[theme music plays]
[announcer] The World Wrestling Entertainment,
for over 50 years,
the revolutionary force in sports entertainment.
[Ultimate] Warrior, created by a destiny,
we're building a destiny bonded by the belief,
the belief that at the King of the Ring,
I'm gonna kick your ass.
[Jerry] I'm sick of hearing about the beliefs of the Warrior.
The king has beliefs. I believe that I will beat you.
[announcer] The Ultimate Warrior battles Jerry "The king" Lawler.
[man 1] I am already the king of the jungle,
now I'm gonna be King of the Ring.
[man 2] You're looking at the next King of the Ring,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[man 3] Nothing is gonna stop this man from being the King of the Ring,
he's gonna mow you down.
[man 4] Expect Jake Roberts to leave his mark somewhere,
for somebody.
[announcer] The crowning of the WWE King of the Ring.
[man 4] I've destroyed the Undertaker,
the baddest man to walk the World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Undertaker] Mankind, your tormented soul will soon be mine.
[announcer] The Undertaker battles Mankind.
[man 5] Return match with the Smoking Gunns,
Sunny, you have goaded your ducks to bad water. [Inaudible]
[Sunny] We beat you once into dust
and it won't be a problem to beat you again.
[announcer] The Smoking Gunns battle the Godwinns
for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[man 6] That's the most revolving thing I've ever seen in my life,
get him out of there.
[Gold dust] Ahmed Johnson will, this time, melt in my hands
and melt in my mouth.
[announcer] Ahmed Johnson battles Goldust for the Intercontinental title.
[man 7] I'm hysterical because I got ripped off.
I should be the champion.
Mr. Perfect rammed.
[Shawn] You get the referee you want so you won't have any excuses
when I tune up the Chin Music and kick your teeth down your throat.
[announcer] Shawn Michaels battles the British Bulldog
for the WWE championship.
Tonight, it's the greatest card ever in the history
of the WWE King of the Ring.
[theme music plays]
[Vince] Welcome, everyone, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
the site of the 1996 WWE King of the Ring.
Yes, welcome to the Mecca Arena.
Welcome indeed to the Mecca of sports entertainment,
the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Hello, everyone, Vince McMahon here along with Jim Ross
and we are ready to bring you a--
Give me that.
What are you doing just standing around here?
I wanna give you my expertise, come on, let's get on with the show.
[Vince] Owen Hart will be joining us for commentary.
Here we go. Anything can happen.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, this is a semi-final match
in the King of the Ring tournament,
scheduled for one fall with a 30-minute time limit.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on his way to the squared circle.
How did he get here?
Let's take you back and show you some of the victories
that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin achieved,
here we go, against Bob "Spark Plug" Holly.
In a highly competitive matchup,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin finally with a victory.
And, yes, the physical specimen
would then face his old nemesis, Savio Vega.
[Jim] And that's where we first saw the Stone Cold Stunner,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin appearing in his first King of the Ring
is one victory away from the finals.
[Vince] And there he is, ladies and gentlemen,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
a great technician, that much is for certain.
[Jim] Absolutely, Steve Austin is an excellent technician
and there's no doubt he's in fine shape for this match,
and I personally believe Marc Mero does not stand a chance
whether he has that homely and ugly-looking Sable or not.
[Vince] Oh, here comes the wild man.
Where is he? And where is Sable?
What a combination, ladies and gentlemen,
taking the World Wrestling Entertainment, by storm, and here they come.
[announcer] Weighing 235 pounds…
[Jim] You know, I wonder, since when does a girl
become a good manager?
She hasn't been in the ring,
what kinda expertise could she give Marc Mero?
[Vince] I'm sure she lends him a great deal of moral support.
Let's take you back now and show you the way Wildman Marc Mero
achieved his opportunity to win the King of the Ring.
Here we go with skip.
[Jim] Tremendous high impact,
high risk maneuver by the Wildman putting skip away
and then he would be in the quarter finals.
We see Wildman Marc Mero step up to the plate.
-[Vince] Who's that in the ring? -[Owen] This is a total rip off.
[Owen] He's holding my trunks, my shoulder was up,
that was unfair, he's a cheater.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero victorious over you, Owen Hart.
-And look, explain that. -[Owen] I slipped off the apron.
I wanted to congratulate him and I slipped.
I wanted to shake his hands and be a good sport
-and I slipped, that's what happened. -Let's take a look at that cast.
-Come on, let me look, look at that. -There's nothing wrong,
it's just a legal cast protecting my wrist.
Yeah, right.
There's nothing wrong with wearing a cast.
And again, a reminder that you're to be here,
not anywhere near the ring, any closer than you are right now, right?
[Owen] Like I said, I'll stay right here as nobody pokes their nose in my business.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero against a man who…
Well, it's kinda tough to figure "Stone Cold" Steve Austin out.
[Jim] You know, they say that Austin is too unemotional.
You know, there was a lot of emotion at the animal, I think he's overrated.
A lot of emotion at the animal but nobody survived.
Austin is cold, calculating, and very, very focused.
[Vince] First semi-final matchup here, kicking things off, ladies and gentlemen,
1996 WWE King of the Ring.
Two great athletes in there.
Standing side headlock now by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
You sorta wonder, well, nice maneuver
and kick-out there by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
You sorta wonder what sort of tactics each individual will attempt
to employ as far as the game plan is concerned.
[Jim] I think there's a great contrasting style here.
Austin likes to keep it on the ground, not take very many chances.
Be slow and methodical.
On the other hand, the Wildman will kick it into that second gear,
he'll take every chance in the book will the Wildman
and try to dictate a quick pace.
[Vince] And sometimes, those chances pay off
and sometimes, they don't, right, Mr. Hart?
[Owen] That's true and there is no doubt
both of these guys are in excellent condition
but I think Steve Austin is trying to redeem himself
after he lost the million dollar belt
and what better way than to become the King of the Ring
if he destroys Marc Mero and goes on to the finals?
[Jim] Hammerlock now applied. Mero, uh-oh, nice reversal there.
Into a tight place and a nice drop toehold and nice takedown,
riding a little high at the moment, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and this is a little on the unusual side
for you to be sitting out here broadcasting.
We certainly welcome you but I would suggest you're…
You would obviously wanna be in the ring competing.
You guys would like that, wouldn't you?
[Owen] My forte is beating everybody that stands in my way.
Unfortunately, tonight, people will have to get my expertise
only by commentating and not by watching me in the ring.
[Vince] I see.
Wildman Mark Mero driving the elbow now,
coming off on the receiving end of an elbow right in the butt of the jaw.
And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and Wildman Marc Mero really kicking things off.
You have to wonder, at this pace, this is not too likely to be a long match.
-Oh, look at this, he's down. -[crowd cheering]
From the other side now, Wildman Marc Mero
-and flying head scissors, nicely done. -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Mero, Mero is scoring with the high risk maneuver.
[Vince] And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin getting out to dodge.
Wildman Marc Mero thought he was gonna land in our lap there
for a moment, Jim.
[Jim] We're talking about this guy taking a lotta chances.
Sometimes, perhaps they're a little bit unnecessary
because if you don't hit it, you're gone. You're… It's over with.
[Owen] Absolutely. I've been in a position as a highflier myself.
Those moves are great if it pays off but if you missed, you're out.
[Vince] There's one, there's one that paid off right there.
And then from there,
we have Wildman Marc Mero trying to settle down a little bit.
[Owen] Well, Marc Mero, he was on the offensive
and he should've kept it going.
Now Steve Austin has turned it around and slowed down Marc Mero.
-[Vince] Has he? -[Owen] Well, I believe he has.
[Jim] Standing side headlock now.
Wildman Marc Mero, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
towards a semi-finals here, ladies and gentlemen,
individuals in the semi-finals.
And, of course, we will await our next semi-final match
to follow this one.
[Vince] Absolutely, Jake "The Snake" Roberts
at 41 years of age trying to regain it, trying to--
-[Vince] For the first time. -[Owen] Is he, 41 or 51?
-[Jim] I think he's 51 years old. -[Vince] No, he's 41 years old.
[Jim] I think he's in 50s or 60s.
[Vince] Over the hip, nicely done,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin with a high ride.
Hey, and look at that. Using his feet, nice kick-out by Wildman,
arm drag takedown,
Wildman Marc Mero continuing to work the left arm
and the shoulder area of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Jim] I think it's obvious that Mero's a little quicker of the two
so with that said, it's obvious that Stone Cold
must slow down this matchup, dictate a slower pace
and attempt to mat wrestle that man, Wildman Marc Mero.
Mat wrestling is one of Stone Cold's fortes.
[Vince] And from a fan's standpoint,
I'm gonna say that Marc Mero, the Wildman,
certainly gives you a great view to look at
and certainly from a fan's standpoint again,
those high risk maneuvers are very enjoyable to watch just as Sable.
[Jim] Well, I beg to differ, she's not that enjoyable to watch.
And, actually, I don't think she's got any business being around ringside.
You don't see "Stone Cold" Steve Austin with some hosebag hanging around there.
-[Vince] All right, stop it… -[Jim] Come on.
…let's be respectful.
[Vince] A tackle a moment ago.
From the other side, oh, what a collision there.
And look at that, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin just pulled over
Wildman Marc Mero. Look at him go.
[Owen] Almost a… These press there by Stone Cold.
[crowd cheering]
I think "Stone Cold" knocked Marc Mero cold.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero being set up by Steve Austin, reversal now, coming up,
-and big body drop nicely done. -[crowd cheering]
[Owen] Great elevation there
and again, Austin has got to roll out a bounce
to stop this momentum.
[Jim] Exactly, that's a perfect strategy to do.
-Slow it down. -[Vince] Time out, look at this.
Psychological tactics employed by Steve Austin.
[Owen] I can certainly tell both men are hungry,
both men wanna win this King of the Ring.
I know when I won the King of the Ring, I was even hungrier.
[Vince] Oh, was that right?
All right. Here we go, coming back in.
Of course, here we're in the Mecca Arena, ladies and gentlemen, sold out for weeks.
Unquestionably, the greatest King of the Ring ever
in World Wrestling Entertainment history and, all of a sudden, now,
do you think Stone Cold wants to extend a hand of friendship?
-Obviously, not legitimate. -[Jim] Absolutely not.
No sportsmanship whatsoever in the soul of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
this is a facade.
[Vince] And locking up Wildman Marc Mero.
And questionable here.
[Owen] Well, I think Steve Austin is definitely more powerful than Marc Mero
and you got to watch Marc Mero doesn't try to give him a cheap shot,
maybe kick in the midsection.
-[Vince] You mean like that? -Yeah.
You mean just like that, don't you? Look, look at this.
[Owen] Well, he just thought before Marc Mero did and he better do it.
[Jim] Three kicks with the point of the boot
into the solar plexus.
[Owen] It's totally legal and it's got him down where he wants him,
nothing wrong with that.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin trying to wear down Wildman Marc Mero,
trying to keep this thing down on the mat.
[Jim] Sable is really… There's some anxious moments there.
She's really trying to cheer the Wildman on.
[Vince] Look at this.
And certainly, it's working as Wildman comes off the rope now
over Stone Cold, collision, well, look, over the top.
[crowd cheering]
That could've been a turning point in this contest right here.
-[Jim] Stay out of there, Sable. -[Owen] And Marc Mero.
What's wrong with Sable, though?
And you're the kinda guy that Mero… [inaudible]
[Jim] Because she's distracting Steve Austin, she's interfering.
[Vince] Oh, wait a minute. Oh, come on. Oh, no.
The concrete floor is exposed on.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin with Wildman Marc Mero,
what's he gonna do with him?
-He has him up and… Oh. -[crowd cheering]
You can hear the smack as the front shank hits
that concrete floor.
[Owen] Well, your anatomy was not made to fall on concrete,
to be driven on the concrete floor like that.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
wants to be the 1996 WWE King of the Ring
and Marc Mero somehow back into the ring.
Mero, being set up now.
-He's… Oh, Stone Cold, oh, a suplex. -[crowd cheering]
And again, more damage to the back area. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Austin is toying around now, look at this, with Wildman Marc Mero.
[Jim] Austin is very calculating.
I don't think you'll see him take too many unnecessary risks here
as this contest continues.
[Owen] As much as I don't wanna agree with you, Jim Ross,
you're right, he is very methodical.
He's got Marc Mero right where he wants him now, slowly and methodically,
he can inflict pain, punish him, and bottom of the line,
he is gonna beat Marc Mero, he's better--
[Vince] Yeah, but the name of the game is just that, that bottom line,
the name of the game is winning it, and I… Look at this.
Continuing to punish someone just because you have an advantage.
Oh.
[Jim] He's driving the elbow into the point,
the point of the elbow right into the throat.
Again, that's perfectly illegal. And what he's doing is breaking him down,
getting ready to put him down for the million dollar dream.
[Vince] Marc Mero fired off a couple of shots there
but, unfortunately, not a lot behind those right hands, at least not now.
On his feet, Wildman Marc Mero
and now, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin really risking disqualification here.
[Jim] Austin is making sure that Mero can't get any good rest.
He's trying to take all of his oxygen away from him
and that Irish Whip right to the corner
just drives the air right out of the Wildman.
[Vince] And it looks, it looks likely that the Wildman Marc Mero
is likely to be tamed by this methodical "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
to the buckle again.
[Owen] Mero is definitely in trouble,
he's still wounded from falling on that cement floor,
now his back is damaged from hitting that turnbuckle twice.
He's got his hands full right now.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, oh, what, snap.
A bit of a snapmare and, wait a minute, what's this?
Going upstairs, again, why doesn't "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
go for the cover? And drives the elbow.
[Jim] I bet that he closes it, that's it, one.
[Vince] One, two in the mat, no, a kick-out
and somehow Marc Mero able to kick out of that.
[Jim] Mero is a tough-gutted young man.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Austin now, what's he gonna with Mero?
Has him up.
Drives him down.
And again, the knee to the rib area.
[Jim] Everything very deliberate,
very methodical as we pointed out and very high impact.
[Vince] A cover, one, two, and another kick-out by Marc Mero.
[Owen] You know, as much as I don't like Marc Mero one bit,
I do have to give him credit, he's got a lotta heart
because most men would not have recovered from that kinda a beating.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero, and he's doing… What's this?
-I don't know. -Oh, that Boston crab coming up,
oh, damage to the back, and that could do it right there.
[Jim] Submission maneuver here.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero trying to hang on.
[Owen] There's nothing that Sable can do for Marc Mero.
Stone Cold has got him right in the center of the ring
but being the, being the gutless quitter that he is,
he's trying to go to the ropes.
He's a quitter.
[Vince] Wildman Marc Mero trying to hang on.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin intent on inflicting punishment to his opponent.
Now lower back, Mero trying to make a move here.
And Mero, what's he… Whoa.
How about that? How about that?
That is a wow.
[crowd cheering]
Wildman Marc Mero taking a hold
but, unfortunately, oh, small package, wait a minute, one, two, it's not even…
-No. Again, oh, that was so close. -[Owen] That was a fast count, too.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin with Marc Mero on his feet,
maybe not for long though.
And now, again, Austin steps it up yet another notch.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Now, unfortunately, Steve Austin has to get on Marc Mero.
He's got a lotta heart and a lotta fire than Mero does
and Steve cannot allow that to happen.
He's got to get on him when he's got him down
and put him away fast.
This is the King of the Ring.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin driving the foot into the lower abdominal area
and it would seem that Austin has had several occasions here
in which he perhaps should've gone for the cover but did not.
[Owen] What's this?
[Vince] Again, same maneuver, with Austin pressed down,
he's putting even more pressure on him.
[Jim] The lower back has been the focus of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
Austin seemingly going…
Wanting to go for a submission victory as opposed to a pinfall victory.
[Owen] And, well, Marc Mero is squealing in pain,
poor Sable can just sit there and look homely
and try to provide some support but it's not enough--
-[Vince] Did you say she looked homely? -[Owen] Homely, I didn't start it.
[Vince] And Wildman Marc Mero, the capacity crowd very much with him,
Mero trying to make a statement. Would he make…
No, no, look at this, wait a minute,
shoulders are down, two, and he got him, and, no, he didn't.
And driving… Wait a minute, one, two, oh.
A series of near falls back and forth there.
Wildman Marc Mero almost pulling up a big upset.
-Mero to the… Oh, to the buckle. -Sternum first.
Oh, no, maybe he has, Wildman Marc Mero--
Oh, my God, that's what he used to beat me.
-One, two, he's got him. -Oh.
No, he doesn't.
[Owen] See, unlike when he did it to me, he held my trunks.
[Vince] A right in by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Jim] I don't recall him pulling your trunks, Owen.
[Owen] He certainly did.
[Jim] That's like blaming the Johnstown flood on a leaky faucet in Altoona,
-it didn't happen. -[Owen] You weren't there, Jim Ross.
You weren't in the ring. You didn't feel him grabbing my tights.
[Vince] Set up now for the ride, no reversal, coming off,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and now, sleeper hold applied.
Oh, no.
Devastating maneuver.
Austin drove his own head right into Mero's jaw.
A modified version of his finishing maneuver,
the Stone Cold Stunner.
And I'm not so sure that Austin didn't have his tongue.
Jarred as well, Austin bleeding from the mouth now.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Wildman Marc Mero,
highly competitive matchup here kicking things off in
-and look at that maneuver. -[crowd cheering]
A high risk maneuver,
he had no idea whether Stone Cold was right behind him or not,
that was tremendous.
[Jim] I think they struck heads there.
[Vince] All right. Here we go, back down.
Both men up on their feet, maybe not for long, off the rope,
Stone Cold missing with the elbow, dropkick.
[Jim] Oh, caught him right in the jaw.
As the pace quickens, the wild man gets stronger,
that's what he's all about, that quick, out of control pace.
Well, what the King of the Ring is all about is endurance
and right now, Marc Mero is showing that he had endurance.
He sustained the beating that was given to him
and now he's giving it back to him.
[Vince] He certainly is and again,
The Mero have "Stone Cold" Steve Austin bloodied elbow there.
Mero was going high on the forehead with those punches
-coming off now and a back body drop. -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] You could feel the momentum building here.
[Vince] Yes, it has shifted, no doubt about it, here we go.
Wildman Marc Mero on the top and he… Yeah.
Double axe, that could do it.
We have one, we have two, and, no.
Oh, Sable was gonna celebrate.
She was ready to celebrate. Oh, my.
Nothing doing, not yet.
Two great competitors, here comes Wild… No, right into the boot.
Austin having the presence of mind to raise that boot right into the jaw.
And, wait a minute, here we go, over the top and he…
Oh, yeah. Oh.
[Owen] Oh, he hit his back right on the apron.
[Vince] Oh, my goodness, yes. Watch the wild man.
-Look out, here comes Wildman Marc Mero. -[crowd cheering]
Look at that. That bloodied mouth.
High risk maneuver, a somersault plancha by Wildman Marc Mero
on a bloodied "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Austin and Mero giving it their all here tonight,
live in Milwaukee at the Mecca Arena.
Let's go back and take another look,
watch the risk that we're talking about, Wildman will take.
-Back to us now, there goes another one. -[crowd cheering]
And so far, these risks are paying off for Wildman Marc Mero.
[Jim] These risks aren't gonna get him anywhere outside the ring.
He's got to get him in the ring and pin him one, two, three
to get onto the next round of the King of the Ring.
-This is not gonna do him any good. -And that's exactly what he is doing,
he must have heard you. Here we go.
Wildman Marc Mero
with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin back in the ring.
Can Mero Polish off Stone Cold and dropkick from way above.
-[crowd cheering] -[Owen] That should be it,
we have a cover, one, two, and he's-- No.
-[Vince] No. No. -[Owen] I'll tell you something,
that dead gum Austin is tougher than shoe leather because that would've--
A normal man would have been out with that dropkick off the top.
Intestinal fortitude and that's what it's all about,
King of the Ring
It's gonna take a Mack Truck to put Steve Austin down for a three count.
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin being set up now.
Look at this, put right on the top rung on the ladder.
Right there and what chops there by Wildman Marc Mero.
Watch this, going all the way up, high risk maneuver again, oh, yes.
-[Owen] Oh, my God. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Now is the time.
Shoot the head, get him over and now is the time.
Yeah, here we go, one, two, and he's… Oh.
-Oh, my. -[Jim] He didn't get him. He's…
[Vince] Left shoulder.
The left shoulder came off the canvas at about two and a half.
Oh.
Oh, a boot to the mid section. Uh-oh. Wait a…
Knocked him right in the solar plexus to the set up here,
way up and look at that.
Oh, right across the throat, the throat of Wildman Marc Mero,
right across that top, running it over the top rope,
and cover, one, two…
-Oh. -[Owen] Oh, man, only two.
Austin loves that maneuver.
It's a hotshot-like maneuver by Stone Cold.
[Owen] The momentum has certainly changed now,
look at who's on top, Jim Ross.
-"Stone Cold" Steve Austin. -[Vince] Hey, wait, that's it.
Can he put him away? One, two.
-[Vince] He got it. -[Jim] He did it.
-[bell ringing] -"Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
what a battle in this very first match opening up the King of the Ring.
[Jim] The Wildman tasted defeat for the first time here on the WWE
at the hands of Stone Cold and the Stone Cold Stunner.
[Owen] Unbelievable match, unbelievable move.
It's the very move that put Savio Vega out of the King of the Ring,
he beat him with that.
Marc Mero must not have done his homework
because he just got defeated by the same move.
[Vince] All right. Let's take another look here.
Look at this. A set up now, watch.
Wildman Marc Mero goes way up and look at that.
Oh, my goodness. From our vantage point,
that top rope was right across the throat of Wildman Marc Mero.
And then, look. After that, that stunner
which is a tremendous impact right on the jaw, the cover,
the victory for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and there you have a gallant young man
who has a great reputation here in the world…
Let me see. Great reputation and a great future no doubt
here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
There you see what we have now is Jake "The Snake" Roberts
against the man they call Vader,
one of those individuals will face "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Let's take you back now to Dok Hendrix. Dok?
All right. Jake, obviously,
the sentimental favored here in the King of the Ring tournament.
You've overcome a lot of obstacles in your life,
but the largest one is looming in front of you now,
the 450-pound Vader stands in the way of your quest
to become King of the Ring.
You know, I was blind, but now I see, I was deaf,
and now I can hear, you know, my soul was purchased by the blood of the lamb,
and so, how can I lose if I just go out there
and know the power above is reaching down and lifting me up?
Yes, 450 pounds is nothing you wanna play with it.
I don't plan on playing, but I'll tell you something,
if I was gonna rob a bank, I wouldn't walk in the front door,
I'd sneak up from behind.
It's time to get serious, if I can't get by Vader,
I know I got Stone Cold. Lord, help me, let me do it.
Best of luck, Jake. Back to you, Vince and JR.
[Vince] Oh, yeah, here we go.
And here comes the mastodon of the World Wrestling Entertainment.
-[bell ringing] -You talk about a bully,
this man is a personification of that term, he is a bully. Yeah.
Some like him, most don't.
Vader, how did Vader get here?
How did Vader get to the King of the Ring. Here we go.
Match with Ahmed Johnson. Watch this.
And who's gonna help out Vader?
[Jim] Well, I just wanna say Ahmed Johnson grabbed by manager.
A ran in here to stop him from hitting my manager, and that's it.
[Vince] Oh, how hard would that cast
dropping into the back of the head of Ahmed Johnson, knocked him out,
that's how Vader got in, in addition to the back
that Goldust and the Warrior did not advance
when they fought in the opening round of the King of the Ring,
ladies and gentlemen.
Neither individual advance… Of course, that was a double count-out
and that's the way Vader went all the way to the semis.
[Jim] I think Ahmed Johnson had that match won
if it haven't been for our colleague out here,
Owen Hart and that cast.
[Owen] You know what, Jim Ross, you think too much.
So you just sit out here and commentate on the matches,
and don't speculate about my business.
[Vince] The man they call Vader against the 41-year-old.
[Jim] 51 or 61, I'm not sure.
[Vince] Jake "The Snake" Roberts, a man who's a lot to say as of late.
About his past, about his past drug addiction,
about his past lifestyle,
he's turned things around, and, ladies and gentlemen,
he has an opportunity to make a comeback of the lifetime.
-A standing ovation. -[inaudible] Wrestling Entertainment.
Can Jake "The Snake" Roberts do it at 41 years old?
Can he become the King of the Ring--
[Owen] Let me get some straight right now, he's 51 years old,
he's still injured from his match with Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw,
he's walking into this match hurt,
and Vader is not the kinda guy that you walk into a match hurt…
-Let's go back. -…that could even inflict more pain on--
[Vince] Let's show you the way that Jake…
Ladies and gentlemen, here we go,
three weeks ago against Hunter Hearst Helmsley--
-[Owen] DDT. -[Vince] Yes, sir.
How effective is the DDT?
Well, so effective after that recount.
-We're gonna see it again. -[Jim] It's a difference maker.
You see it right here at the grueling match
with the very impressive Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw.
Again, the DDT, the difference maker.
[Vince] Jake "The Snake" Roberts has cleared the ring
with that python, and whoa, whoa, baby.
[Jim] Like I stated earlier,
the King of the Ring is about qualifying with endurance,
and Jake Roberts does not have the endurance
to get through Vader for starters or "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
There's no way an old man, my guess, can go through two matches in one night.
-There's no way. -[Vince] You know what, let's talk about
the knowledge Jake "The Snake" has, and those great psychological skills.
[Jim] There's no doubt. He does have a lotta experience…
-[bell ringing] -…and he's very psychologically inclined,
but he's an old man, bottom line. He's washed up. He's a has been--
[Vince] Massive crowd here enjoying,
ladies and gentlemen, the King of the Ring,
and we certainly hope you are at home as well,
the World Wrestling Entertainment on pay-per-view.
[Jim] Jake Roberts has won bigger battles.
Talking about drug and alcohol abuse, but this is a 458-pound monster.
[Vince] Who's gonna show us just how big and just how bad he is.
[Jim] And as long as Vader has the advantage,
he's the biggest bully in the yard.
Well, nobody knows him better than I do in Camp Cornette,
but I will say this much,
Jake Roberts' only hope is if he gets a DDT on Vader,
but there is no ways he's gonna get that massive man down with a DDT,
-there's no way. -[crowd cheering]
[Owen] That's a nice arm bar take down, a submission maneuver,
as Vader's trying to hyperextend Jake's elbow.
[Jim] And again, using all of his weigh in a riding style fashion,
the man they call Vader,
and when you're around that 200-pound mark,
could you imagine almost feel like a ton on those joints.
[Vince] Set-up for the ride now, Jake "The snake," off the rope.
Oh, forget about it.
[Jim] As long as Vader is vertical,
as long as Vader controls his vertical base,
he is as deadly as anybody that's ever stepped inside the ring
here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Vince] Again, coming off the rope,
and again, Jake "The Snake" down to the canvas.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Oh!
-[Jim] That's it, he's finished. -[inaudible]
[Vince] Two, and a… No.
[Jim] I give him credit for an old timer, he's hanging in there,
but it's only a matter of time,
and I know in Camp Cornette, we're all very close,
and Vader and I, we talk strategy.
I know exactly what he's gonna do to beat Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
[Vince] Oh, look at that, a boot into the jaw,
Vader hesitated just a moment moving in, in anticipation.
And now, Jake "The Snake" peppering Vader with a series of rights and lefts.
Sets him up for the ride, reversal now, coming off and…
Oh, a nice knee lift.
[Jim] That's what Jake wants him, he just took Vader down,
and he's going for the DDT already. Here we go, DDT coming in.
[Vince] No, Vader driving Jake "The Snake" in the corner. Uh-oh, look out.
This is where Vader does his most damage, look at this, hammering away
and right down to the canvas, Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
[Jim] Didn't I tell you, Vader is too big of a man,
well over 400 pounds,
there's no way Jake Roberts has the power to pull him down for that DDT.
There's no way.
[Vince] Jake "The Snake" Roberts, ladies and gentlemen,
would like to be known as the King of the Ring award winner.
He's never won a title here in the World Wrestling Entertainment
in his long tenure, taking some three years off,
and now, trying to make it back, trying to make it back to the top.
[Jim] I'm sure Jake Roberts' family who has just gotten back together
not that long ago watching in Stone Mountain, Georgia,
with some very anxious moments, his family not--
They didn't really want Jake to come back to in-ring competition,
but Jake had the burning desire to compete again and that's why he's here.
[Owen] Okay. Tell me this, if Jake Roberts could not win in his prime years ago,
why would you think that he's got a chance now when he's only older
-and more injured? -[Vince] Oh, what a clothesline.
Jake "The Snake" has never participated in a King of the Ring tournament before.
This is his first coming up, and… Oh, again, Vader.
[Jim] Well, if he couldn't win a title when he was at his best ten years ago,
he shouldn't be even in the match right now.
[Vince] Jake "The Snake" never say never in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
-[Jim] That's true. -Jake "The Snake" Roberts being set-up.
Vader has dominated the match.
Here he comes, and again, hesitating just a little bit.
[Jim] Take advantage, Jake.
You got to take advantage now while you can.
[Vince] Here it comes, DDT. Yeah. He got it.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jim] Oh, my God.
-[bell ringing] -[Vince] Wait a minute, the official…
[Jim] Vader grabbed the referee going down.
He never grabbed the referee, I didn't see that.
-[Vince] I think he did. -[Jim] I think Jake Roberts
shoved the referee out of the way.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, here is the referee's decision.
-[Vince] Oh, no. -[announcer] He awards this match…
-[Vince] Oh, my goodness. -…by disqualification
-to Jake "The Snake" Roberts. -[Jim] That is a travesty.
You can't… Look at Jim Cornette, he's enraged.
-[Vince] Wait a minute. -You can't manhandle a referee like that.
-[Jim] My God, what an action. -[Vince] Look out. Look out.
[Vince] The match is over. Come on, Vader.
-[bell ringing] -Here he comes again.
[crowd cheering]
There's no reason for this.
Vader lost this match in a result of a disqualification.
He was going down with the DDT, grabbed the official,
-and brought him down with him. -[bell ringing]
Whether it's inadvertent or not, I guess we'll never know,
but the official made his decision.
[Owen] Vader's got a very bad temper, and I don't blame him,
he's just been robbed of the King of the Ring.
He was one of the hopefuls,
not an old washed-up has been like Jake Roberts--
[Vince] Oh, no. Now, wait a minute. Look at this.
-[Jim] No, come on. -[bell ringing]
Flatten him, hurt him. Jake's helpless. He's helpless here.
[Vince] And down right into the ribs.
[inaudible]
-Now-- -Hey, come on!
[Jim] Well, he already had injured ribs previously,
and what big man Vader has just done is totally destroy Jake Roberts' chance
if he'd be going on to the next match in the King of the Ring.
He's in no shape to go anywhere except for, to a hospital.
[Vince] Jake may have suffered some serious internal injuries.
He's holding his side, he's holding his ribs,
and his lower abdomen here. He's done.
And Vader real powder keg.
Oh, wait a minute, look at that, he just shoved Cornette back.
Vader is in set… He had his heart set
on winning the King of the Ring tournament,
and now, Vader is out of it as a result of a disqualification.
[Jim] He was robbed.
[Vince] Jake being helped back.
And you might be right, Owen,
Jake "The Snake" may not be in any condition to continue on.
-Which would mean… -[Owen] Look at him.
He can't even walk on his own.
[Vince] …that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin…
would be a, would be named the King of the Ring.
Let's take you back and show you that DDT now.
You judge for yourself whether or not Vader intentionally grabbed the official
if we have the shot. Here we go.
Jake winds up, look at this, Vader.
[Owen] He didn't grab the referee.
When you're getting DDT you're gonna fight for your life
to get out of it, and the referee stood in his way and fell down,
he was robbed, Vader was a hopeful to win this thing,
and now, he's been cheated. I don't blame him.
I would have done it to Jake Roberts,
I would have beat him even worse if I got cheated like that.
[Vince] This capacity crowd booing the man they call Vader.
[Jim] Well, it was a judgment call by the referee,
controversial to say the least.
[Owen] The crowds not bullying Vader,
they're booing that lousy referee's decision.
[Vince] All right. Now, you'll never gonna see this
anywhere else, ladies and gentlemen, it is a coliseum home video exclusive.
I can't believe that they would do something like this to Vader,
that it had to come up to that crooked referee
-to be able to keep Vader from… -Nobody beats me.
-I know. I know.
-I fear no man. -They didn't beat you.
-And I'm getting no pay.
-Nobody beats me. -They didn't beat you, big man.
-They didn't beat you, no. -I am the King of the Ring.
-They robbed you. -I'm the King of the Ring.
-I swear. -I am the King of the Ring.
-Yes, big man. I promise. -[whimsical music plays]
[Vince] Yeah. Here we go for the WWE tag team title up for grabs,
and here comes the favorites, all right.
Don't go messing with no country boys.
[Jim] And Phineas is bringing a critter out with him.
[Owen] He, sure is.
Phineas has had a lotta emotional ups and downs lately.
As a matter of fact, one emotional situation for him
at the last In Your House at the Free For All.
[Vince] Let's take you back, ladies and gentlemen, to show you…
Here we go, look at this.
Sunny's wrapped by Billy.
Look at this. Protesting just a little too much
as they found out later on Phineas who was… [inaudible]
Sunny couldn't believe it,
and after that, Billy is rolled up for the pin, a one, two, three…
[inaudible]
[Jim] It's good to see you.
Get that smelly goat out of here. It stinks worse than the Hillbilly.
-[Vince] Yeah. -[bleats]
And the goat going right over to Howard Finkel some reasons and…
Here we go.
Phineas is a good student in high school, you know.
He's only in high school two terms with Phineas Bush and Clintons.
[Jim] He was a great student,
but he's can scuffle, as they say in high school.
[Vince] Oh, he can. He can definitely do that.
Question is, whether or not he's over Sunny…
and speaking of Sunny, ladies and gentlemen.
Dok, have you have her back there?
Yes, I do, Vince, right here with me.
Now, Sunny, I got two quick questions for you.
First of all, I'd like to show you some footage
of the Bodydonnas new manager, you're replacement, Cloudy,
-what is your reaction to her? -You have to show that again?
She's most ugliest, disgusting, Grotesque beast.
-I've seen in my entire life. -Yeah, let's show you that footage.
-Look at this. -She makes you look good-looking.
What do they think, are they trying to humiliate me?
And she's unbelievable, she's fat. She's got messy brown hair.
She's-- Ewe, ewe, and those tattoos everywhere.
-Oh, she's got potential. -Oh, my God. I can't--
I can't handle this, are they trying to humiliate me or what?
I don't know that. Let me ask you my second question really quick,
considering the pranks that you pulled in the past on Phineas,
what are you gonna try to do tonight to ensure that the Gunns keep the titles?
Well, you know Phineas never could keep his eyes off me,
and considering what I'm wearing tonight.
It's sure to be a win for the Smoking Gunns.
-Well, all right. Any comments here? -Hey, you know, she's beautiful.
She's award winner… manager.
Hey, Smoking Gunns are tag team champions…
Once we defeat the Godwinns though, I'm gonna have--
We're gonna have to face he Bodydonnas
and that chick is gonna be across the ring from me, Billy.
-No problem. -I don't wanna be out there with her.
-[Vince] Dok, I think they're stalling. -All right. All right, Vince.
Back to you a perplex Sunny and the Godwinn…
I mean, The Gunns on the way to defend the titles.
[Owen] Yeah. I always thought of a good name for Sunny,
-she reminds me of Will Rogers. -What?
Sunny reminds me of Will Rogers
because she never met a man she didn't like.
She's mad… She's mad at so many things, The Godwinns, The Gunns,
The Bodydonnas, I mean, this is getting ridiculous.
[Vince] Yes, and likewise, Mr. Hart, she is a Slammy Award winner.
And her she comes right now on a brand-new cowgirl outfit on.
[Owen] Well, I can relate to that. I'm a Slammy Award winner.
I know Sunny, she was a multiple Slammy Award winner,
but the question is, can she keep these Smoking Gunns
as the WWE champions?
[Vince] Sunny, out here with the Smoking Gunns, and…
Oh, wait a minute, earlier on, you were chastising Sable for joining us,
but you don't mind Sunny joining us out here at ringside.
What's the difference?
[Jim] Well, let's wait until the match starts.
She hasn't done anything wrong.
There's nothing walking around the ring.
She is the manager of the Smoking Gunns
-who are champions. -[Vince] Yeah.
[Jim] And I'll certainly say she's done a lot more work than that Sable
because I don't see any title around Marc Mero's waist.
As a matter of fact, he left the ring a loser tonight.
I'm very disappointed of Smoking Gunns.
Earlier today, I saw them at the hotel
and they refused to sign a couple of young fans' autographs,
a couple of Smoking Gunns fans that had their hats on and everything,
and wouldn't even sign an autograph, I find that rather appalling.
[Owen] Jim Ross, why don't you shut up? They got a title match.
Don't you think they got better things on their mind
than to sign autographs for a bunch of snot nosed little brats?
Of course, they're not signing autographs,
they are focused on the smelly, stinky, rotten hillbillies.
[Vince] Oh, let me tell you something about these hillbillies as you call them.
We're talking about rugged individualist for sure,
and together, I'll tell you the Godwinn family, ladies and…
Uh-oh, somebody's gonna get slapped. Could it be Sunny?
Look at this. Henry and Phineas is cowering behind.
Look at Sunny.
-Hey, hey. -Oh, wait a minute.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.
That's Billy with the mic.
Phineas, you know, there's been a lot of things on your mind lately.
But I know the one thing that is just eating you alive,
and that is…
I made her feel like you will never be able to make her feel.
[Vince] Oh, my goodness, I can't believe that.
-[bell ringing] -[Jim] And from apart from behind.
That's all it was, is a set up. Phineas was set up.
[Owen] Bart now with Phineas and slamming him down to the canvas.
Why not capitalize on an idiot. He's a stupid fool.
They capitalized on it,
and that's what it's all about to be a winner, tactics.
[Vince] The Smoking Gunns, Billy and Bart, against the Godwinns,
and Phineas calling for yet another trick.
A tag was made. Here comes Billy.
I can't imagine Billy would say something like to Phineas,
and say it to his face.
Look at Billy hammering away. Look at this.
Just hammering Phineas all the way down. Look at this.
Make no mistake about the athleticism of the Smoking Gunns.
-[Owen] Three-time WWE tag champion. -[Jim] They can really pour it on.
[Owen] Three times they've held the tag team gold,
and as our colleague knows,
Owen Hart is very, very difficult to hold it at least just one time.
[Owen] I understand that because not only did I defeat the Smoking Gunns,
I did all the work. You know, that fat slob, Yokozuna was my partner.
[Vince] Oh, please now. Come on, have a little respect--
[Owen] But the Smoking Gunns, they were the same team that defeated us,
so they are definitely top of WWE champions.
[Vince] Wait a minute, Phineas there right on the money.
-Look at this, Phineas. -[Owen] Oh, boy.
[Vince] Oh, yeah, Phineas hammering away. Look at this.
Phineas gonna work on Billy Gunn.
-Here comes Bart to help out Phineas. -[Owen] Uh-oh.
Phineas is having one of those smells, I think as they call it--
Look at this, and Billy trying to get out of there,
and he's [inaudible] out.
[Owen] Pulled his boot right off of him.
[Vince] And risking disqualification now is Phineas--
[Owen] He's not all there, he's definitely--
He's a little bit stupid, or a lot stupid, actually.
He's in a razorback rage, I think.
And he's got a temper, I've seen him flare up like this.
[Vince] And justifiably…
Standing by, we're told, ladies and gentlemen,
do we have Cloudy?
Of all people, I think Cloudy is watching this…
Cloudy, how are you? And welcome to the World Wrestling Entertainment, we…
Those of you who didn't join us for the Free For All,
this is Cloudy, the new manager of the Bodydonnas,
some 5,000 entries and congratulations on your becoming the Bodydonnas' manager.
Well, thank you, Mr. McMahon.
The outfit you're wearing is similar to those that,
well, that Sunny has worn in the past. Do you have the same tailor?
Well, I'd like to say that I fill it out a little more than Sunny.
[Vince] Thank you very much for joining us,
and the best of luck to you and your future here in the WWE.
Well, thank you, Mr. McMahon, and JR, this is for you.
[Owen] Whoa, she blew a kiss to you, JR.
-I think she likes you. -[Jim] Thank you very much.
I'm a happily married man, I'll have you know--
Phineas!
[Jim] She's not my type, I can assure you.
I don't know. You've been flirting with her.
-[Vince] Oh, look at this. -[Owen] She blew you a kiss.
What's the matter with him?
[Vince] And Sunny apparently having no affect on Phineas,
at least not in this matchup, not thus far. Oh, my goodness.
Henry Godwinn in there now against Bart. Here we go.
-Bart with the… Oh, right into the boot. -[Jim] A brogue and right into the jaw.
Oh, what an impact?
-A cover. One, two and… -[Vince] A kick-out.
These Smoking Gunns are rugged,
but I don't know if they are as rugged as the Godwinns.
Look at this. Oh, my goodness, yeah. They mean business.
Wide open now.
Phineas right back in with a little momentum.
[Jim] Or saying the Godwinns has a little bit more continuity here,
making more frequent tags and keeping Bart Gunn
and the Godwinns half of the ring.
[Vince] And Hillbilly Jim, the manager of the Godwinns has them focused.
And I think that the biggest thing here is that Phineas is not focused on Sunny.
[Jim] Well, we know what happens when Phineas does that,
I mean, that, it's all bad news.
Henry Godwinn…
applying the pressure on the left arm.
[inaudible]
And Sunny screaming.
[crowd cheering]
And we've got Henry now riving Bart Gunn.
Bart trying to make a move, trying to get off the mat.
Henry with a decided weight advantage
and perhaps the strength advantage as well,
sets him up off the rope missing with the left hand.
Oh, but… Oh, did you see that?
Behind the official's back, Billy nailing…
-[Owen] See what I mean? -[Jim] He got him right in the back.
[Owen] See what I mean about the Smoking Gunns?
I mean, come on, Billy.
Again, Jim Ross, I think that's a questionable call.
I think he ran into his boot, and I think it was very unintentional.
[Vince] come on, now. Come on.
The official warning Billy Gunn.
[Owen] That's a very, very stern stump on the ribs by Billy Gunn,
and Henry Godwinn is in a lot of trouble here right now.
[Vince] Henry snapped over. Billy drops a knee.
Billy and Bart got cover, two and… Only two.
[Owen] You know, I think Sunny has brought something out of these Smoking Gunns
that I didn't see before. They're a lot more aggressive.
They're a lot more hungrier than they were when they were walking around
just trying to be friendly good boys,
-they're a lot tougher now. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] That was made Bart the legal man in the ring.
This momentum all started with that cheap shot that we have,
and we'll show it to you the double feature,
a cheap shot earlier on.
Here it is. Watch this now. Watch Billy.
Referee's back is turned and right there. Look.
-[Owen] I don't know, it's hard to tell. -[Vince] Go ahead and explain it, Owen.
[Owen] Well, from that angle, it's really hard to tell.
[Vince] From that angle. A cover, one, two and he… Oh.
[Owen] Look at the arrogant cover of Bart Gunn now.
Here… [inaudible].
-That Bart Gunn would assist up on a leg. -[Vince] Right.
[Owen] It'd have been a great lateral press,
instead it was all arrogance, a very conceited Bart Gunn.
[Owen] Well, no doubt about that that it was a big mistake.
He's got to hook the leg,
but again, Ross, you know, you speak too much.
You haven't actually been in the ring,
and you ought to keep your comments to yourself.
[Jim] Wait a minute, this is your first opportunity out here
in terms of broadcasting on pay-per-view, and…
[Owen] McMahon, how many Slammys have you ever won?
[Vince] I don't hear Jim Ross putting you down.
All right. Here we go. Coming off the…
Oh, that telegraphed maneuver there. And Billy Gunn capitalizing.
They are quick, both Gunns,
Billy perhaps a bit quicker even than Bart.
A cover, two and he… No, and again, a left shoulder.
[Owen] Again, they got to hook the leg though.
That's basic wrestling. If you're WWE tag team champions,
and you're fighting somebody as good as the Godwinns
you have to hook the leg.
[Vince] The Gunns, Billy and Bart,
far more aggressive now than they ever were
prior to having Sunny joined their forces, and look at this.
[Owen] That's exactly what I was trying to say,
but, Jim Ross, you try to argue with me about that.
They are certainly a lot more aggressive than before Sunny came along.
[Vince] And the knee just holding him there
with all the weight. And look at this. Look at this.
[screaming]
And Bart Gunn applying more and more pressure.
[Owen] Look at him, he's squealing like a pig.
[Jim] And Henry maybe missing a few teeth,
and maybe missing a few marbles after this, if this continues.
Look at Bart Gunn with those unsportsmanlike remarks
to Hillbilly Jim.
The Smoking Gunns have transformed to a couple of less than desirable guys,
thanks to Sunny.
Come on, Henry.
[Vince] And look at this. Verbal taunting.
[Jim] See what, they're wasting time here.
Wouldn't you agree all that Bart Gunn's wasting little time?
[Owen] I would get on him a little more, but maybe it's psychology.
They're trying to humiliate them before they beat them.
You know, they got an imbecile like that Phineas in the corner,
maybe it's psychological for him to be standing in the corner
watching his partner who's the smarter of the two getting punished.
[Vince] Henry Godwinn being pummeled and Henry is hurt.
Henry… No small package, Henry playing possum trick got him in--
No. Oh, so close. Almost new tag team champions.
[Owen] But again, Billy Gunn is going right back to the lower back.
It's the lower back, in the spine and the kidney area,
that is the focus right now of the Smoking Gunns.
And Henry Godwinn desperately needs to make a tag to Phineas.
[crowd cheering]
Henry! Henry!
[Vince] Henry over in the corner.
Whip in the other side. Look out. Here comes Billy Gunn, and… No.
Oh.
Oh, Billy Gunn face first in the buckle,
and he got a little over confident is Billy Gunn, both men down.
[Owen] A crucial moment in this match here.
The man that makes the tag will give his team the distinct advantage.
[Vince] Bart reaching for the tag to Billy.
Phineas on the far side reaching for the tag.
Bart's… Don't… Wait. Come on. Get him out there, ref.
[Jim] Get Phineas out of there.
[Vince] There's no tag. We just heard the tag being made.
The sound of one, but there wasn't one. Come on, ref, don't fall for that.
[Owen] So, that idiot Phineas who should have stayed in his corner.
Hillbilly Jim should have told him to stay in the corner.
That's their own stupidity that just cost them that.
[Vince] A scoop and down across the knee again.
Bart drives the elbow.
Bart Gunn now to the outside. Where is he going?
To the top… Yeah, here we go.
Going upstairs. High risk maneuver, will it pay off for the Smoking Gunns.
Bart now, right on top, the elbow or the knee,
-and the leg… Oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Henry can make the tag. It's a new ballgame.
Bart Gunn is hurt.
If Henry can make a tag, this… It could be over.
Reach out and make that tag. Uh-oh, Billy was tagged in.
[Owen] Billy Gunn was not that fresh. He's not fresh.
-Here we go. -[crowd cheering]
Phineas hammering Billy Gunn. And again, and Bart gets one.
[Owen] Nothing fancy about this.
[Vince] To the buckle. Look at this.
All four men in the ring, all at the same time.
The official better get control of this matchup.
-[crowd cheering] -Bart, Billy… No, reversal.
-Wait a minute. Look at. -Oh.
[crowd cheering]
That's tag team continuity for you, and Henry hammering away.
Henry is the legal man along with Billy. Look out Phineas from behind.
No. A cover, one, two… I can't believe it, Johnny.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[upbeat music plays]
The Smoking Gunns win it by any means possible.
[announcer] …tag team champions, the Smoking Gunns.
-[Vince] And Henry. -[Owen] What a bad sport of…
-[Vince] And Phineas… -[Owen] Look at them. What a bad sport?
-…giving him something to remember. -[bell rings]
it's over. Come on!
-[Owen] Couple of sore losers right there. -[Vince] Oh, come on.
You saw, everyone saw all the Gunns were cheating.
Sunny. Sunny. Sunny.
Sunny and the Smoking Gunns retaining the tag team championship.
Let's go back. Let's take another look at it.
[Owen] Right there with a boot in the back of the head.
Bart Gunn with the boot to the back of the head,
the referee was detained with Henry,
and the Smoking Gunns are lucky as of dickens to get out here
with the WWE Tag Team Championship. It may be different--
I got the belts once again, and I'm not letting them go.
[Vince] Let's take you over now to Dok Hendrix. Dok?
All right, Vince. If anyone ever stacked the deck,
it would have to be Camp Cornette.
I mean, Owen Hart is gonna be doing colored commentary.
You've handpicked the referee, you guys gonna be on cloud nine.
Let me just explain something to you, Shawn Michaels, tonight,
son, your number is finally up.
Like my old friend, Dick Murdoch used to say,
the Bulldog is gonna pop you and knock you into next week,
because it should have been his title last month.
This time, there ain't gonna be no referee,
wishy-washy referee getting knocked out of the way.
No amount of World Wrestling Entertainment presidents
are gonna be able to stop the British Bulldog from being
the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
Because, Shawn Michaels, ever since you've had that title,
you've been flying first class,
but tonight, you got a one-way ticket on ValueJet, Punk--
-[Vince] Hey, wait a minute. Dok, Dok. -Yeah.
-Is that Mr. Perfect? -Yeah, I…
-What? Cat got your tongue? -That's Mr. Perfect.
-[Owen] Who's locker room is this? -This is an act of collusion.
He's the referee in the match. What's the deal here?
Well, you see Mr. Perfect is gonna go over the dressing room,
the same dressing room as Shawn Michaels.
-He might get his balls stolen. -Yeah.
-[Vince] Oh, my goodness. -Well, Mr. Perfect is gonna call it
right there in the middle tonight.
There's gonna be no referees being knocked down.
Tonight, the British Bulldog is gonna join the triple-header club.
I've been the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Champion.
I'm one half of the World Wrestling Entertainment
tag team champions,
but tonight, the British Bulldog takes the World Wrestling Entertainment title
at King of the Ring.
Shawn Michaels, you're mine in less than a few short hours away.
All right. Thank you very much, indeed. Dok, thanks.
-[rock music plays] -Oh.
[Vince] The British Bulldog perhaps the next WWE champion.
We're live from the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, brother,
the King of the Ring, and what about…
[Jim] How can a referee be objective
if he's dressing in the same locker room with Camp Cornette.
[Owen] Wait a minute, Jim Ross.
I just wanna say we went out golfing together,
me and Mr. Perfect, the Bulldog, Vader, the whole Camp Cornette.
[Vince] You guys are golfing together?
[Owen] Yes, we have a little recreational time
to have a little fun together.
And Mr. Perfect who's a man of his word,
and a man of high integrity assured me that he would do nothing
but call it straight down the middle.
[Vince] What about Clarence Mason,
he seemed to have made a miraculous recovery there,
he didn't have a neck brace on or anything.
[Owen] Well, Mr. Mason has been getting some therapy from…
-Benny Hinn. -Benny Hinn?
It's done spiritual help,
and it's helped him to recover almost to a 100%.
[Vince] And Jerry "The King" Lawler, ladies and gentlemen.
Yes, the King one-on-one with the Warrior.
Hey, shut up, McMahon.
-[Vince] Come on, King. -The King has arrived.
-[Jim] Burnt hands and all. -Right.
Oh, yeah.
Nice robe, nice crown,
nice throne. [laughs]
-But I've been there and I've done that. -[Owen] Me too.
Hey, nice scepter.
I think that's better than the one I got at the castle. [laughs]
And now, Milwaukee…
you bunch of losers.
-Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
-He got that right. -Just like your baseball team,
the Milwaukee Brewers, you're a bunch of losers.
Hey, but let me tell you something. The name should explain it.
The name says it all.
The Brewers, they're all drunk. [laughs]
[Vince] Oh, my goodness.
I mean, that's what you people do all the time.
Look at this guy.
Hey, I've got a big night for you is to get all soused up,
and go out get the farm animals in it, huh? [laughs]
Oh, no.
-Take a look. Can you see this guy? -Yeah, you're ugly.
See him? I saw him a while ago back in the bathroom.
He was getting a drink of water
and then the seat fell, hit him on the head.
[Vince] Oh, my goodness.
-The King is not appreciating himself. -Look at this little kid.
Is that your face or did your neck throw up?
[Jim] Take this. He speaks the truth.
You people are disgusting. You're pathetic.
Hey, look at her,
nice to see you off the street for a change.
What's the matter, strip club's closed tonight?
Whoa.
-[Vince] I think we need to apologize? -Look at the burger king,
I think you made one too many trips there, haven't you?
On behalf of the World Wrestling Entertainment--
Hey, when you wear blue, do people try to mail letters at you?
-[Vince] Well, Jerry "The king" Lawler. -Oh, my goodness.
Look at these two.
-Take a good look at her face. -[Jim] Oh, do I have to?
It's girls like you that turn men into, well, people like Goldust.
[Inaudible]
-He's got that right, too. -[crowd cheering]
I'm wanna tell you something…
Is he the [inaudible] Young one or the WWE--
…you are without a doubt the most pathetic bunch of losers
that I have ever seen in my entire life.
And you don't deserve to be graced by royalty like me.
You should all be down on your hands and knees and kissing my royal feet,
do you understand that?
[Owen] Couldn't have said it better myself.
[Vince] Yeah. I'll have to wonder what the Warrior is thinking
if, in fact, he's hearing any of these--
Now, everyone was glad to see the Ultimate Warrior come back.
[crowd cheering]
But, you know what, he has overstayed his welcome,
and I tried to make things right with him.
I offered him a peace offering
of a beautiful hand painted portrait that I did.
There you have it…
-But he didn't recognize me… -…several weeks ago.
…as the true artist that I am.
-He called me a con artist. -[crowd cheering]
But, you know what, I still presented him that portrait.
I framed the Ultimate Warrior.
And when you frame a picture,
the only thing left to do with it is paint it,
and that's what the King is gonna do to the Warrior tonight.
When I get through with his face,
he'll look like a Picasso painting. [laughs]
[Vince] Jerry "The King" Lawler against… Here he comes,
the most reckless individual
in the history of the World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Ultimate Warrior.
[upbeat music plays]
Listen to this crowd.
[crowd cheering]
[Owen] You better save your energy, Ultimate Warrior.
Don't waste it on these people, save it for Jerry "The king" Lawler
because you're gonna need every bit of energy you've got.
[crowd cheering]
The Warrior.
[Vince] Oh, from behind.
Lawler with that scepter.
We knew the King would have something up his sleeve,
-never discount the… -[Jim] Look at that.
Lawler and his ability.
[Vince] Lawler with that scepter choking the Ultimate Warrior.
He drove it in the kidney area, sneak up behind him and let him have it.
Lawler who knows every dirty trick there is in the book.
And Lawler with those hands allegedly burned, and that…
Oh, now into the steps.
Many would tape their, simply just tape, dressed like a… like a boxer.
Taped up his fist, look at this. Come on.
[Jim] Lawler's choking the Ultimate Warrior.
Lawler has been unable to get on the blocks offensively.
Thanks to Jerry Lawler's sneak attack.
[crowd cheering]
All right. Both men in the ring.
The match officially underway now.
[Owen] Oh, look at Lawler. Lawler is now…
Watch him. He had that…
He's choking the Warrior again.
He took some of the tape off his fist and…
This is how you hang the princess.
[Vince] Look at this.
Lawler, with that tape around the throat of the Warrior.
-Lawler? -What?
And the Warrior certainly did not expect these tactics.
[Owen] It's gonna take more than just the power of the little Warriors
to help the Ultimate Warrior right now.
[Vince] Oh, Warrior with the boot to the midsection.
No, it doesn't stop the King. He's right back on the Ultimate Warrior.
[Owen] Lawler is gonna do anything he can to defeat the Ultimate Warrior.
I think it will be a huge upset, but I wouldn't be totally surprised.
[Jim] Well, there's no doubt about it.
Anytime someone defeats the Ultimate Warrior,
it's an unbelievable upset, but Lawler's got be relentless.
He's got to stay on him.
[Vince] I don't… I'm not so sure
that the King even cares about defeating the Warrior.
I'm sure he would love to have that in the record books, nonetheless.
Lawler risking disqualification here.
But even if he's disqualified, he's doing damage to the Warrior.
Lawler just took something out of his tights
and struck the Warrior with it.
And again right back with that tape right around the throat of the Warrior.
This official allowing
a lotta the bending of the rules and regulations for sure in this matchup.
This is not supposed to be a no disqualification type match.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jim] I've just been notified that
Dok Hendrix is gonna try to get a word or report on Jake Roberts.
There's still a big question
as to whether Jake Roberts is gonna be able to continue tonight,
and meet Stone Cold in the finals of the King of the Ring.
[Owen] Oh, come on. Let's face it. Jake Roberts is done.
He might as well hit the showers and get to the hospital.
His ribs are broken. There's no way he'll be wrestling tonight.
[Vince] Jerry "The King" Lawler now
sets up the Ultimate Warrior for the piledriver.
Here we go. If he nails this one,
Lawler's gonna pull off the upset for sure.
-Here we go, and now… Yes. -[crowd cheering]
Down to the canvas.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
-[Owen] I can't believe that. -[Vince] Lawler can't believe it.
[Vince] That woke up the Warrior.
The piledriver woke up the Warrior
instead of putting him down, it woke him up.
-Listen to this response. -[crowd cheering]
Oh, a clothesline. Nothing but high impact.
-Another one. -[crowd cheering]
Warrior off the ropes again.
The Warrior's Raw, unfinessed.
-Nothing but power. -[crowd cheering]
On the nearside. Yeah.
-A cover, a count. -[Owen] A victory for the Warrior.
-[bell ringing] -[upbeat music plays]
[announcer] Here is the winner,
the Ultimate Warrior.
[crowd cheering]
-The Warrior. -[upbeat music plays]
[Vince] After he got going, he made short works of Jerry "The King" Lawler,
but it was questionable there for a while.
The power of the Ultimate Warrior.
[crowd cheering]
One of the all-time icons here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
There's only one Ultimate Warrior,
successful here tonight at the King of the Ring.
[upbeat music plays]
Oh, wait a minute, look at this.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Standing by right now is Dok Hendrix.
I'm thinking with Gorilla Monsoon. Dok?
All right, Vince,
you can see the physician is attending to the ribs of Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
Gorilla, Jake is about to go on
into the finals of the King of the Ring tournament,
but considering his condition, how can he continue?
Well, Dok, only Jake knows how bad Jake is hurt.
The doctor doesn't have any X-ray glasses.
We don't know if he has a fractured rib or torn intercostal cartilage.
All we know is, all I know is,
he has a burning desire to continue, and, hey, Jake is 41 years old.
How many more chances at the gold ring is he gonna get, you know,
I'm gonna let him continue, Dok,
and I'm gonna watch this match very closely.
I'm not gonna let my heart overrule my head.
-If I have to stop the match, I will. -All right.
Thank you, president, and Vince, JR, back to you.
[Vince] All right. And I have to ask you.
If that were you, if you were Jake "The Snake"
would you come back like this?
It's a courageous decision on the part of Jake "The snake."
Well, I do take my hat off to Jake "The Snake" Roberts,
but almost at 88 years old, or 90 years old, or whatever he is,
he's not in any condition to go back in the ring.
We saw what Vader did to his ribs, and he doesn't have a chance,
and I can appreciate his--
[Vince] Can't you give him a little credit
for attempting to come back and win this thing or not?
Well, I do give him credit,
but then you got a question, is it credibility or stupidity?
Is he gonna go back in there and maybe not only end his career,
but his life?
He's got to think about that,
and Gorilla Monsoon, you better reconsider that too
because you don't wanna send an old man like in,
like that in the ring with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
All right. Your view. We thank you very much for it.
And, of course, ladies and gentlemen, upcoming shortly,
Mankind one-on-one against the Undertaker, and the last time we were on pay-per-view,
let's show you some of the events that took place, look at this.
The Undertaker about to put Goldust in the casket
and then Mankind, Mankind exploding out of the casket.
How did the Mankind get into the casket? That was a big question.
[Vince] And then, of course, the Undertaker disappeared
after he was placed in the casket.
More mind games until Raw just a couple of weeks ago.
[Jim] A couple weeks ago on Raw,
Mankind cost the Undertaker to get counted out.
There's Mankind at the bottom of your screen
holding the Undertaker.
The Undertaker loses to the British Bulldog by count-out.
And look at the piledriver.
Mankind is a dangerous, dangerous animal.
[Vince] Yes, indeed. A deranged individual.
[rock music plays]
Mankind, here he comes.
On three different occasions, Mankind has placed that dreaded,
paralyzing mandible claw on the Undertaker.
I mean, right from the get go,
no one has ever challenged the Undertaker like Mankind has.
[Jim] Mankind came to the WWE with one focus,
but one thing on his mind and that was to accost, to assault,
and to eliminate the Undertaker.
This man, Mankind obviously with a high threshold of pain,
half of his right ear is missing,
his arms are scarred, he walks with a limp.
This man is a very strange,
and as you said, Vince, deranged human being.
[Vince] Mankind right in front of us.
Look at him.
Is this the man who has the Undertaker's tickets so to speak?
[Owen] Mankind has no conscience.
That mandible claw can strike at a moment's notice.
[Vince] Of all the holds you've ever seen in the World Wrestling Entertainment,
Owen Hart, have you ever known anyone who use the mandible claw before,
quite like this?
[Owen] Never seen anything like it before.
Never seen anything like Mankind before either,
and he's a very unpredictable, obtuse kinda person to wrestle.
I don't know how you would even go about working out a psychology.
[Vince] Dr. Sam Sheppard, some many years ago.
[bell tolling]
[Vince] I believe first introduced that hold. Hey, wait a minute.
Here we go.
There's a chill in the air?
This is gonna be a slobberknocker,
two three hundred plus pounders that have a total disdain for each other,
this is gonna be physical.
[announcer] His opponent, to be lead down the aisle by Paul Bearer.
From Death Valley,
-weighing 328 pounds, the Undertaker. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Here comes the Undertaker.
The greatest phenom in the history of the World Wrestling Entertainment…
and Paul Bearer absorbed in a cloud of smoke,
and the Undertaker…
right behind him,
a purple haze following Paul Bearer to the ring.
[rock music plays]
We have to wonder…
where the Undertaker is.
And Paul Bearer comes closer and looking back for the Undertaker.
There is no Undertaker. He's probably scared.
[bell tolling]
Paul Bearer, still not finding the Undertaker.
[Owen] I think we finally found somebody the Undertaker is actually scared of.
[bell tolling]
[Vince] Paul Bearer, nonetheless…
making his way to the ring…
with the urn.
A bit of chill in the air.
Paul Bearer rather ghoulish-looking figure.
Which you might suspect…
someone would be a little on the eccentric side to manage…
the Undertaker.
And Paul Bearer now…
coming up the steps.
Mankind right in front of him…
and, wait a minute, look at that, look there he is, he was there all along.
-How did he, how did he get there? -[bell ringing]
He must have come right before… I didn't even see him.
[Owen] I never saw him either.
[Vince] Oh, the Undertaker, taking it to the Mankind.
Look at him, look at him.
My God, with the right hands.
[crowd cheering]
The Undertaker against Mankind.
And Mankind right backup, look at this.
Mankind sets up the Undertaker, whips him to buckle on the far side.
Right back at… Oh, look at that.
[crowd cheering]
Body shot, rib shots up and down against the jaw.
[Owen] You're not gonna see technical wrestling here.
This is gonna be an old brawl, two savages fighting it out.
[Vince] Mankind trying to climb up?
Now, the Undertaker now with two handfuls of hair.
A hard right hand by the Undertaker.
The Undertaker against this deranged… Hit him to the outside.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, my goodness.
[Owen] That man is all business, the Undertaker, and…
coming back the ringside area now, Mankind.
-I don't think Mankind is gonna run. -[Jim] No. I don't think so either.
I think, I think the man, I think Mankind likes pain.
-[Owen] Oh, wait a minute. -[Vince] As hard as it may sound.
And Paul Bearer leery as he should be at the presence of Mankind.
The Undertaker…
and there a bit of a claw in his own right.
[Jim] That's a new maneuver for the Undertaker.
[Vince] For the facial area…
and he's trying to get that mask of sorts off the face of Mankind.
I'm not so sure we would wanna see that.
You mentioned before, Jim Ross, about the,
what's left of his, of his left ear.
[Jim] Oh, he's got a part of his right ear,
Mankind's right ear gone, it's…
What looks like one leg is shorter than the other,
his arms are all scarred up.
This guy has obviously been through hell and back.
[Owen] Well, there's no doubt he's a freak, he's mutilated,
but he still got Undertaker's number.
We saw what he did to Undertaker previously with that mandible claw.
If he does it again, the Undertaker,
I believe he is the man that could beat the Undertaker.
[Vince] Undertaker going all the way up now.
What agility. What coordination. And down.
Six feet ten and a half inches tall, three hundred and twenty eight pounds
that is just absolutely phenomenal.
[Jim] Unbelievable agility no question about that.
[Vince] And you Owen Hart have been in the ring with the Undertaker.
Describe for us the… He has a certain presence, is there not,
a certain humbling presence if you would, in the ring with the Undertaker.
[Owen] A feeling that is indescribable. I got cold, I got chills.
He's a very intimidating person,
and somebody you cannot predict what to expect from them.
[Vince] In buckle now, Mankind,
and look at that Mankind firing out with the elbow.
Mankind, scoops up the Undertaker, drives him down to the canvas.
-[Owen] Mankind is not intimidated. -[crowd cheering]
The Undertaker possesses the ability to--
[Vince] Oh, a clothesline.
[Jim] He possesses the ability to keep coming back when you think
you got him down, he comes right back up.
It's an unbelievable experience,
but when you have him down, you have to stay on him.
You can't let him get back up.
[Vince] That's exactly what happened here.
Now, the Undertaker back up, series of boots.
Again, brawling-type fashion.
In the part of Mankind and the Undertaker.
[Owen] He's got to stay on him.
He kicks right to the face.
This 300-pound deranged human being is taking it to the Undertaker
as no one has ever done before here at this King of the Ring.
[Vince] And Mankind drives the knee to the head of the Undertaker.
Look at that right, look at his hand.
The right hand of Mankind has been mutilated.
[crowd cheering]
Again, you hear that chant
from this capacity crowd at the Mecca in Milwaukee.
[Jim] Mankind doesn't mind hurting himself if it means taking the Undertaker out.
[Vince] Mankind… Uh-oh, look at this. Sets up the Undertaker.
And the Undertaker slumping to the outside.
-Again, everyone coming into the arena… -[screams]
…wondering whether or not Mankind is the man
that can stop the Undertaker.
[Owen] I don't recall anybody ever in the WWE on three different occasions
with the same maneuver putting the Undertaker down
and that's what we have documented for you, folks,
as far as Mankind's mandible claw is concerned.
[Vince] And look at this, on the apron what's he gonna do?
Mankind now, oh, no.
Notice the placement of the elbow, right into the sternum.
[Owen] Undertaker has achieved all of his success
by being a different kinda a wrestler.
Well, he's finally met somebody that is even more peculiar than him
-and like you said… -You got that right.
…he's willing to hurt himself to punish the Undertaker
and that's exactly what he just did.
He hurt the Undertaker,
but I think he may have hurt himself a little bit.
But I don't know maybe he likes pain.
He seems to thrive on inflicting pain on himself as well.
I've seen him pulling his own hair ripping it right out of his scalp.
[Vince] The Undertaker on his feet, making his way back to the…
Uh-oh, wait a minute now, Undertaker on the apron…
Undertaker…
on the receiving end of those hammering blows of Mankind,
this big 300 pounder.
[Jim] I don't have a good feeling about this match.
-[Vince] And I don't either. -[Jim] I really don't.
[Vince] The Undertaker…
has… Oh, wait a minute, here we go.
Undertaker, turns it right back around.
Undertaker now,
oh, grabs the boot of Mankind spins him around.
A clothesline down to the canvas. Devastating.
These guys are hitting each other with all they've got.
And we're talking heavy artillery here with these two.
This match is not for the weak at heart, I can guarantee you.
-[Owen] Undertaker is used to… -[Vince] Both men on the outside.
Undertaker is used to be on the offensive
and right now he is anything but that.
Mankind has got him beaten down and that's his,
that's what Undertaker has never experienced
is being beaten down like that right into those steel stairs.
Mankind has to continue to do those tactics
if he's gonna beat the Undertaker here in Milwaukee tonight.
[Vince] The Undertaker knowing full… Oh, no, don't.
No, no.
Oh, come on.
Mankind going underneath the ring who knows--
[Inaudible]-- No, oh.
Mankind was charging the Undertaker with that chair.
Undertaker, and then…
Oh, gosh, almighty.
Oh, right on the floor, a back drop, right on the floor,
he may have landed on that chair.
-Hey, [inaudible]. -Hey, come on.
That's concrete.
Let's go.
Jim Ross, you said this match was not for the weak at heart,
that's an understatement.
[Jim] It's not gonna be pretty, it's not gonna be technical,
catch-as-catch-can.
This is an all out fight, it's a war.
Wait a minute, the Undertaker with a chair.
Oh, God, I heard the smack.
Good gosh, that steel chair right across Mankind's head.
[screams]
[Vince] This resembles a prison riot.
Mankind on his feet,
Undertaker sets him up in a pull.
A scoop… Oh, here we go, tombstone coming.
-He's going for his tombstone. -No.
Mankind, able to maneuver around and look out, neckbreaker.
Swinging neckbreaker that was nicely done. And now, folks, it is gut check time.
[Owen] Both of these beasts are beaten down.
They've given everything they've got.
[Vince] The Undertaker has never been challenged quite like this before.
The basic animalistic instinct of survival is now in full force here.
Who will survive this matchup between these two men?
And look, Mankind back up on his feet drops the leg.
Undertaker is not sitting up now.
Mankind, look at him.
He's like an animal touching his prey to see if it's really expired or not,
if it's gone.
This defenseless…
And here it comes. Here comes the mandible claw.
The Undertaker not sitting up,
there's a hush falling over this capacity… No, no.
[crowd cheering]
Undertaker blocked the mandible claw.
Back up on his feet maybe not for long.
And again a brutal matchup.
Look out and drops the elbow.
-[Jim] That may be it right there. -[Vince] That may be enough.
-The Undertaker sitting up. -[Jim] Maybe not.
Mankind is going for another nerve hold here…
on the side of the neck of the Undertaker
and, obviously, the Undertaker is writhing in pain.
[Vince] The Undertaker trying to make a move here. The Undertaker…
has to go back on the offensive.
[Owen] Ideally, Mankind needs to get that mandible claw
deep down in the throat of the Undertaker
and that's what'll put him down, not a nerve hold on the trapezius.
He needs to get it right into his throat.
[Jim] And again, nonetheless this hold having quite a bit of an effect
as you can obviously see on the Undertaker.
[Owen] The Undertaker is such an awesome individual.
I know it takes more than that to put him down.
I've been in the ring with him
and that is not effective enough to beat the Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Listen to this capacity crowd.
[Owen] The urn… The urn at ringside.
The Undertaker is having a hard time of regrouping
and getting back on the offensive.
[Jim] I personally think Paul Bearer is a distraction to Mankind
and he shouldn't be allowed there.
Paul Bearer is an…
His line of sight of the Undertaker with the urn.
[crowd cheering]
I don't think Mankind even understands what they're saying.
So, I don't think it's affecting him.
There's a lotta noise going on in the background,
but he doesn't even know what they're saying.
He can't comprehend that.
All he knows, he's in a fight for his life with the Undertaker
and he's got him right where he wants him.
[Vince] Mankind trying to keep the Undertaker down on the canvas.
Trying to keep the Undertaker on the defensive.
I've never seen the Undertaker this much on the defensive.
[Owen] I've never seen anybody physically dominate the Undertaker
as Mankind is doing right here tonight, but we have seen it before, gentlemen,
we've seen it before with that mandible claw.
[Vince] Undertaker, succession of strikes, look at that. How quick is that.
Undertaker on his feet,
Undertaker now with lefts and rights to the midsection,
Undertaker with an uppercut.
[Jim] I've never seen Undertaker hit so fast before.
[Vince] Clothesline to the outside that would… And there, Mankind…
Boy, this is a war.
[Owen] I'm seeing a new Undertaker. He's usually slow and more methodical.
-He's hitting with fast rights and lefts. -[Vince] Oh, wait a minute.
Mankind has the Undertaker, Mankind hammering away.
[Owen] A unique style of blows using the forearm to the skull.
The Undertaker after that flurry a few minutes ago
is now once again slumping down this time on the outside.
Here comes… Wait a minute. Mankind?
Now, what's he going?
Look out. Here he goes, with a head of steam.
Oh, no.
Oh, my, the Undertaker's head smashed against the steel steps,
the back of the Undertaker's head was driven in the steel by Mankind.
[Jim] I think he's knocked cold.
He's just barely, barely coherent right now.
-His head smashed into the steels. -[Vince] Mankind…
with the Undertaker now… Oh, no.
[Vince] That 328 pounds being slammed on the floor.
Hey, [inaudible].
There's no protective covering out there, that's right on the floor.
All right, look. Oh.
[Jim] Yeah. That put him out. He's out on his feet right there.
-What is Mankind doing? -[Vince] Wait.
-He's measuring the Undertaker. -Watch out, here comes Mankind, look out.
Oh.
Undertaker grabbed the chair and held it up as a shield,
but I think it struck the Undertaker as well nonetheless.
Taker back up on his feet.
Uh-oh. And he has that chair. Look out.
He dented the steel chair.
That chair has been indented with the Mankind's head print.
This is warfare.
[Owen] You got to remember, Jim Ross, Mankind is no ordinary human being,
he can take a smash like that on the skull and come right back.
We've seen him do it before.
[Vince] Mankind in the ring,
the Undertaker now with momentum but can he keep it?
What a seesaw matchup this has been in terms of momentum.
This has been dynamic.
Mankind, hanging on, listen to him, you can hear him squeal.
Like a wounded animal.
He won't let go of the ropes.
-Undertaker, again… -[groans]
…Taker now trying to set up and drive Mankind down in to the canvas.
Right down to the mutilated ear.
Both men back to their feet, a headbutt by the Undertaker.
Man, unbelievable.
What a matchup.
[Owen] I've never seen the Undertaker in as physical and as intense a match
as we are seeing right here, folks, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Undertaker may start getting discouraged now
because he's pretty well hit him with everything he's got to offer
including trying his tombstone piledriver and nothing has worked yet.
Off the rope.
Off the rope and, yes, [inaudible]
[crowd cheering]
The end may be near.
-The Undertaker… -How can they go on much longer?
[Vince] I don't know.
[Owen] How can their bodies continue to absorb this punishment
and this pain?
[Vince] This match barely legal as it were… Oh, no, no, no.
Piledriver.
What a piledriver that was.
Mankind driving the Undertaker
and a cover, two, he got him.
-No. -[Owen] That was close.
That looked like a three count to me.
Referee's hand was coming down for three about half a count away.
[Vince] And Mankind, distraught.
[Jim] He's pulling his hair out, he ain't right.
[Vince] That's his own hair he's pulling out.
He's goofy as a pet coon is what I can tell you.
Look at him.
Come on.
[Vince] Uh-oh, he's got the urn. He has the urn.
Wait a minute. He just grabbed the urn from Paul Bearer.
If he uses that urn, he'll be disqualified for sure.
Come on.
[Owen] Symbolically, he's defeated the Undertaker.
He's gonna… he's gonna set him up and drive him down,
he's gonna drive… Paul Bearer, Paul Bearer trying to get the urn.
Paul Bearer, he's ducking down.
They got to get Paul Bearer out of there.
[Vince] Now, Paul Bearer trying to keep away from Mankind.
Undertaker, oh, no, no, no, no.
Here it is.
Mankind, driving that mandible claw, look at that.
He hasn't cinched in on the Undertaker.
[Owen] Does he have it fully applied, though.
Paul Bearer has got the urn, he's on the apron.
Oh.
-[Jim] Oh, no. -[Owen] Oh, no.
The Undertaker.
The Undertaker is inadvertently hit with his own urn.
[Jim] How do you know it was inadvertently?
Maybe Paul Bearer is sick of the Undertaker
-and realized that Mankind… -[bell ringing]
[Vince] Oh, it's over, it's over, it's over.
Can you believe it? Can you believe it?
[announcer] This is your winner, Mankind.
[Jim] An unbelievable battle of these two beasts,
and Paul Bearer knocked out the Undertaker.
I have to question if Paul Bearer chose to get on Mankind's side
because he realized that he is the better man.
[Vince] Mankind should get some degree of credit
for this carnage that we have seen here,
I mean, it resembled a human demolition derby.
[Jim] I mean, I've never seen--
Imagine how badly Paul Bearer feels as Paul…
Paul Bearer, oh, no. Paul Bearer better get out of there.
Paul Bearer was trying to strike Mankind with the urn.
And I'm sure inadvertently struck the Undertaker.
[Vince] And, wait, Undertaker trying to get back up, Undertaker now…
coming up, trying to help Paul Bearer, no.
Oh, no.
Hopefully, we'll get some security out here.
-[Jim] Undertaker is hurt. -To keep these two apart.
[Vince] Let's…
Dok, Dok, what do you have back there for us?
Vince, first of all, I cannot believe we just saw Mankind defeat the Undertaker.
And I have Mr. Perfect and I cannot believe that you say
you're gonna call it right down the middle.
Moments ago, I was in the dressing room with Camp Cornette
and you were dressing in Camp Cornette's dressing room.
Well, so what? That happens to be the dressing room…
Wait, you're watching where I'm dressing now, Dok?
-Well, no, but it smells of collusion. -You can't even spell collusion.
-Perfect, Mr. Perfect… -Get your hands off of me, first of all--
-The perfect referee. -Yeah.
You've got a chance tonight to earn that name.
-Yeah. -I want you to understand something.
I've worked way too hard and way too long for you to blow this.
You call it down the middle.
You've got no choice but to raise the hand of the better man.
He seems a little nervous to me, doesn't he, Dok?
Does he seem nervous to you? Is he nervous about something?
-I don't know that he's nervous. -I would be nervous if I was him.
I'd be nervous if I was him too if I had to face the British Bulldog.
I'm gonna call it right down the middle, I gave my word as a professional,
that's what I'm gonna do, why doesn't anybody believe me?
I'm the perfect referee. I'm doing a perfect job.
What else do you want me to tell you?
-All right. Vinny and JR, back to you. -[Vince] Thank you, gentlemen, very much.
[Owen] I like how Dok Hendrix says "All right. Vinny and JR", what about me?
What about me? I'm here too.
There's a third person here, Hendrix, you idiot.
But I just like to say I'm a man of integrity,
I know Curt Hennig, Mr. Perfect will call right down the middle.
I can verify that.
Ladies and gentlemen, here we go. We go from the deranged to the bizarre--
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
is for the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Championship.
Coming down the aisle accompanied by Marlena,
from Hollywood, California, weighing 260 pounds,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Champion,
Goldust.
[Vince] Let's take you back now,
we'll show you, ladies and gentlemen, Goldust attempt,
if you would at CPR…
Ahmed Johnson knocked out by you, Owen Hart, with that cast.
And look at this, look what Goldust does.
Mouth to mouth resuscitation.
That's, well, that's sick, it's what it is.
[Jim] He's getting… What you're seeing right there is basic CPR,
he saved Ahmed Johnson's life is what he did--
-[Vince] Oh, come on, stop. -Ahmed did need CPR.
He saved his life. Ahmed Johnson should be indebted to him.
[Vince] Indebted to him?
-[Jim] He saved his life. -[Vince] Yeah.
[Vince] But I think Ahmed Johnson in just a few moments
is gonna show everyone just how indebted he is to Goldust.
You saw the look in his eye, JR.
[Jim] Yes, I did earlier on the Free For All,
intensity would be an understatement.
Ahmed has been seething for almost a month
since that very instant we just saw moments ago.
But the Kuwaiti champion,
the man that won the Kuwaiti championship for the World Wrestling Entertainment
will be wrestling for his first championship
in the United States, the Intercontinental title.
This is gonna be intense.
I hope Ahmed is not too upped, too intense for this match.
[Vince] And some in its capacity crowd are… Well, it's being…
Some acid rain is coming down, it's Goldust, all right.
[upbeat music plays]
Goldust against Ahmed Johnson for the Intercontinental Championship.
And any moment now, Ahmed Johnson.
Ahmed Johnson, ladies and gentlemen.
Oh, my… Look out, here he comes.
[announcer] …the challenger, from Pearl River…
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson…
look out.
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
-Get Marlena out of there. -[Jim] Boy, it's on now.
Don't you never mess with me?
[Vince] You heard what he said [inaudible] and that's Free For All.
He's gonna hurt Goldust
where he hurts him now and if that's the case,
Ahmed will become the Intercontinental Champion.
[Jim] But Ahmed has gotta stay under control.
He cannot allow himself to get disqualified or counted out.
He's gotta resemble some sorta focus here.
Oh, what a clothesline. Unbelievable.
360 from a 6'6", 260 pound Intercontinental Champion,
he was turned inside out by Ahmed Johnson.
[Vince] And Goldust better get his robe off,
he better get his mind right,
and better get prepared to lock up with Ahmed Johnson.
Look out, here comes Ahmed over the top.
-[crowd cheering] -Unbelievable.
At 305 pounds.
[Jim] What a missile right over the top.
I don't know why Ahmed Johnson is so mad at Goldust,
he didn't do anything but save his life.
[Vince] I don't think that was a life-saving technique.
I think it was meant to ridicule.
Let's show now…
Show you on the double feature, here we go, Ahmed.
[Owen] It's a high risk maneuver,
he's lucky he didn't hurt himself at the expense of trying to hurt Goldust.
Marlena is liable to smoke two or three cigars
before this one said none, she's puffing away…
[Vince] Ahmed is intense.
-[Jim] Ahmed is in control. -[Owen] No question about that.
He is wild and he is looking to inflict a lotta pain on Goldust.
Goldust needs to reevaluate the situation, slow down and calm Ahmed Johnson down.
-[Vince] How do you calm him down? -[Jim] What are you gonna do?
Have a conference with him, a cup of coffee or what?
Well, he's, he's got fire in his belly, he needs to get him down. Slow it down.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson has been good. Goldust now and… Oh.
[Owen] Ahmed is whipping Goldust like a government mule.
[Vince] No, no, no, this is gonna get him disqualified.
[crowd cheering]
Good God.
[Jim] You ought to check his eyesight,
Goldust doesn't look like a ring post, he missed him by a long shot.
Ahmed is gonna be disqualified if he doesn't get control of himself.
You know he's incensed, you know, he was humiliated and embarrassed,
but if he wants to be the Intercontinental Champion,
Ahmed must get control of himself.
And that's exactly what would hurt Goldust the most
if Ahmed could take the title.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson, all business here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Set up for the ride, Goldust to the buckle nicely done.
So much impact from the 6-2, 305 pound challenger.
We see no histrionics from Goldust, not in this matchup,
no theatrics whatsoever, not as of yet…
Look out, here he comes, a freight, oh, no,
and Ahmed went on the outside.
[Jim] Ahmed down on the top rope and try to get his balance,
couldn't do it, went all the way to the floor.
Goldust has bought some time but can Goldust capitalize?
That's the big question right here.
[Vince] Goldust, oh, what a shot.
And another one.
Goldust taking it to Ahmed Johnson on the outside.
This is the opportunity for Goldust to inflict damage
and that's exactly what he's doing.
[Jim] Well, Goldust doesn't care if it's a count-out or disqualification
as far he's concerned, he retains the championship.
[Vince] What is going on? No, no.
Oh.
[Owen] I'll tell you, that's what it is gonna take to beat Ahmed Johnson.
[Jim] The referee having a conference with Marlena, the very…
Maybe a very opportune time,
the referee would have thought I think he would disqualified Goldust.
That doesn't do Ahmed Johnson any favor.
So, I don't know consequently if Marlena--
[Owen] Hey, I got a double feature for you, McMahon,
take a look at this, solid steel.
But nonetheless, Ahmed Johnson is getting back in the ring.
Ahmed set up now.
Goldust meeting him in… Yes, clothesline.
[Vince] Goldust showing us a very aggressive streak here now.
[Owen] He's turned it around a 100%.
Goldust hammering away.
Hard right hands.
A cover, hooks the leg, had the leverage and only a count of two.
[Jim] Ahmed so strong.
[Owen] There is no doubt he is very strong but he is very inexperienced as well,
and possibly, Goldust will capitalize on that
because he cannot match strength with his brute.
[Jim] Ahmed scooped and slammed.
[Vince] You wonder what Goldust is gonna do in terms of his bag of tricks.
[Jim] Well, he's definitely got a psychological advantage over Ahmed
but then even again,
a first grader would have more of psychological advantage over him.
[Vince] Goldust applying pressure on the chin, on the back.
Reverse chin lock, almost trying to turn into a camel clutch
which is a submission maneuver.
But the main thing is that, Ahmed cannot utilize
his unbelievable power and strength in this position.
You wonder how much those steel steps took out of the back of Ahmed Johnson.
He is powerful, no question about that.
Oh, down in the back.
With the power sap, do you hear that?
Again, a right hand, it's gonna the ribs, down to the back again.
[inaudible]
Ahmed Johnson…
in more trouble now trying to find a measure of escape.
Marlena, how did she keep her cool watching the events?
Marlena just never seems to change her expression much.
I think Marlena is just every bit as bizarre as Goldust is.
Ahmed now, with a couple of elbows breaks the hold,
Ahmed Johnson sets up Goldust for the ride,
nicely done and here it… No, hesitating just a slight bit.
Goldust pretty quick for a man, six-six.
Again, working on the kidney area now.
[Jim] Goldust just hammering away on Ahmed Johnson.
And you're right, earlier on,
talking about Goldust and his aggressiveness,
he's like he's a bit more aggressive than we have ever seen him.
[Owen] Fans can say what they want to about Goldust's demeanor
and his attire and his approach to certain things.
[Jim] And certainly his theatrics.
[Vince] Yes, obviously, and I think that's the bottom line,
that's what he's about, his theatrics, this is a mind game,
this guy is a great athlete, he's 6-6, he's 265.
[crowd cheering]
He's a two-time Intercontinental Champion and he's focusing on the lower back.
You can't be eccentric and not have good, and have good strategy.
We're seeing a good game plan here.
[Vince] He's just trying to keep Ahmed Johnson off guard mentally.
[Jim] Exactly and Ahmed Johnson, he came in to this match, a ball of fire
and look at where it got him, he's tired out,
I think he spent himself in the first two minutes of the match
and now Goldust is wearing him down more and more.
And all those muscles, when they get pumped up with all that blood,
it starts to work against you rather than for you.
[Vince] Astute observation, Ahmed Johnson who can explode,
we've seen this before.
Ahmed Johnson out of nowhere can absolutely explode against an opponent.
And I think Ahmed can also play mind games.
Goldust isn't the only one who can do that, JR.
[Owen] You're right about that. Ahmed has to get it together,
regain that vertical base and do it quickly.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson…
wants more than ever to make a mark here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
He has certainly done that.
Shut up.
But, certainly, Ahmed Johnson would like to leave Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
as the Intercontinental Champion.
[Inaudible]
[Jim] This is Ahmed Johnson's first shot
at the Intercontinental title, is it not?
[Vince] Absolutely, at any title.
And Goldust has done an admirable job of sapping his strength
that you said earlier.
Ahmed, that was it.
Did his hand hit the canvas? That was it… No.
[Jim] I think that was it.
Ahmed is gonna reach down, Ahmed needs a rush of adrenaline here,
regain the vertical base, and go to work with the power.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson setting up Goldust off the ropes
and Ahmed set the back body drop, no, no, no.
Ahmed trying to get him over.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Ahmed's fist looked like a ham.
And look at that.
Hey, open it up.
[Vince] Goldust…
One--
…Goldust just all over Ahmed Johnson,
what… How vicious, one, two, it almost a count of three again.
[Jim] Goldust like a rabid dog here exploding on Ahmed Johnson.
We're seeing a much, much more aggressive side to Goldust
-than we have seen in the past. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Goldust being challenged and perhaps never before.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] You know, McMahon, if Goldust knocks out Ahmed again,
do you think he'll give him mouth to mouth again
and save his life again?
[Vince] Set up for the piledriver, Goldust has Ahmed and drives him…
and got some of it, not all of it, I'm not sure.
[Jim] I don't think he got all of it.
I think Ahmed was twisting his body as he went down on a piledriver.
Goldust should've made the cover there. He may be wasting some valuable time.
And you can't give a man like Ahmed Johnson a second chance.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Theatrics, here comes that mouth to mouth resuscitation
you are talking about.
[Jim] Why isn't the referee counting?
-[Vince] One, two, and, no. -[Jim] See, now, that's wrong.
He had him pinned a lot longer
than the referee was slow on the count in getting there.
[Vince] And Goldust was slow covering him.
[Jim] He was still on top of him
and Ahmed Johnson's shoulders are down on the mat.
The referee is too busy watching Ahmed Johnson getting fondled
and he should be doing his job in pinning the man,
counting one, two, three.
How would you like to be fondled by Goldust?
That happened on Raw, how did you like it, Owen?
[Owen] Well, I didn't like it one bit and I spoke to him about it.
And, you know, Goldust he told me
there's never been a man that he didn't like
and we patched our differences behind us and everything is fine now.
So don't try to instigate any problems between me and Goldust, Ross.
-[Vince] Goldust in control. -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Goldust must keep Ahmed grounded,
you gotta mat wrestle this monster from Pearl River, Mississippi.
[Vince] Ahmed trying to make his move and again up on his feet.
Ahmed Johnson trying to turn in to Goldust,
now, right into the midsection…
and another one, breaks the hold.
[Jim] I talked to Ernie Ladd, WWE Hall of Famer earlier in the week,
he said look for intensity
and look for Ahmed Johnson to win the Intercontinental title.
That's Ernie Ladd's prediction.
[Vince] Succession of clothesline by Ahmed Johnson.
And Goldust down in the corner now,
Ahmed sets him up for the ride, no, reversal.
Oh.
[Owen] And the knee right to the lower back.
Again, Goldust focusing and staying focused on the lower back,
no wasted motion.
[Vince] And Goldust will do anything to retain the Intercontinental title,
a right hand finds its mark.
Goldust…
[Jim] His mind games, his theatrics, that's all we're seeing.
[Owen] Well, I hate to say it…
[Vince] Look at that, fingers down to the official area,
come on, come on, ref, get in there.
[Jim] A match as important as the Intercontinental title match,
I wouldn't have time for fondling him, I'd pin him one, two, three,
and then I get my licks in there.
[Vince] I don't think he can that's why he's going with the histrionics,
that's why the theatrics because he doesn't think he can pin him.
That's why he's doing it.
He's trying to gain that psychological advantage.
[crowd cheering]
Ahmed Johnson…
on his knees now Ahmed Johnson no quit in this man.
[Owen] No brains either.
[Vince] Right hand and it's blocked, Ahmed connecting.
[crowd cheering]
-[Vince] Another block, Ahmed on the mark. -[crowd cheering]
[Vince] The momentum perhaps, beginning to shift just a bit.
Goldust set up for the ride coming up and Ahmed… No.
[Jim] That might not have been a good move for Ahmed.
Ahmed should keep it on the ground. High risk maneuvers.
-[Jim] Uh-oh, it's over. -[Owen] No. Out a two.
[inaudible]
[Jim] Ahmed tried the dropkick.
I'm not so sure that's tailor-made for him.
[Vince] I know one thing, if he could nail you
with a dropkick you'd go a country mile,
-that's for sure. -[Owen] I know one thing too.
And I know what exactly what keep Ahmed Johnson down
and put him out for good.
That's a big left hook with a cast right on the back of the head.
I guarantee you, he won't get up after that.
[Jim] We've seen that, thank you.
And one day you may have to answer.
[Vince] Coming off and… Oh, sleeper hold.
Goldust applying the sleeper hold and that could very well…
spell the difference in this matchup. Ahmed going down.
[Owen] Oh, he's got him where he wants him in the center of the ring.
He's now off his feet he's down to his knees
and now it's only a matter of breaking him down to his belly
and he'll be done, that's it--
If anything can sap the strength of Ahmed Johnson that sleeper hold will.
[Jim] If you restrict the flow of blood via carotid artery to the brain,
I don't care how big, how strong you are, if that hold is properly applied.
You're gonna go unconscious.
[Owen] When you got a brain the size of a pea
there's not a lotta blood that has to go up there,
so I think he's done. He's beat.
[Vince] And, wait a minute, a count of two and Goldust released the hold.
I'm not sure why.
[Jim] I don't understand the logic of his strategy behind that.
[Owen] I don't either.
[Vince] He has a nasty streak about him, this Goldust.
And it may get just a bit nastier here who knows.
What is Goldust doing now?
-He's saying something to the official. -[Jim] He said he needs mouth to mouth.
[Owen] I think he passed out, he needs to give mouth to mouth
but he should pin him first and then blow a mouth to mouth into him.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson… Oh, come on.
-[Owen] Come on. -[Vince] Again, more theatrics.
This is sick. Good grief.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] There's no CPR… Wait…
-[crowd cheering] -Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Look out. Look out.
Ahmed looks… Ahmed just pounding Goldust.
-[crowd cheering] -Ahmed is going crazy.
-[Jim] He's gone nuts. -[Vince] Ahmed is gone rabid.
-[Owen] He's gone insane. -[crowd cheering]
-Johnson's exploded. -[crowd cheering]
I can't say I blame him.
[Vince] Goldust set up by Ahmed Johnson, off the rope now, and down.
[crowd cheering]
-Spinebuster from the big bad Johnson. -[crowd cheering]
[Owen] Marlena's gotta be worried right now.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson now, are we gonna see it… The Pearl River Plunge.
-Will we see it? -[crowd cheering]
Ahmed hooks him up.
-[Owen] He got it. He got it. -[Vince] One, two, three.
-[Jim] Oh, my God. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music plays]
[announcer] The winner of this bout [inaudible]
the New World Wrestling Entertainment
Intercontinental Champion, Ahmed Johnson.
[upbeat music plays]
-[Jim] Great job. -[Vince] Unbelievable.
Kudos to him, ladies and gentlemen, Ahmed Johnson.
Ahmed Johnson. Look at him.
The New Intercontinental Champion.
[Jim] Now he's not getting any standing ovation from me.
You two suckers are sitting there in your glory watching him.
-He doesn't deserve any standing ovation. -[crowd cheering]
The only reason he's up there
is Goldust breathe new fresh air into his mouth.
He gave him CPR and revived him and that's why he's up on his feet.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson the New Intercontinental Champion.
We're gonna take you back and show you how he did it.
All right. Set it up, JR.
I'll tell you Ahmed Johnson exploded.
Ahmed came with high impact once he got the opportunity,
there's the spinebuster.
There's no more air left in Goldust and then Pearl River Plunge.
And we have a New Intercontinental Champion
on his first try, Ahmed Johnson becomes the man.
[upbeat music plays]
[Owen] You know, Ross, the key thing you forgot to mention that was
prior to what we just saw on the replay.
Ahmed Johnson was lying flat on his back
and Goldust gave CPR to him, injected new life into him--
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson, ladies and gentlemen,
on his way as a New Intercontinental Champion
and perhaps on his way as well for joining us
in our next pay-per-view in Vancouver British Columbia.
Yeah--
Welcome to the World Wrestling Entertainment
in your house.
Uh, guys, could we do this some other time?
Nope, we must evaluate the human species.
-But I got to get home to watch WWE. -WWE?
This is extremely advance entertainment.
-What do you call the subject? -She's a babe.
-This specimen requires closer inspection. -Wow.
WWE in your house, it's out of this world.
[Vince] Anything can happen here in the World Wrestling Entertainment,
no question about that.
In this jam-packed capacity crowd still buzzing over the fact
that Ahmed Johnson has defeated Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship
in a coliseum home video exclusive
is gonna have our camera right back there following Ahmed.
Surprise, surprise.
How about it, JR?
[Jim] The New Intercontinental Champion
being congratulated by many of his friends there
and fellow WWE Superstars. What a tremendous day.
-Look, there's the man, Shawn Michaels. -[Vince] Shawn Michaels.
Yeah. Look at this.
[Jim] The New Intercontinental Champion, Ahmed, well, we cut back here to the arena
and there's Brian Pillman. What's he doing here?
[Vince] Brian Pillman, recently signing with the World Wrestling Entertainment
and, Mr. Pillman, unfortunately, uh, suffered an automobile…
Oh, wait a minute, he's having a few choice words with some of the fans,
but Mr. Pillman having an accident.
[crowd cheering]
And during the Free For All,
Mr. Pillman stated he was gonna come down to ringside
and give us a piece of his mind.
Now everyone who has never seen this extraordinary athlete
knows he's a little bit different, somewhat of a time bomb as…
JR will take it. Go ahead.
All right, Vince, thanks very much. Brian Pillman.
-How's my extended family doing, Jimmy? -Fine.
I forgot to tell you I don't even give a damn
about my own family.
And I think even less of this sewer of human waste
that sits before me.
It's easy to see why Jeffrey Dahmer
tried to consume this whole state from head to toe.
[laughs]
It's not really funny.
I'm sure the fans were exited about the day
that you will be able to compete in the ring.
You think… How do you think
you're gonna measure up to this level of competition?
Listen, you stupid son of a bitch. How could you…
[Vince] We apologize.
[crowd cheering]
What I'd like to know is,
how do you feel being one of the members
of the wretched refuse
sitting paralyzed with fear
while Brian effing Pillman does,
says, whatever he wants.
[laughing]
We're gonna find out real soon,
if one of your so-called WWE Superstars
has the guts to stop me.
-Shut up! -All right.
[crowd cheering]
Now take a good look.
I'm the brightest star
that's ever step foot on the face of God's Green Earth.
-[crowd cheering] -[laughs]
[Vince] And a time bomb if there ever was one--
When you crown a King of the Ring…
-the leader of a new revolution… -I would suggest that…
…ascends to his thrown.
I'm gonna rape, pillage,
and plunder this entire Entertainment.
[laughing]
[Owen] There's no doubt he's a little demented.
[Vince] Uh, yes. You might state that.
And Mr. Pillman, I'd suggest is gonna be ready for action--
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, this is the finally match
to determine the King of the Ring.
[Vince] Again, we apologize for some of his uncalled for
and rude remarks.
[Owen] I don't apologize for anything he said.
[announcer] …approaching the ring,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] And Steve Austin, ladies and gentlemen,
went to the emergency room after his first matchup
with Wildman Marc Mero
and had some 16 stitches in his mouth and then I believe his tongue
and has returned back here to the King of the Ring.
[Owen] I wonder on his way to the emergency room
did he seen Jake "The Snake" Roberts getting whisked away in an ambulance.
[Jim] Well, I'll tell you something, Jake Roberts his heart is huge
-and he's maybe… -[Owen] And old.
Come on, Owen he's 41 and…
[Owen] Maybe 61, put life for him.
[Jim] I know what this match means to Jake Roberts.
I went to Stone Mountain to interview him, this is so important to this man.
-[Vince] And here he comes. -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] I bet you anything he doesn't even show up.
-He ain't coming. -[Vince] Forty-one years old,
determined to come back, determined to be the King of the Ring.
Both of these men gutting it out here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
Jake "The Snake" Roberts here he comes.
[Jim] I give the old man credit.
[Vince] And he's dragging that snake, he's not carrying it.
[Jim] He can't carry him.
[Vince] That show you the damage that was done to Jake "The Snake"
by the man they called Vader in the prior matchup.
Here he comes, look at this.
Oh, right into the ribs
and, of course, we saw the Vader bomb after that.
And now [inaudible] those hard right and left hands
into the midsection of Jake "The Snake"
and there's no telling what kinda damage--
And look out, here comes "Stone Cold". Oh, no.
[bell ringing]
And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
wasting no time going for the ribs of Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
This is the final, ladies and gentlemen,
the winner of this matchup will be the 1996 WWE King of the Ring.
Austin fighting with 16 stitches in his mouth.
Jake "The Snake" in agony.
Gotta have busted broken ribs.
Both men are battered and bruised but Jake Roberts is obviously…
-Get up, man! -…in tremendous pain.
I don't think Jake should even come out here.
[Jim] Jake had a severe disadvantage
and Steve Austin is going exactly for what's injured, those ribs,
and when you have broken ribs like that you can't breathe.
Your whole body doesn't function right.
And when you got old, brittle, broken up ribs like that as it is,
Jake "The Snake" Roberts his days are coming.
[Vince] Nonetheless, give Jake "The Snake" credit
for even attempting to come out here.
[Jim] I do give him a little credit. I take my hat off to him.
You know, with all these bad news,
at least there's some celebrating going on in the locker room area with Ahmed Johnson
and we hope to have highlights of that on Raw on Monday night.
I will say this too,
Jake "The Snake" Roberts, in my book was an underdog.
I never expected him to get this far
and I'm surprised he's made it into the very finals.
And to get a big win, a big upset over Vader anything is possible.
The physical dissection of Jake Roberts is ongoing
by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Out of anybody has ever had broken or cracked ribs
you know exactly what I'm talking about.
It is one of the most painful injuries you can sustain
especially, if you're trying to be an, trying to compete in an athletic contest,
you can't breathe the pain is overwhelming.
[Vince] I'm not so sure that Gorilla Monsoon
necessarily made the best decision
by allowing Jake "The Snake"… Look at this, now humiliation.
Allowing Jake "The Snake" to come back out here
and compete in this matchup.
[Jim] Now, we all know Monsoon has been known in making…
He's notorious for making stupid decisions.
[Vince] Oh, come on, that's not true.
[Jim] Oh, yes, it is. He's done it to me. I can verify that.
Oh, Jake is gonna fight with every breath, every ounce of heart…
[Vince] He's got some… Wait a minute.
Don't count him out. Jake "The Snake"…
[Jim] Even throwing a punch Jake "The Snake" Roberts
has got to hurt himself even when he is throwing the punches it hurts.
[Vince] Wide open.
[Jim] You could imagine everyone of those blows
it's like thunder and lightning right into his belly every time he moves.
[Vince] And look at this. Oh, no.
Austin ripping off the tape…
Break it up. One, two!
…from Jake "The Snake" and driving the foreman down into the rib area.
-What kinda competitor is this? -I'm warning you!
-What kinda a man is this? -[Jim] Well, Jake Roberts had a choice.
-He didn't have to come out here-- -[Vince] But you don't have to do this.
[Jim] This is the King of the Ring, you'll do anything it takes to win--
[Vince] Gorilla Monsoon, wait, Gorilla Monsoon is coming.
-He's gonna stop this. -[Jim] And this one maybe over.
[Vince] This one maybe over right here now.
I bet that's the right thing to do.
-Call it off. -[crowd cheering]
Don't let Jake sustain any serious injuries.
-[Vince] That's right. -[Jim] Call it off.
[crowd cheering]
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin unrelenting.
And he didn't stop this thing I can tell you,
Monsoon will disqualify "Stone Cold" and make Jake "The Snake" the king.
[Owen] But why should "Stone Cold" stop? He hasn't heard a bell ring.
He's fair game until the bell rings, unless Jake Roberts wants to quit.
Better get that big ape out of there. He's got no business being in there.
Either stop the match,
give it to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, or get the hell out of there.
[Vince] Jake doesn't wanna stop.
-Jake wants to continue. -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] He's giving Jake "The Snake" Roberts a chance
to get a rest is what he's doing.
[Vince] Oh, Jake "The Snake".
-[crowd cheering] -You see that?
And Gorilla Monsoon said wrestle.
[Jim] That's a bunch of BS.
He gave Jake "The Snake" Roberts a chance to regain his breath.
Here we go, DDT. DDT, cracked ribs or not,
Jake "The Snake" going for it at 41 years old.
Jake sets him up… No. Oh.
[Owen] Look at Austin, football shoulder blocks
at those broken ribs.
Jake Roberts a DDT away from realizing his dream
but can he apply the maneuver.
[Jim] Yeah. Nice try, Monsoon. I know what you're trying to do.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, we just stated he was heartless before.
I don't think anyone would think
he would take that heartless attitude to these measures.
[Jim] Austin with a vile mean streak.
It is bona fide, ladies and gentlemen, he is confident.
He is focused. He is his own man. Nobody tells stone…
-Oh, there it is. -[Vince] There it is.
-It's over. -[Owen] That's it.
[Vince] And the stunner applied. One, two, and he got him.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
-"Stone Cold" Steve Austin… -[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
the winner of this bout and the reigning King of the Ring--
[Vince] Victorious over Jake "The Snake" Robert,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin appeared to be bleeding from the mouth again.
Went to the hospital, 15 stitches and came back.
[Jim] And it looks like some of those stitches
have opened up again.
[Vince] Nonetheless, Jake "The Snake" Roberts with rib injuries
in a prior matchup with Vader, Jake came back.
[Jim] Austin is one of the brightest shining stars
in the entire WWE.
This, maybe only the beginning for that young man
but you got to hand it to Jake "The Snake" Roberts
who had a dream--
He had a dream he wanted to fulfill here Milwaukee
and he was one victory short.
[Vince] Let's go back and take a look out at the way
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeated one Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
Listen to this.
[crowd cheering]
Another look at it.
[Jim] "Stone Cold" stunner, very effective.
Austin grabbing his shoulder into the throat of his opponent.
Look at them positioning.
Boom. Right there.
[Vince] And again give credit to not only that man for wining,
he is heartless but give credit to Jake "The Snake" Roberts,
as now the coronation begins.
Let's take you up to Dok Hendrix. Dok, go ahead.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, the fourth, prestigious King of the Ring,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin an incredible victory.
The first thing I wanna be done
is to get that piece of crap out of my ring.
-Oh, come on. -[crowd cheering]
Don't just get him out of the ring, get him out of the WWE.
Because I proved, son, without a shadow of a doubt,
-you ain't got what it takes anymore. -[crowd cheering]
You sit there and you thump your Bible
and you say your prayers and it didn't get you anywhere.
Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16,
Austin 3:16 says, I just whipped your ass.
[crowd cheering]
-[Vince] He is "Stone Cold". -Come on, that's not necessary.
All he's got to do is go buy him cheap bottle of Thunderbird…
-[Vince] All right, stop it. -…and try to dig back some of that courage
he had in his prime.
As the King of the Ring,
I'm serving notice to everyone of the WWE Superstars,
I don't give a damn what they are, they're all on the list,
and that's "Stone Cold's" list
and I'll fix this start running through all of them.
[Vince] All right. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and his remarks.
[crowd cheering]
-1996 WWE King of the Ring. -As far as this championship match
is considered, son, I don't give a damn
if it's Davey Boy Smith or Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin's time has come
and when I get the shot you're looking at the next WWE champion
and that's the bottom line because "Stone Cold" said so.
Obviously, anything but humble
the fourth prestigious King of the Ring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Vince] Well, we've stated it many times before that anything could happen
here in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
But I must say the events that have happened here thus far tonight
and the toll that has taken on these athletes is
something I don't believe we've ever seen before
and it sorta brings us to, well, the World Wrestling Entertainment
championship matchup
as Shawn Michaels prepares to defend the World Wrestling Entertainment title
against your brother-in-law, the British Bulldog.
Again reminder as you have all the way through the evening
for you to stay present here and not to physically get involved.
Look, I stated earlier I'm here to commentate
and give my expertise.
I have no business getting involved in any match and I won't.
-Okay. -As long as nobody bothers me,
I won't bother anybody.
I'm staying right here, sittin' in this seat
and givin' them my expertise.
And a great deal of controversy, of course. Uh-oh, here we go.
Here comes Mr. Perfect.
Controversy surrounding that man, JR. Will he be an impartial referee or not.
[Jim] Well, I hope that he is.
He says he gonna be, and seems to be rather adamant that he is.
I do know what I understand
is that Gorilla Monsoon had a meeting with all the officials earlier today
and I think he laid it on the line with Mr. Perfect
as well as everybody else who see what you call,
call what you see and above all be fair.
[Vince] All right. That's take you back now.
Mr. Perfect on his way to the squared circle, and look at this.
That last part, look at the referee he was really knocked through the ropes,
however, another referee joined the fray
as Shawn Michaels looked like he was above ready to powerslam.
Look at that. Incredible maneuver on the part of Michaels
sets up with the suplex, and look the second referee is counting
but he's clearly counting Shawn Michaels shoulders down for the three count.
But, meanwhile, the other official, the first official
who was knocked down originally, was on the outside,
and he clearly counted the British Bulldog shoulders down.
And wait till it's highlighted. There you see it. Now watch.
I will pick it up, watch.
The hand coming down one, two, in the far side of your screen
and count of three.
The most controversial ending of a WWE title match ever
and, of course, that controversy will be cleared up one way or the other
here tonight live from Milwaukee.
[upbeat music plays]
And what a cocky attitude. Mr. Perfect.
The perfect referee.
What do you think?
[Jim] Well, I think he's a man of integrity
and I don't think he's got any reason
to do it anything than straight down the middle.
Well, all right.
Here we go, ladies and gentlemen…
accompanied by his wife Diana…
-[Jim] My sister. -[Vince] …and Jim Cornette.
Here we go, the British Bulldog,
confident and perhaps what he should be of becoming the next
World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
[Owen] You know, I have a feeling we're gonna celebrate
because the Hart family we're gonna have another WWE title
in the family once again.
I'm really looking forward to this. This is gonna be great.
[Vince] You have to wonder, ladies and gentlemen,
in Calgary Alberta, Canada,
what's going on with Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
But, wait a minute, watch this?
[Jim] He's the best.
We love you, Bulldog. We love you, Diana.
If we… You can get a hold of yourself, please.
Whoa.
Owen Hart…
giving the British Bulldog his own version of a standing ovation.
[Jim] I got a feeling this may not be the most objective commentary
from our colleague here, and maybe rightly so, I don't know.
Yes.
You're the best, Bulldog.
-Do it for the family. -[Vince] And Bulldog being distracted
by a fan, or procession of them.
What appreciative tactic of Diana, even restrains the Bulldog.
The Bulldog is wired for this when… No doubt about it.
However, get set, ladies and gentlemen. Get set and here we go.
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music plays]
Look at the trick if you would.
[upbeat music plays]
There's a sea of humanity. Here in Jamaica.
[crowd cheering]
And the Warrior crowd.
Absolutely happening, here he comes along with Jose, yeah.
Jose Lothario behind the man.
[upbeat music plays]
[crowd cheering]
Shawn Michaels…
The most flamboyant,
the most electric,
the most resilient WWE Superstar in the world today.
-[upbeat music plays] -[crowd cheering]
Shawn Michaels has come to Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
to defend the WWE championship
against the British Bulldog. As Michaels beams that trick.
A bit of an ovation and, wait a minute,
Gorilla Monsoon is back in here, back in the ring.
[Jim] What the hell is Monsoon doing? Can he stay away from the camera?
Is he a magnet for the camera?
God, he's always poking his nose in the business.
[Inaudible]
And what is he doing?
-And I know-- -I think it's pretty cut-and-dry,
WWE title match, the British Bulldog or Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Uh, wait. Here comes an announcement.
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.
I've been informed by WWE President, Gorilla Monsoon, the following.
As it relates to the assignment of Mr. Perfect
as the special referee for this contest,
President Monsoon indeed assigned you to be the official in-charge.
However, you're officiating Mr. Perfect,
according to President Monsoon, will be conducted outside of the ring…
-[crowd cheering] -Oh, come on.
…World Wrestling Entertainment official, Earl Hebner,
will officiate inside the ring.
[Vince] Well, there's nothing wrong with having two referees,
that's for certain.
[Jim] Right out there, put the other referee outside the ring
and let Mr. Perfect stay inside, huh?
[Vince] I'm not so sure with the double cross of it.
[Jim] They said Mr. Perfect was in-charge
we saw what happened to Earl Hebner last time,
he got knocked flying right out on the ring.
Well, that was Earl Hebner's fault.
And Earl Hebner has a lot more experience in the ring than does Mr. Perfect.
-Shut up! -The last time Mr. Perfect refereed,
remember WrestleMania X, I do.
-He didn't do such a great job. -[crowd cheering]
This is typical garbage for the crank.
It's bias, it's favoritism, and it's not right.
Shawn Michaels is always getting everything that he wants
and it's not fair.
[Vince] On the contrary,
you talk about the duck things stuck against you.
Give me a break, you're out here doing commentary.
-So what? -We got Jim Cornette outside.
You got as a distraction
and the Bulldog on the inside and Mr. Perfect on the inside now.
Now, at least he's on the outside.
[Jim] What about that dirty old Mexican Jose?
-[Vince] Stop it now. -…poking his nose.
[Jim] What's he doing out here?
-[Vince] It's Jose Lothario. -Yeah.
[Jim] Come on. Hey, look.
If the Bulldog is a better man, the official will have no vary.
Look, we already know he's a better man. He beat Shawn Michaels once.
[Owen] This is just the second time to prove he really is better.
[Vince] And now you have to wonder, it's just a distraction for the Bulldog
or is it even a distraction for Shawn Michaels,
I don't know.
-[Jim] It's a rip-off for the Bulldog. -[Vince] And wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Why is it a rip-off?
If Mr. Perfect was gonna be impartial, then why is it a rip-off?
-[Owen] Right. -[Jim] Well, psychologically maybe
he was counting on having a bigger referee.
[Vince] And the Bulldog…
-Yeah, take that and eat that. -…went to his fans and we have--
Ladies and gentlemen, yes, the Union Jack and we are live in the United Kingdom.
[Jim] These people are very rude.
They have to show a little respect for a man's country
and this man's flag.
[Vince] Late after midnight in the United Kingdom
but unquestionably our fans in Europe, staying up late, ladies and gentlemen.
They do not wanna miss a moment of this.
[Jim] They wanna see their man win the WWE title
and believe me, it's well worth standing up
because they are gonna see the British Bulldog in here--
A punishing crowd here on hand in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Do you hear that? They're saying, UK, UK, UK.
[Vince] For that one time unquestionably,
Davey Boy Smith "The British Bulldog" someone…
The United Kingdom and indeed everyone in the WWE
was very, very proud of, but under the hand of Jim Cornette,
this popularity has weighing some.
All right. Here we go.
Again, the Bulldog asserting himself in the power department.
There's no question about that, Michaels will give it to him every time.
[Jim] That may be the key to the matchup.
-The Bulldog has great agility… -[Vince] Look at that.
…great coordination but you can't forget his power.
Arguably, the strongest man in the WWE is Davey Boy Smith "The British Bulldog".
Shawn Michaels cannot win empowerment.
Shawn Michaels must win a wrestling match that is wrestled with a fast pace.
[Vince] Michaels locking up with the British Bulldog.
Michaels, again, shoved down to the canvas and again the instruction--
Uh-oh, wait a minute. And Michaels with that temper, everybody knows he has it.
And Bulldog could attempt to take advantage of that,
obviously, all the way through the matchup.
[Owen] Bulldog with great upper body strength
and the power and elbow position where both men are vertical,
the Bulldog is gonna have the advantage. Shawn's gonna get the Bulldog down.
Take him down or make him really work hard
and quicken the pace like a fast breaking basketball team.
[Jim] You know what I'm worried about is, we all know Shawn Michaels
-is a gutless coward. -[Vince] Oh, stop it.
-We don't know anything like that at all. -[Jim] I'm worried that he's gonna try
because you said he's got a bad temper, he might just punch the referee
-and get a disqualification… -[Vince] Oh, come on.
…to keep his title.
[Owen] I wondered why Cornette and Perfect were having such a conversation over there
a few moments ago.
[Jim] You know what, I think Mr. Perfect told Cornette to stay down--
[Vince] Oh, nice take down.
[crowd cheering]
And… Wait a minute.
Headscissor, kick-out by Michaels and Michaels the quicker the tune…
Nice takedown by Michaels.
And a headscissors, kick-out, Michaels right back up,
Bulldog right back down. Oh, look at that.
And this time, Michaels applying more pressure
and he get his head back.
[Jim] Side headlock take over,
Shawn Michaels using two terms we'll talk a lot about in this match,
leverage and quickness.
Two keys to Shawn Michaels' success because as we said,
Shawn cannot overpower the Bulldog, but for that matter who can?
[Jim] But by the same token of leverage and speed,
the British Bulldog has both of those attribute
so he's got more than Shawn Michaels has to offer.
He's stronger. He's more experienced. He's a better wrestler--
[Vince] One, two and, no, you're gonna pin Michaels that way.
He has to release the hold, you know.
[Jim] And he's got a lot better magnitude--
[Vince] Hey, wait a minute, this time Bulldog had the leg hooked quite well.
Nonetheless, let's face it,
notwithstanding the individual attributes of both individuals.
This may simply come down to luck.
Whoever has Lady luck riding on his shoulders
could be the WWE champion after this is over.
Nice takedown again by Michaels.
-[Owen] Two… -Bulldog got a lot to himself.
[Owen] You talk about lady luck,
what about Gorilla Monsoon, Mr. Favoritism?
That's what it might comedown to,
giving some bias decision to Shawn Michaels and that lousy click.
No, wait a minute, again,
if Mr. Perfect was gonna be the impartial referee you said
-he was gonna be, then why are you upset? -[Jim] I'm not upset at all.
I'm just stating a fact that it's not fair.
[Vince] Off the rope and… Uh-oh, Michaels down.
Look at him bounce off the British Bulldog.
And now the Bulldog nicely plugged, and this time Michaels over the top.
Michaels is down, Michaels hanging right on, look at this.
-And he got him out there. -[crowd cheering]
What a maneuver by Shawn Michaels.
-Michaels comes out. -[Jim] No, oh.
-[Vince] Bulldog, look out. Oh, no. -[crowd cheering]
-[Jim] Unbelievable. -[Vince] I can't believe it.
Shawn Michaels and Cornette gets on his way.
-Look out. -Oh, yeah.
Pete Sampras has nothing on Shawn Michaels
and wanna tie it up for the posterior walls.
He's got no business touching my manager.
And Cornette got a hot seat,
and Shawn Michaels really bringing this capacity crowd alive.
Here we go. Let's take a look at this extraordinary maneuver now.
Look at that. Headscissors over the top by Shawn Michaels.
And take a look, well, how are we gonna see that tremendous--
[Jim] You wanna see forearm and man like…
[Vince] There's a look on Diana's face
and she's really concerned and she should be--
[Jim] Yeah. Look at the… She is beautiful, she's worried
-but very, very beautiful… -[Owen] She is a beautiful woman.
…much like most of the people on my families,
a couple ugly one of my brothers is really ugly.
-Owen, were you adopted? -[Owen] Stop it.
What kinda a stupid question is that?
Are you implying that I'm not smarter than everybody else and better looking?
[Jim] Obviously, the blood that you're making reference to,
is the individual whom you've attempted to disparage all these many years,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
There is no doubt he's watching from Calgary on pay-per-view.
[Owen] I think he was adopted, nobody wanted him.
My mom had compassion--
[Jim] Oh, come on. We don't need to go there. Thank you.
[Owen] It's true.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] This a very sound maneuver by the British Bulldog.
I know it's elementary.
I know it's basic, but that side headlock is a punishing maneuver.
It wears him down
and with the great power to Bulldog it keeps Shawn Michaels grounded
and as the Bulldog use his greatest asset, his strength.
[crowd cheering]
[Owen] I think you're gonna see a very technical wrestling match
unlike some of the other bouts that we've seen.
This is gonna be very technical
with a lotta wrestling ability shown here tonight.
[Vince] Back wrist lock.
Michaels is trying to power as they're trying to get leverage it.
[Jim] Oh, come on. Yank at the hair.
[Owen] Oh, that was your calling, Mr. McMahon.
[Vince] I think maybe you need to adjust your monitor.
[Owen] No, I don't need to adjust anything.
Just take a look at the Bulldog's pipes and you can realize
there's no way Shawn Michaels can match strength with him.
Come on.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels now trying to set up the Bulldog and, no,
Michaels is right back down to the canvas. Bulldog hanging on for dear life.
No.
[Jim] This maneuver has been around.
-It's about a long as the sport has. -No.
It's as elementary as you can get
but as we said, in this position Shawn Michaels,
number one, can't superkick to anybody.
-He can't use his quickness. -[Vince] All right. Here we go.
Off the rope, down goes Shawn Michaels.
Bulldog now, over Michaels from the other side
and leapfrog nicely done by Michaels and here we go…
Leapfrog and tip lock. Watch this. And up goes Michaels.
[crowd cheering]
Michaels got behind him, driving Bulldog in the rope.
Oh, Michaels up, look at that. Oh, yeah.
Nice maneuver. One… Oh, come on, ref.
That was two. It would've been three. Arm drag takedown again.
[Jim] Michaels is quicker than a hiccup for those armbar takeovers
and it's beginning to frustrate the Bulldog.
[Owen] I'm impressed. He's very fast, nobody knows better than me.
I've been in the ring with Shawn Michaels.
Matter of fact, I'm the man that put him out of wrestling,
-ended his career live on Raw. -[Vince] Yeah.
Hence, the slummy out here in front of us, right?
[Jim] That's right. And I'm damn proud of it.
And he's showing that he is the true WWE champion
and he has excellent speed
and he may very well be slightly faster than the Bulldog.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels…
[Jim] One thing you do when a guy is stronger than you,
you try to work on one of his arms.
You take away that upper body strength by diminishing the strength in the arm.
I know Davey Boy is right-handed
therefore, I'd assume that his left arm maybe just slightly the weaker of the two.
[Owen] You would wonder what strategy Jose Lothario
would advice Shawn Michaels to employ here, coming into this matchup.
It will be different than the original matchup.
And, wait a minute, Michaels shoulder…
-[Jim] Oh, come on, ref, right above you. -[Vince] Hey, where's Perfect at?
[Owen] He's at the ropes, break it up, referee.
-[Vince] Where is Perfect? -[Owen] The referee should break it up.
[Vince] Yeah. Well, he broke it up. Mr. Perfect broke it up right there.
Oh, almost a count of three. Oh, and he had him.
[Jim] The referee should break it up when a man gets the ropes,
it's a clean break.
He should've made a mistake of--
[Vince] Mr. Perfect seemed to take his time
getting over there to break up that hold on the rope of Davey Boy, however.
That's easy for you to say sitting here hiding behind the table--
It is. I'll grant you that. Yes, you're right.
And his punish point is hard to see.
[Vince] The Bulldog now trying to make a move, trying to counter.
Oh, boy, does he have him?
British Bulldog.
This is a good pace for the Bulldog.
Keep on delivering, keep high impact coming at Shawn Michaels.
-Shawn has given about 30 pounds. -Oh.
The Bulldog has got to wanna wear Shawn down
and hammer that body.
Oh, wait a minute, Michaels tried… Oh, look at that.
Oh, missed it with a clothesline.
And a drop toe hold, driving on the arm bar.
And, look at this, Michaels in control. Nice takedown by Shawn Michaels.
[Jim] And arm bar takedown, a modified armbar takedown,
and again, the Bulldog unable to use his strength in this position.
The only good one for the Bulldog here in these kinda events is,
he's on his stomach. He can't be pinned here.
[Vince] Hammerlock,
-Michaels drops the knee. -[Jim] You know, I'm not sure--
-[Vince] What? -Jose Lothario didn't interfere there.
It looked like he hooked the Bulldog and--
[Vince] And Diana very concerned…
look on her face.
[Jim] Diana, you don't have anything to worry about.
Your husband, my brother-in-law, we're taking home the gold tonight.
-[Owen] What do you mean we? -I'm just saying…
-[Vince] And look at Michaels… -…that the whole family, we're a unit--
…trying to get Bulldog over.
[Jim] We are our own click in our own unit.
[Vince] Oh, and the count is two is all he can get.
Michaels not able to really pull the Bulldog over all the way.
[Jim] Well, the Bulldog was able to use his right arm to hook Shawn Michaels
and then force the Bulldog's own right shoulder up.
That's great power, a great testament of the strength
and conditioning of the British Bulldog.
[Vince] Michaels look behind him and saw Mr. Perfect there a moment ago
as again Dianna is looking on.
And what a celebration, what a great look on her face
when she thought the British Bulldog had won the title in the previous event.
[crowd cheering]
[Jim] He really did too. I was right there. I was in his corner.
I saw him beat him one, two, three.
[Vince] Michaels now, stop, look at that maneuver.
-With the hip. -[crowd cheering]
Michaels…
Here we go now, off the rope, and Michaels trying to hook up, no.
-[Jim] He's too strong. -Trying to get him outright.
Shawn now, what's he gonna do?
Miss him with a clothesline. Michaels now with a sleeper hold.
You can't hit what you don't see.
Ho, the power.
The Bulldog got in trouble when he used his power
to drive Shawn Michaels back into the corner.
Neither man really able to gain any clear cut advantage here
for a sustained length of time.
[Vince] To the buckle.
[Owen] You know what, Jim, it's been back and forth, back and forth,
and I think both these man are still feeling each other out
and we're gonna soon see who's the better man.
I think Shawn Michaels, as they start tiring,
and Bulldog will capitalize on that.
[Vince] Michaels… Oh, my gosh.
Unbelievable.
Tremendous velocity, all the power in the world.
The Bulldog sends Michaels for that tremendous ride
and snap merging back over.
[Jim] And all you can think about on the outside of here, Jose Lothario.
-There he is. -Come on, Shawn.
Come on. Come on. Get up.
[Vince] Jose leading Shawn Michaels
into WrestleMania Anaheim, California.
And said that Michaels was gonna bring the gold
back to San Antonio, his hometown, he did just that.
-[crowd cheering] -And Jose, Mike once saw Michaels,
an underdog all his life.
A man not gifted with extraordinary strength or size
but just like Michaels, they have so much in common,
no one could advice Michaels quite like Jose Lothario can.
And look out. Oh, once again armbar takedown.
That could've dislocated Bulldog's shoulder.
And again, the upper body strength advantage
could be eliminated with that maneuver.
The Bulldog's left arm is hurting.
-Michaels from the top… -[Jim] My God, across the Bulldog.
Shawn zeroing--
A cover, one, two, and… A kick-out by the Bulldog.
Michaels zeroing in on that shoulder.
The left shoulder of the Bulldog
seems to be the focal point now for Michaels.
Coming off the ropes Michaels-- Oh, and telegraph maneuver there.
I think you'd have to concur on the part of the Bulldog.
Bulldog telegraphing an attempted back body drop down,
set up again, reversal now coming off the rope and Michaels high…
-He's been up there before. -[Owen] Oh, no.
[Vince] No. That was intentional disqualified.
-Can I disqualify… -[Jim] What do you mean intentional?
[Vince] That was intentional disqualify Bulldog.
[Jim] Bulldog is suffering from fatigue.
He had him up over his shoulders and he slipped, fell over the top rope.
You guys are too quick to judge, too quick to disqualify.
[Vince] Hey, wait a minute. Mr. Perfect arguing with Jose Lothario.
[Jim] No, Jose Lothario is arguing with Mr. Perfect.
And throw him out of here and send him back to Tijuana.
[Vince] Bulldog now with Michaels…
-[audience] Come back! [Vince] …set him up.
[Vince] And look at this. No.
Oh.
Vertical suplex on the floor.
The Bulldog rolling back in.
-[Jim] It was a devastating maneuver. -[Vince] Yeah.
But the Bulldog can't win the title with a count-out.
Bulldog needs to get Shawn Michaels back in the ring.
[Owen] Oh, come on. And Mr. Perfect even stopped counting.
[Jim] I wanna take another look at that excellence of the Bulldog there.
Let's have another look at him destroying Shawn Michaels--
[Vince] Double feature set up here now. Watch this, coming off the rope and--
-Look at that, look at the muscle. -[Jim] See that? He slipped.
-[Vince] I still think it was intentional. -[Jim] He slipped.
Come on, [inaudible]
[Jim] What is Jose doing? They should get him out of there.
-[Vince] Mr. Perfect… -Come on.
…having words with Jose Lothario
-and now look, picking up the count again. -One, two.
[Jim] Well, this count-out could be, would be to Shawn Michaels advantage.
[Owen] That's the kinda gutless chicken champion he is.
[Jim] He's trying to get back in the ring.
[Vince] And Bulldog coming out on the outside. Oh, no.
No, no, no.
Michaels thrown back in. What power.
[Jim] Bulldog doesn't win by, wanna win by count-out.
-He has to bring Shawn Michaels-- -[Vince] Here we go. One, two.
And a kick-out by Michaels.
[Jim] Michaels was trying to stay outside the ring and get counted-out.
Bulldog had to bring him back in the ring as not to get counted-out,
so he can pin him one, two, three, right in front of all these Kliq
and all these losers here.
You just got to believe as this match begins to really unfold.
That Shawn Michaels is in for the fight of his life.
Not just WrestleMania, as Shawn Michaels in the ring with anyone
as well-rounded, offensively, defensively experienced
as the British Bulldog.
[Vince] Michaels' dream coming true at WrestleMania
but it could be shattered right here at any moment by the Bulldog.
It should've come to an end the last time they fought
when the Bulldog beat him fair and square.
Michaels and the Bulldog in the corner, Michaels gonna the midsection…
Michaels setting up Bulldog now and…
-No, reversal. -[Jim] Oh, no.
[Jim] No.
-There he goes, on his spot. -Not on his feet for long.
That may have been a knockout punch right there.
It may be over. It may be over right here.
[Vince] And Michaels, of course,
with a history of concussions and you wonder…
Wait a minute. What's this?
-What's… -[Jim] He's going for the surfboard.
[Vince] I think you're right. Look at this.
[Jim] If he can get this on and that's a guaranteed submission.
Unbelievable pain on the shoulder joints, the knee joints, if he can get it on.
[Vince] Michaels, Michaels in trouble, Michaels in big time trouble.
[Jim] That will rip the rotator cuff right out of the shoulder joint.
-Very difficult to… -[Vince] Oh, no.
-[Jim] He's down. -[Vince] Look at this.
[Owen] That's it. It's over. It's over.
[crowd cheering]
We got a new champion in the family. Ring the bell. Ring the bell.
-Michaels is gonna knock him out. -[Owen] I think he said yes.
[Vince] Perfect. I think-- From one, two… Oh. Oh.
[crowd cheering]
And Bulldog screaming at the official.
[Jim] I'm sure… I'm sure I heard him say, "I give. I give. I quit. I hurt. I quit."
[Vince] Mr. Perfect right there as well
to make sure if anyone surrendered he would hear it.
What's the matter with you? Can't you count to three?
[Vince] And now Bulldog trying to slow the pace down,
trying to keep Michaels down on the canvas…
using his decided weight and leverage advantage.
Come on, Shawn. Come on. Come on.
Jim Cornette. Imagine,
Cornette is the manager of the WWE Champion.
Anything can happen here in the WWE.
[Jim] But look, he's managed champions before.
Like I said, he managed me in that fat slob Yokozuna.
It's very conceivable he'll be managing the British Bulldog,
the upcoming World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
[Vince] Bulldog, receiving succession of elbows, breaks the hold, Michaels in,
Michaels takes the knee to the midsection, spinning him in midair.
Bulldog buried the knee to the abdomen.
Michaels set up again,
Bulldog now going for the kill, so to speak.
What a back body drop.
Man, you know to get peanuts on a flight like that.
[Jim] Oh, keep on smiling, Di. You got something to be proud of.
[Vince] Bulldog drops away.
-[Jim] Right across the head. It's over. -[Owen] And cover, we got a new champion.
-[Owen] Yes, no. -[Jim] Got to hook the leg.
-Come on! -Come on!
[Vince] How does Michaels kick-out of that?
-Explain that to me, Owen. -[Owen] A test of fortitude.
I'm not saying Shawn Michaels isn't a great champion.
I'm not saying he doesn't have a lotta heart.
I'm just saying he's not as good as the British Bulldog.
And when Davey Boy Smith is on top of his game,
Shawn Michaels will go down and defeat.
[Vince] Again, this capacity crowd starting to rumble.
And one thing Shawn Michaels unquestionably has going for him
is the relationship that he has with the Kliq, so to speak.
There's no doubt and Michaels would be the first to tell you
that when he is down like this, he can feel that encouragement.
[Owen] Oh, that's a bunch of garbage.
Wrestling fans don't win matches. Wrestling ability is what wins matches.
That's why I'm a winner
and that's why the British Bulldog is a winner.
-He doesn't need a bunch of Kliq… -One, two.
…cheering for him.
He doesn't need some washed up Mexican in Jose Lothario on his corner.
He needs wrestling ability and that's it to win a title
and he's got what it takes.
[Jim] A huge arm of the Bulldog wrapped around Shawn Michaels' neck,
squeezing and squeezing away.
You can't get superkick when your opponent is on his back
but that's what we've got right now, advantaged Bulldog.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Michaels back up on his feet. Michael set up for the ride.
Bulldog goes to the clothesline, missed it.
From the other side, Michaels ducks under again
and then, look at this.
One, two, three.
-Oh. -[Owen] That was two.
[Vince] Oh. Oh, my God.
A midair collision followed by the near fall
-and followed by the knockout clothesline. -[Jim] That's it.
[Jim] One, two, and Michaels kicks out. I don't believe it.
I don't think the Bulldog can believe it.
[Vince] And the Bulldog right back in control wearing Michaels down,
trying to keep him down on the canvas, unbelievable action here
in the WWE Championship matchup.
Michaels, you're cooked. [inaudible]
Just give it up. Save yourself a lotta trouble.
[Vince] Look at this. And Perfect trying to keep Cornette away
as Cornette putting the bad mouth on Shawn Michaels.
Both referees looking in, to make sure it doesn't slip into a chokehold.
[Jim] Michaels is fighting with all he can to get that huge arm away from his throat
so he can breathe.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] And again, this capacity crowd…
keeping Michaels very much into this matchup.
Michaels got to kick it to another gear here.
-[Jim] Yes, he does. -[Vince] Shawn's got to quicken the pace.
He's… Shawn has to make Bulldog wrestle a fast match, a reacting match.
[Owen] He doesn't have it in him. I said it earlier.
Don't you think if Shawn Michaels could, he would kick it into a higher pace?
He can't because he is too tired out.
He's been outwrestled, out conditioned and Davey Boy Smith is gonna beat him.
-He's fighting Davey Boy Smith's match. -Come on.
[Vince] Both men on their feet, Michaels now… Oh, a headbutt.
Michaels set up again by the Bulldog. Bulldog with… No, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, trying to get it down. No, no. No, wait. No, he didn't get it.
Right crucifix there and, look out, from the other side, Bulldog now, yes.
-[crowd cheering] -No.
Look at this. He counters. Here comes again the powerslam.
No. From behind, Michaels with a kick.
-[Jim] What a clothesline. -[Vince] Oh, my goodness.
[Jim] The Bulldog had that well scouted.
Cornette has prepared the Bulldog very well.
The Bulldog knew Michaels' tendencies. Michaels was ready. The band had tuned up.
Sweet Chin Music was on the jukebox but nobody came to it.
[Owen] Bulldog is just too good.
He came to this match prepared for the fight of his life
and he showed it right there.
He just outmaneuvered and outwrestled Shawn Michaels,
plain as the nose on your face.
[Vince] Two well conditioned athletes, look out now.
Bulldog sets up Michael for a piledriver and drives him down.
[Owen] That should be all.
Bulldog should be covering Michaels right now.
[Vince] What's he doing now?
[Owen] Bulldog setting up for the endurance.
-This is not good strategy. -[Jim] Maybe it is.
-[Owen] Don't you question him. -[Vince] I disagree with that.
Going up to the top now, Bulldog went Michaels… No.
[Vince] What happed? He slipped?
He… Bulldogs don't belong on top ropes, Bulldogs stay on the ground.
[Owen] You know what, Lothario grabbed the ropes. That's what happened.
And, Ross, you quit speculating on my brother-in-law.
[crowd cheering]
-[Vince] Jose Lothario grabbed the rope? -[Owen] He jumped up and pulled the ropes.
-[Jim] I didn't see that. -[Owen] I saw it.
[Owen] It's funny, Ross, you don't see the things that you wanna see.
I see everything and I call it straight down the middle
just like Mr. Perfect.
[Vince] Michaels and Bulldog in a grueling matchup for the WWE title
and a tremendous maneuver on the part of Michaels.
[Jim] What a shame. Bulldog had it all wrapped up
and that lousy Lothario grabbed the ropes.
[Vince] Shawn's got to reach down here.
He's got to regroup and he's gonna try to go for a home run.
Michaels may be trying to go the top.
-Come on. -[Vince] Michaels, yes.
He's trying to get to the top, going for that high risk maneuver.
-[crowd cheering] -Oh, no.
Bulldog is on his feet, Bulldog with a dropkick.
How did Bulldog dropkick Michaels from that height?
-[Jim] Oh, no. -[Vince] Oh, no. Here we go.
Michaels setting up, being set up rather by the Bulldog
and, look out, from the top rope,
the British Bulldog with Shawn Michaels and…
suplex from the top.
That should be all. There's no way Michaels can kick-out.
-It ought to be over. -[Owen] That's it. It's over.
-[Jim] One, two, no. -[Owen] Three. That was three.
-No. -[crowd cheering]
What a rip-off.
[Jim] I'm telling you, if that was Mr. Perfect,
that would've been a three-count.
[Owen] Here we go. Now, listen to this impact.
[Jim] If Mr. Perfect was in there,
that would've been a three-count and this match would've been over with.
[Vince] Mr. Perfect complaining to the official
on the inside appointed by Monsoon.
He claims that should've been a count of three.
-[Jim] It was. -[Vince] Michaels now being set up again.
[Vince] Well, around the buckles here.
Shawn Michaels will go for a heck of a ride
with an even worst landing.
The Bulldog… Oh, no. This is bad for Michaels.
Look at this. He got him in midair.
-One, two, Michaels… -[Jim] No. No. Bulldog kicked out.
[Owen] Michaels made a great adjustment in midair,
turning the disadvantage into a crossbody into a pinning predicament.
[Vince] We're looking… Unbelievable athletes,
both men extraordinary athletes.
Michaels now goes downstairs, right back up and a collision to both--
[Owen] What an impact.
-…knocks both men down. -One!
[Jim] And that's a collision.
Now, this advantage, we're talking about the championship advantage,
but this is a count-out.
Shawn Michaels cannot lose the title on a count-out.
-Four! -So, the Bulldog's got to be the aggressor
but Bulldog's got to beat the ten-count.
-[Owen] I think he knows that, Ross. -[Vince] It could end right here.
[crowd cheering]
We're up to seven, a very slow count in the part of this official.
Bulldog is moving on eight. And here we go. The match is still on.
[crowd cheering]
A clothesline missed, Michaels switching to him.
Oh, no. One, two, and… No.
[Owen] Sound twice, that looked like another three-count.
[Vince] Michaels jumped down into that canvas right on his head.
How did he kick-out to that?
[Jim] He's arguing, Mr. Perfect is arguing with the referee.
[Vince] Michaels is running on instinct. A thunderous powerbomb
and Shawn Michaels… Just listen to the impact. Listen.
[crowd cheering]
His head bounced off the canvas
and now Michaels set up for the ride, no reversal.
Oh, no.
Did you see that?
[crowd cheering]
This is a World Wrestling Entertainment at its finest.
The most coveted championship in the WWE, hangs the balance,
the champion and a challenger are giving it all they've got.
[Owen] They certainly are. It's a lotta hurting, both of these guys.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] The Bulldog, Michaels, both men up, set up for the ride.
And Bulldog reverses.
Michaels coming up the rope and, yeah, Michaels connected.
[crowd cheering]
And Michaels, here they go.
[crowd cheering]
-[Vince] Michaels with the Bulldog. -[Jim] Wait a minute.
[Vince] The official just knocked out.
When Michaels scooped up the Bulldog, the official on the ground--
[Jim] Come on, Mr. Perfect. You're the senior referee.
Get in here and do something.
[Vince] Look at this, from the top, Michaels going, yeah.
-Yeah. -[Owen] He hit him. He hit him.
-[crowd cheering] -I think the fans tuning up.
[Jim] That's what you get when you put a stupid referee in there.
[Vince] Here we go.
We're gonna hear the Sweet Chin Music too. Look at this. Listen to this.
[Vince] Wait a minute. Mr. Perfect, hey, wait.
Hey, two…
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music plays]
Did you see that?
[announcer] And the winner [inaudible] World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
the heartbreak kid, Shawn Michaels. -[Vince] Watch out. They got Owen Hart.
Owen Hart is in there.
Owen Hart.
Michaels pampering Owen Hart.
[Jim] The Bulldog is up but not for long.
Owen Hart, oh, they're in the ringside area,
couldn't stand idly by.
[Vince] Look at Michaels missing with the kick
and, oh, Owen Hart with those hard-toed shoes.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jim] Figure-four by Shawn Michaels. -[Vince] Oh, no.
-Did you hear that? -[crowd cheering]
[Jim] Michaels had them both. Michaels had them both.
Michaels is fighting for his life after retaining the championship
in one heck of the grueling matchup.
[Vince] Michaels and the Bulldog and Owen Hart going at it.
[Jim] Oh, my God, [inaudible]
[crowd cheering]
Owen Hart now with those street shoes.
Shawn Michaels is out. Shawn Michaels is helpless.
[Vince] And, look at this, double team.
Double suplex.
Michaels is being torn apart.
[Jim] Wait a minute. Ahmed Johnson.
[crowd cheering]
The New Intercontinental Champion.
Oh, my.
[crowd cheering]
Ahmed Johnson is coming to help out his friend.
-No. No. Rick Steiner. -[Vince] And Steiner.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] A three-on-two, a three-on-two.
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
Cornette, Jim Cornette involved as well,
nailing Jose Lothario with the tennis racket on the outside.
[Jim] Well, on the inside we've got this carnage.
[Jim] Well, come on.
Ahmed and Shawn Michaels being decimated by a three-on-two attack.
The crowd going crazy.
[Vince] Look out at it. That's Vader.
-[Jim] Michaels. -[Vince] No.
Look what they're doing to Shawn Michaels.
They're… Oh, no.
[Jim] Michaels just… Michaels could barely stand.
[Vince] And Owen Hart just jammed that cast into his head.
[bell ringing]
[Jim] Michaels has been knocked crazy, knocked silly with a cast.
[Vince] And, wait a minute. No. Owen Hart and the Bulldog are setting up.
[bell ringing]
-[Jim] They're setting up Michaels. -[Vince] No. Oh, no.
[Vince] Vader. Vader, 458 pounds.
This should've been Shawn Michaels' finest hour.
Vader… He's gonna go up. Vader is gonna go up.
-Vader. -[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
No, wait a minute, the Ultimate Warrior.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] The Raptors coming up.
The Raptors are shaking. The fans are standing. And there they are.
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music plays]
[Vince] Shawn Michaels is still the WWE Champion.
You have witnessed the 1996 WWE King of the Ring.
An extraordinary event as only the World Wrestling Entertainment
can bring you.
Jim Ross has made his way back to the locker room,
ladies and gentlemen, we've just been [inaudible]
those three individuals right there.
The Warrior, Ahmed Johnson,
and Shawn Michaels now must face an International Incident
live from Vancouver.
Those three will join forces and face the man they called Vader,
Owen Hart and the British Bulldog.
Here we go to coliseum video exclusive.
Well, the dust is hardly settled, gentlemen. I can tell you one thing.
At the International Incident in Vancouver,
I know three men that are gonna get all over your Camp Cornette.
You guys should be appalled
and ashamed of yourselves, what a game fight.
Oh, we should be ashamed?
We should be ashamed after what Shawn Michaels did?
He had every friend he's had since he's been a grade school out there.
And that's thinking Jose Lothario pulled a switchblade on me.
But, let me tell you something right now, I know what Shawn Michaels' game plan was.
He said, "I know I can't beat the British Bulldog."
So, when the man gets me down, when the man is wearing me out,
when the man is running my face into that carpet,
then, I want you all, all of my friends,
I want you all to hit the ring and pull him off of me.
And that's what they tried to do, but thanks to the rest of Camp Cornette.
We're ready to fight.
And if they want a six-man tag, brother, they got a six-man tag
because if you wanna gang fight,
you got a gang right here that's willing to go, brother.
And, Owen, you should really be ashamed of yourself,
a broadcaster getting involved.
No one threatens you. You had no business in the ring.
Well, first of all, don't categorize me.
-I'm not a broadcaster. -Yeah.
I'm a wrestler. I'm a Slammy Award winner. And I'm the best there is.
Now, Shawn Michaels, you kicked the referee
and knocked him down. I didn't know what was going on.
I wasn't sure if Mr. Perfect was getting in there.
I ran to give him a shove to tell him to get in there and count.
That's what I was doing. I didn't interfere.
And the other stinkin' referee who didn't even belong in there,
who's probably some wino
they picked up down at the local Fallen Kroll Tavern.
He's the one that counted the pin and Gorilla Monsoon's cricket
because that guy shouldn't need a better referee in the first place.
He's got stripes down his back, all right, yellow stripes just like Monsoon.
It was all a conspiracy.
But, you want an International Incident, maybe if we go to Canada,
then the WWE won't have so much political pull
and we'll get a fair shake one way or another.
Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson,
Ultimate Warrior, your future is looking very, very dim.
And I guess you think you're still a better man
-than Shawn Michaels, don't you? -Well, you know what, I'm the better man.
But, Shawn Michaels, let me tell you something.
I didn't know that you adopt many friends but that's okay,
because the British Bulldog has got his own friends.
I've got my brother-in-law, Owen Hart,
and the biggest man in professional wrestling today,
Big Van Vader. It's gonna be Vader time in Vancouver.
-We got out great cast right here. -Yeah.
-Any final remarks from you? -Yeah.
You got the biggest jowls I ever seen in my life.
Oh, why don't you just shut up? Ladies and gentlemen--
You shut up and don't talk to the manager like that.
-You got-- -It's a big mistake.
Look at who's around you.
You call our manager an idiot again and you'll pay for,
in Vader style, Bulldog style, or royal style from the King of Hearts.
Vader would eat you alive if he wasn't on a low-fat diet.
This interview is over.
[announcer] The World Wrestling Entertainment presents
the 1996 King of the Ring.
[Jim] The Wildman tasted defeat for the first time here in the WWE
at the hands of "Stone Cold" and the "Stone Cold" stunner.
[Vince] Wait a minute.
[Jim] You can't manhandle a referee like that.
My God, what a matchup.
-[Vince] Look out. -[bell ringing]
That man suffered some serious internal injuries.
He's holding his side.
He's holding his ribs and his lower abdomen here. He's done.
[announcer] The Smoking Gunns
battle the Godwinns for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[Vince] World tag team continuity for you.
I got the belt.
[announcer] The Ultimate Warrior battles Jerry "The King" Lawler.
You are without a doubt the most pathetic bunch of losers
that I have ever seen in my entire life.
[Vince] After he got counting,
he made short work on Jerry "The King" Lawler.
The power of the Ultimate Warrior.
[announcer] The Undertaker battles Mankind.
[Jim] Rocking those bodies. What a pose.
[Owen] …continue to absorb this punishment and this pain.
Undertaker was inadvertently hit with his own urn.
[announcer] Ahmed Johnson battles Goldust for the Intercontinental title.
[Vince] Ahmed's gone crazy.
-Ahmed gone rabid. -[Owen] Ahmed Johnson.
[Vince] Ahmed Johnson, look at him, the New Intercontinental Champion.
I'm gonna rape, pillage, and plunder this entire entertainment.
[announcer] The crowning of the WWE King of the Ring.
[announcer] The fourth prestigious
King of the Ring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[announcer] Shawn Michaels battles the British Bulldog
for the WWE championship.
-[Vince] Bulldog, look out. Oh, no. -[crowd cheering]
Oh, no.
And look at this. No.
Oh.
-[Jim] Reversal. -[crowd cheering]
Bulldog now going for the kill, so to speak. Look out.
…back body drop.
And, oh.
Bulldog. Yeah.
-He hit him. -[Owen] Oh, no.
[upbeat music plays]
Subtitle translation by: Ravi Kishan speak. Look out.