerie feeling when you step inside that steel cage.
♪ I hear voices calling ♪
It's almost like stepping into a prison.
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
Well, earlier Randy Orton going biblical on us
when he said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
-[Jim] I found that a bit of irony. -[Jerry] Yeah.
He likes practicing what he preaches.
Nonetheless, it's gonna be Judgment Day for Randy Orton or Triple H
inside that steel cage?
The youngest champion in WWE history
has the chance to make history again here tonight.
♪ I feel justice crawling ♪
♪ I see faith has fallen ♪
[Jim] We'll have to believe that Triple H is gonna make the challenger
and former champion wait.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] I don't know if that wait as much as it is anticipation.
-["The Game" playing] -[audience cheering]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ All about control And if you can take it ♪
♪ All about your debt And if you can pay it ♪
♪ It's all about pain And who's gonna make it ♪
♪ I am the game, you don't wanna play me I am control, no way you can change me ♪
♪ I am heavy debt, no way you can pay me ♪
♪ I am the pain And I know you can't take me ♪
♪ Look over your shoulder, ready to run ♪
♪ Like a Cleveland bitch From a smoking gun ♪
♪ I am the game and I make the rules ♪
♪ So move on out here And die like a fool ♪
♪ Try to figure out What my move's gonna be ♪
♪ Come on over sucker Why don't you ask me? ♪
♪ Don't you forget that the price You can pay ♪
[Jim] No man in the history of the 45 years
that the WWE Championship has been around,
has been champion more times than that man, Triple H.
The prestige of this championship is overwhelming in this industry.
It was 45 years ago yesterday…
in Madison Square Garden when Bruno Sammartino
beat Buddy Rogers to become the WWE champion,
and here we are tonight inside steel where the most coveted title…
on the line…
and what an opportunity for Randy Orton!
[Jerry] And I have to believe that both these men,
Randy Orton and Triple H all well realize
that either of them will be the same after this match.
[Jim] This is the 10th Judgment Day.
The WWE title has been defended eight times at this event.
It has changed hands twice.
And the irony of Randy Orton being a three-time champion
is one common denominator…
that is Orton has been beaten three times by one man,
The Game, and only one man.
♪ Time to play the game ♪
[Jerry] Sometimes Randy Orton has psycho eyes.
[Lillian] Introducing first, the challenger
from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 245 pounds,
Randy Orton.
[audience cheering]
[Lillian] And from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing in at 255 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
Triple H.
[Jim] Again, ladies and gentlemen, as senior referee, Mike Keota,
gives the men their instructions, they're very simple.
This match must be won by pin-fall, submission or escaping the cage
which imports to both feet touching the floor.
There can be no disqualifications in this matchup.
Obviously, with the cage, count-outs are a non-issue.
[Jerry] Boy, you know,
the expression how some competitors have a poker face,
a stone face that shows no emotion but not Randy Orton.
You can read a novel in his face.
His face shows every expression, you can read,
you can see the disdain he has for Triple H.
You can see how he covets the WWE championship.
You can see all of his emotion
-that pent-up rage-- -[bell rings]
[Jerry] …on the face of Randy Orton.
Oh, look at this, he's… Look at that.
[Jim] And Orton quickly, what a smart move by Orton!
Looking to escape the cage and win the match in the blink of an eye.
[Jerry] Orton trying to get out of the cage
before the steel door was even closed.
Oh.
[Jim] And Orton just rammed the door and cracked the head of the champion.
Expect extreme physicalities in this extreme environment.
[Jerry] Check out this cage door being slammed into the head of…
[Jim] And already the environment has had an extreme effect on this match
as The Game is still reeling from a steel door to the head.
[Jerry] Boy, these guys just trading massive right hands here.
This can't go on all night.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton trying to gain an advantage…
but again, easier said than done.
And that high, hardy reach to that knee down to its mark, a nice knockdown.
Triple H is such a ring general as he sets a presence in the ring.
[Jerry] Like you said before, we're not likely to see
many wrestling holds applied inside the steel cage.
[Jim] Well, the steel can be your partner or it can be your executioner.
[Jerry] Oh, look out. Blocked.
Oh!
[Jim] And the cage has no prejudice as to whose skin it takes.
-[Jerry] Hey… -[Jim] Now, Randy Orton
looking to climb over the cage and escape, which is one way of winning.
-[Jerry] Oh, my, a big right-hand. -[Jim] Oh, man.
The Game stepped right into the right hand.
And Orton is a little bit out of it there, kind of, the ropes held him up.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Jim] Orton set himself too soon,
set himself up for a swinging neck-breaker.
-[Jerry] Hey. -[Jim] Hook of the leg,
-and we got a… -Two.
[Jim] A two count says referee Mike Keota.
And again, remember, no disqualifications in this matchup.
Boy, Triple H wants to pound away for five minutes
on the handsome features of young Randy Orton, that's…
just fine by the rules of this match.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
Knee of The Game driven right into the forehead.
-[Jim] Well, here we go. Another cover. -Two.
[Jim] And The Game forcing the issue now.
Beginning to build up momentum, get inside Randy Orton's head.
Two close near-falls created by the champion.
And as soon as I say that, momentum looks like it might be changing.
[Jerry] Momentum could change in the blink of an eye in this match
with these two great competitors.
[Jim] Uh-oh, wait a minute.
[Jerry] Slingshot.
[Jim] And The Game right into the cage, face-first catapulted by Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Wow.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Watch here, as Orton uses the cage as you said his ally, every opportunity.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton looking at the cage as a resource.
And again Triple H thrown over the top rope into the steel.
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] Oh, and his body just being raked
by that unforgiving cage as he falls down.
-Oh, Orton's lip already busted. -[Jim] Talking about Orton's eyes.
It can tell many, many stories.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] And so can a steel cage as you can hear at home
The Game's head bouncing off the steel.
[Jerry] Watch this. Oh, man.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] These are the kind of matches that shortened careers.
[Jerry] Well, believe and know that Triple H's head
snapped off that steel cage.
[audience cheering]
-[Jerry] Oh. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] And an overzealous number one contender…
was caught off for a moment
but then continues to be relentless in his attack.
[groans]
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] Oh, that's nasty.
That DDT is absolutely devastating.
And Orton's got a chance. Orton's got a chance here.
The high impact, may do it,
-the DDT got him… -Two.
[Jim] …a near-fall, almost a three count.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Number one contender using a choke
which is legal in the confines of the steel cage.
[Jerry] Choke…
-fist… -[grunts]
…anything goes.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, The Game just absolutely reeling there.
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] Triple H…
being strategic in that guard position
trying to cover up and did a good job of it,
trying to ward off those right hands by Orton.
[Jerry] You can try to ward them off but believe me,
those blows had an effect.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] Orton… -[Jerry] And that did as well.
[Jim] …the third-generation star and The Game kicked out.
In what seemed to me, maybe I'm wrong,
in a little bit more of a desperation mode in that kick-out.
[Jerry] Well, once again, pinfall,
submission or escaping the cage with both feet hitting the ground.
That's the only way you're gonna win this match.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton trying to crimp the neck of The Game.
-What do you say Triple H? Giving up? -[Jim] Restrict the flow of blood
-to the brain if he can. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Same effects as the sleeper.
-Same effects as a choke. -[audience cheering]
[Jerry] See, Triple H doing everything in his power to turn.
[both grunt]
[Jim] I don't know his ribs…
-[Jerry] Man. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Multiple shots.
[Jerry] Huge right hands. Oh, reversal.
-[Jim] And a beautiful power-slam. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton's ribs took a pounding
and now The Game is the one that is gonna have to rebound here.
The cover quickly.
-Two. -[Jim] And another near-fall.
We are looking for one fall
or one submission or one man to escape the cage
with both feet touching the floor to determine a winner for the WWE title.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Boy, The Game in such a shake right now.
If Orton decides to try to climb over that cage or go out that door,
Triple H gonna be hard-pressed to stop him.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] You look at Orton circle and stalk The Game,
and I'm glad I'm not a mind reader because
I don't think I wanna know what Orton is thinking,
what's going through his mind right now as he surveys the damage
that has been done.
[Jerry] Oh, evil dark thoughts, evil, pure evil.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] We know Orton is remorseless.
And a hard kick right to the thigh.
And of course as general manager William Regal looks on…
Triple H certainly is one of Regal's favorites
to say the very least but be that as it may.
The Game has responded on two occasions
from two career-threatening injuries to his quadriceps, his thigh muscles.
As Orton trying to extort that and that could do it right there.
[Jim] The knee to the sternum.
-Two. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] And another, Orton, again going right back to the cover.
Pulling that leg back over the body, using great leverage.
There's not a lot of leverage in these kicks.
[Jerry] And look at Orton, he seem to be shifting it into another gear,
-and a high gear here now. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton has used kicks…
-Oh. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Well, very effectively but that knee drop wasn't effective.
[Jerry] Well, one thing you got to appreciate about Orton
is his aggression, but sometimes he could be too aggressive.
[audience cheering]
-[Jerry] We just witnessed. -[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Jim] Orton beating The Game to the punch, not once but twice.
[audience cheering]
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Jim] Awesome.
[Jerry] What a chop block!
[Jim] That chop block,
and that takes him back to the Evolution days
when Ric flair was running with The Game and Batista and Randy Orton.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Randy Orton said earlier that when he was a member of Evolution,
Triple H didn't teach him anything.
-Check this chop block out one time. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] And now the figure-four leg lock.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Just being a member of Evolution
should have thought Randy Orton to watch out for that chop block
-and this hold, the figure-four. -[audience cheering]
-What do you say? You got to give it up. -[groans]
What do you say?
You got to give it up.
[Jim] Two things that may come here.
One, Randy Orton may submit, which gives The Game the victory.
Secondly, if Orton's not moving, his legs are damaged,
he's gonna have a hell of a time escaping the cage.
He can't run. He can't walk.
-[Randy Orton grunting] -[Jim] Hard to escape.
And The Cerebral Assassin…
pulling Orton back to the center of the ring.
[Jerry] And this is great strategy by The Game.
Even if Orton reaches the ropes…
Triple H doesn't have to break the hold.
[groaning]
[Jerry] Orton is gonna have to find some other way
to get out of this figure-four.
You wanna give it up? He's got the rope.
-Come on, he's got the rope. -[Jim] And the ropes will do that.
-One, two, three, four… -[Jerry] Why is the referee counting?
-He got to the rope. -[Jim] I don't have any idea.
He got to the rope.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The referee was right, he got to the ropes but…
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Jim] Oh, look out. Orton tried the RKO.
Man, we're talking about the bar
and The Game trying the Pedigree, countered.
Good Lord, that RKO could come at any place at any time.
And we just about saw it.
And you have to believe that if we do see--
Oh, wait, uh-oh, wait a minute.
[Jerry] Orton looking at that cage door.
[Jim] Remember, Orton's feet have got to touch the floor.
-[Jerry] Cage door's open. -[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Orton off to get, now the game,
he's got to realize that now he's got to [inaudible]
this ring to stop him.
[Jim] Orton can become WWE champion by escaping the cage.
Both feet got to touch the floor.
The hands don't count, only the feet.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton had at least half of his body out.
-Uh-oh. -[audience cheering]
And now, Orton is right there.
[audience] Randy, come on, baby.
[Jim] The opportunistic Orton, looking to escape the cage.
[Jim] Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. I don't think Triple H realizes Orton has that chair.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The Game kicked away
and Orton decided to use that steel chair instead of escaping at the door.
[Jerry] And it's all legal.
[Jim] Oh, this is all about destroying the legacy of The Game.
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] Orton still holding on to that weapon.
[Jim] Well, not anymore.
Orton is gonna be lucky to hold on to his teeth
from those big right hands from the champion.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, face buster.
[Jim] And the cover.
Triple H got the cover.
[Jim] And then again, man, a lot of…
-[Jerry] How close was that? -[Jim] Yeah.
I thought that was a three count, but…
Mike Keota is wearing the striped shirt not us.
[Jerry] The Game realizing…
[Jim] That that steel chair is legal.
[Jerry] Hey, say hello to my little friend.
[Jim] That chair is as legal as the Chin Lock.
[Jerry] Triple H just delivered the face buster and the head-butt.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] But then, again, so is a low blow.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] And we may have just seen…
the most deciding maneuver in this WWE title matchup.
And by the looks of Orton's eyes, he thinks so.
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] Smack of steel and flesh tell the story.
[Jerry] Sounded like a gunshot.
[Jerry] Orton doing the judging.
Well, before this match started, I just thought these two men
were only gonna contend with the steel cage walls
but now the steel chair in the ring.
[Jim] That DDT was on the steel chair.
But this should do it here.
Randy Orton could be the next…
[audience cheering]
[Jim] And quite honestly,
that was as near a three count as one could get.
The DDT on the chair,
The Game said he would wrestle this match as if his life depended on it.
And we're seeing that.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Now, what evil intentions
are going through the minds of Randy Orton?
[audience cheering]
[Jim] We have categorized Orton as remorseless.
And we're seeing that exact emotion in the number one contender.
[Jerry] Just like a viper, he's just stalking The Game here.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Look, how calculating, how cold this Orton is!
[Jim] Orton is a premeditated assassin.
[audience cheering]
He's got intentions of RKO-ing The Game with the chair.
Oh.
[Jim] And The Game has intentions of doing anything he can
-to retain the WWE… -[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] Drop toehold.
Orton's face bouncing off the chair.
And the irony of that is it was a steel chair
that Orton introduced into the match.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] Arm over. -One two…
-[Jim] Two and… -[audience cheering]
-[Jim] And two. -[Jerry] That's pure instinct.
[Jim] Orton, a third-generation superstar,
as we said the youngest champion ever in the WWE.
Some things do come very instinctively for Randy Orton.
He is an amazing in-ring competitor.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Check out this intended RKO countered by The Game.
And Orton's head right into the cage and then head right into the steel chair.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Great maneuverability by The Game
but nonetheless, Orton still has the advantage
and Orton is thinking about escaping the cage.
[Jerry] He's on his way out. Orton is on his way out.
[Jim] Orton is looking to make bail and become famous.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh, this is where it gets dangerous right here.
Both men standing on the top rope.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] The cage invites another victim.
[Jerry] Oh, this is an opportunity for The Game. There he goes.
-[Jim] Triple H can retain his title. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
Oh, he's been, now Orton's up.
[Jim] Triple H is on the, on the top of the cage.
This could be disaster or elation.
And it looks as if Orton has prevented The Game's escape.
A measured right hand.
[audience cheering]
Orton looks manic.
[audience cheering]
Orton looking at the cage then looking back at The Game.
[Jerry] I think he's partially exhausted.
He's trying to decide whether he should a little more punishment or try to escape.
And I think he's decided on escaping.
[Jim] Orton has got to get that leg over and look he's got it.
Orton is half--
If Orton can get his right leg over the cage.
That's a big if.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Triple H pulling Orton back into the--
Oh, man, again.
The steel cage inviting disaster.
[Jerry] Orton is absolutely amazing.
It's like he gets knocked unconscious
but as soon as he hits the mat, he comes back too.
Oh, my gosh.
-[Jim] What the hell is… -[audience cheering]
Triple H trying to under-hook both arms.
[Jerry] I think Triple H was intending a Pedigree from the top rope.
Can you imagine the damage that would have done?
-Oh, oh. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Well, there was some damage right there.
And now Orton has a golden opportunity.
It would seem that fatigue is not his enemy.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Randy Orton can escape the cage and become WWE champ.
[Jerry] Both of these men, exhausted.
Orton mustering his strength to pull himself to the top of that cage.
But can he get over? Can he make his way down?
-He's over. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton's got to swing his other leg over.
And he's got it done. Orton…
If Orton drops down from the top of the--
[Jerry] Oh, he can't drop from that distance.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Triple H on top, my God, look at the strength.
The Game, the will to remain champion.
-This is nothing but… -[Jerry] Oh.
-[Jim] My God. Look at this. -[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Triple H holding Orton in midair just by his, by a Chokehold.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton just got front face locked
and was dangling at the top of the cage,
and that was some hellacious power
and the will to maintain the control of…
[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] Another hard shot to the head.
[Jerry] And now Orton is gonna try it again.
Here he goes.
[Jim] Come hell or high water,
Orton is gonna escape if he possibly physically can.
Triple H kicks again to the head.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] Orton wants… -[Jerry] Oh.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Well, here's The Game's own version
of that low blow that Orton delivered earlier.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Both men fatigued.
Both men had tasted the steel.
Both men have been punished.
The Game and Randy Orton
competing for all they're worth for the WWE Title.
[Jerry] Boy, this match is still up for grabs. Who's gonna win this, JR?
[Jim] You're asking the wrong guy.
[Jerry] Oh.
-[Jim] Oh. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] That double leg version of the spine-buster.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[Jim] The spine on the pine.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Well, The Game seems to be feeling it.
And Orton may be feeling that chair momentarily.
[Jim] The Game didn't place that chair there for no reason.
[Jerry] JR, JR, I'm sensing the Pedigree.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] I think you're right. -[Jerry] He's hooked.
Oh, wait. Oh.
[Jim] Oh, the counter.
And The Game's spine and neck on that steel chair.
I think more neck than spine…
bounced off the steel chair.
And now the question is,
can Randy Orton capitalize on that counter?
[Jerry] Orton stumbled and I think he thought he was going towards the door
but he's in the wrong corner.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] There he goes…
-[Jim] Look out. Look out. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
-[Jim] Orton looking to kick… -[Jerry] Oh.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Orton looking to kick The Game's head off
but The Game took Orton's head off with the steel chair.
-[Jerry] Pedigree. -[Jim] And Pedigree.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] A thunderous Pedigree. -One.
-The hook of the leg. -Two, three.
-[bell ringing] -[Jim] And we've got a winner.
["The Game" playing]
[Lillian] Here is your winner and still the WWE champion,
Triple H.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Triple H said he was gonna compete as if his life depended on it.
And that's exactly what he did.
The mental and physical toughness of The Game
has seen him retain his WWE title.
[Jerry] It was all about the steel.
The steel cage and the steel chair.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] And ladies and gentlemen, as we admitted to earlier,
can either of these two men ever be the same
after what they've put their bodies through here tonight?
[Jerry] Well, Randy Orton took the best that The Game had to offer.
Everything that Triple H dissed out Randy Orton took it.
["The Game" continues]
[Jim] There'll be pieces of these men left behind in this match.
-This was amazing. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] This was amazing strength and determination by The Game.
[Jerry] Well, Orton could not have just dropped to the floor from that distance,
from that height.
He might have been the champion but he would've had two broken legs.
And then that steel chair came back into effect.
[Jim] Orton looking to kick The Game's head off.
[Jerry] And here's the irony,
Orton was the man who instituted the use of the steel chair in this match.
But it certainly came back to haunt him.
[Jim] And then Orton's third-generation Pedigree was checked.
And the WWE championship
still belongs to The King of Kings.
And as it has been said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The judge said, The Game is WWE champion.
["The Game" continues]
Subtitles: Aparna Iyer he Game is WWE champion.