[dramatic music playing]
[bell ringing]
[Jim] Bret Hart is the King of the Ring.
[narrator] The Rocket, Owen Hart, I don't believe it.
[Stone Cold] Austin 3:16 says, I just whipped your ass.
[Jim] Hunter Hearst Helmsley, victorious.
[Jerry] He got him. Oh, my gosh.
[Jim] He did it, Kurt Angle did it.
Edge prevailed. Edge is the 2001 King of the Ring.
-[man 1] The King of the Ring. -[man 2] King of the Ring.
-[man 3] King of the Ring. -[man 4] The one chance.
-[man 5] That's my shot. -[man 6] The opportunity.
-[man 7] Stepping stone. -[man 8] A great thing.
-[man 9] The most grueling… -[man 10] Brutal tournament.
-[man 9] …16 men. -[man 10] One winner.
[man 9] Four rounds, four victories to become the King of the Ring.
-[man 10] Test. -[man 11] Rob Van Dam.
-[man 10] Chris Jericho. -[man 12] Brock Lesnar.
[man 10] Winning King of the Ring would give Test something he deserves.
[man 13] The winner of the King of the Ring
gets a title shot at Summer Slam.
[man 14] The chance to become the Undisputed champion.
[man 15 ] This is gonna be one hell of a summer
for Rob Van Dam.
[man 16] The next Undisputed champion will be the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
-[man 16] The King of the Ring. -[man 17] King of the Ring.
-[man 18] King of the Ring. -[man 17] King of the Ring.
[dramatic music playing]
[roaring waterfall]
[narrator] And now, WWE King of the Ring.
[theme music playing]
[fireworks crackling]
[upbeat music playing]
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] The 10th King of the Ring is on the air
live from the Nationwide Arena, sold out here in Columbus, Ohio.
Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler here at ringside.
Tonight, three titles,
including the WWE Undisputed title, are at stake.
[Jim] Our fans here at Columbus, insider fans,
deep in the heart of New York City,
the world king. It's packed there as well.
We're gonna have a new King of the Ring this year,
but what about the Undisputed Championship,
The Undertaker defending against The Game?
Well, all the talk is over.
The Undertaker can say it's his yard all he wants to,
tonight, he has to prove it
and there's nobody tougher than The Game to have to prove it to.
[Jim] That's Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle one-on-one,
Ric Flair and Eddie Guerrero.
And we're kicking it off with our first of two semifinal matchups
here in the King of the Ring.
[Jerry] Oh, man. You're right. We're not wasting any time.
["Break the Wall Down" playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest, scheduled for a one fall
is the King of the Ring semifinal match.
Introducing first, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing 227 pounds, Chris Jericho.
[Jim] Chris Jericho, the very first ever Undisputed champion,
has an opportunity by winning the King of the Ring tournament
to earn the right to beat the Undisputed champion
whomever that may be at Summer Slam in August in the Nassau Coliseum.
So not only the opportunity, King,
for Jericho to be the first ever King of the Ring
but the opportunity to get back to the Promise Land
awaits the winner of this tournament.
[Jerry] That's what makes this so great, JR.
The stakes have never, I mean, never, been higher for any King of the Ring.
[Jim] This tournament started with 16 athletes
for the RAW and Smack Down program competing in this tournament
and a single elimination.
As you can see, we're down to the final four here.
Jericho and RVD testing Brock Lesnar all tonight,
all with great opportunities afforded to them.
[firework explosion]
["One of A Kind" playing]
[announcer] From Battle Creek, Michigan, weighing 235 pounds,
he is the WWE Intercontinental Champion,
Rob Van Dam.
♪ The fear I see when I look… ♪
[Jerry] Rob Van Dam live today?
-This is gonna be great, JR. -[Jim] This will be an awesome matchup.
Van Dam and Jericho kicking off this huge extravaganza.
We're happy and thankful that you're with us, ladies and gentlemen,
wherever you are around the world.
And Jericho and Van Dam know fully well
they gotta win two matches here tonight to be totally successful.
They've gotta win two matches to become the 2002 King of the Ring.
[Jerry] Yeah, Rob Van Dam,
he can wave that Intercontinental title all he wants to,
but it doesn't mean anything tonight, RVD. This is all about being King of the Ring.
♪ The fear I see When I look in your eyes… ♪
[Jim] RVD is the reigning Intercontinental Champion,
but, obviously, that's not the issue here.
-[bell rings] -The issue is getting by Chris Jericho…
[audience chanting]
…and then taking on the winner of the Test-Brock Lesnar match,
which will happen right after this, I understand.
[Jerry] Right on. No doubt who the fan favorite is
here in this match.
RVD had the chant going early here.
[Jim] Van Dam, the master of the Five-Star Frog Splash,
Jericho, this great submission move, the walls of Jericho.
Neither men with a, in my view, an extremely advantage in size,
in strength, in speed, they're very evenly matched as far as I could tell, King.
[grunts]
[Jerry] Which is gonna be so great about this.
I'll tell you what else is evenly matched on these two,
their egos, JR, they're huge.
Both of these guys, without a doubt, think they are the best in the WWE.
[Jim inaudible] Van Dam now has those educated feet going for him,
no doubt about that, and he'll use them to his advantage.
But, certainly, let's not discount Jericho.
Jericho is gonna do anything he has to do to win this match
and to move on into the finals which will be held a little later tonight.
[Jerry] That's what you gotta do when you don't have many chances to become a king.
I mean, you'll never have that opportunity.
These guys tonight may have a chance to become a King of the Ring here at WWE.
It doesn't get any better than that.
[Jim] hey, buddy, I wear the crown around my head.
Reverse elbow by RVD knocked him down.
Now Jericho, nice arm drag takedown by Van Dam
-and Jericho counters… -[both grunts]
[Jim] …and both men thinking the same, looking for that dropkick.
-[audience cheering] -And both men quickly back up.
So they're on the same page offensively anyway.
[audience chants]
-[Jim] Then somehow, crowd-- -[Jerry] Oh, wow. Oh!
[Jim] Jericho only slaps and Van Dam kicked Jericho right in the face.
Come on, hey.
[Jim] That might start to motivate Van Dam.
[Jerry] How do you get your feet up that high?
[Jim] Van Dam has got great flexibility, doesn't he?
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Jim] Showing orthodox.
[Jerry] Jericho, right here. Oh.
[Jim] Van Dam out of Battle Creek, Michigan,
Jericho from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The leg drop, hook of the near leg,
and you can see that Jericho's left shoulder was exposed there.
That's why he got off the canvas before the three-count.
Jericho exploding off those ropes, catching Van Dam.
Now Jericho in that mount position,
using that right hand which is illegal, by the way,
and, I mean, Jericho must be careful that he's not disqualified.
[Jerry] He's got to the count of five, so he gave him four good right hands there
before he broke that hold.
[Jim] Winners advance.
-Too long. Get off the rope. -[Jim] Only the winners advance.
And now Jericho tried to widen the advantage of those right hands
on Rob Van D.
[Jerry] Jericho's got to be careful not to get disqualified.
He wants to win this thing. He wants to be the king.
[Jim] King Jericho may have a ring to it
and start of being in the main event at Summer Slam is also very attractive.
-Anybody here… -[Jerry] Oh, look at here.
[Jim] RVD must have caught that outta the corner of his eye,
avoided the contact. And then Jericho went flying.
[Jerry] Must be to the flying. And Van Dam.
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] Wow.
[Jim] Van Dam with that somersault plant around the top rope.
-That's an extremely high-risk maneuver. -[Jerry] Evel Knievel-like.
[groans]
[Jim] Van Dam will take a lotta chances,
but we've seen Jericho takes chances as well.
-[Jerry] Now, JR, you gotta admit… -[Jim] Wow.
[Jerry] Let's take one more look at this.
That's risking life and limb right there, isn't it?
[Jim] Indeed it is, at least on that exchange.
[Jerry] I wouldn't even try that in the swimming pool. Would you?
[Jim] And Van Dam went up there, go up that top rope and his foot found the mark.
Van Dam to the rope, and then going for the cover
and it may come back to haunt him.
[Jerry] Oh, shoot.
[Jim] Jericho shoved the referee into the ropes,
which consequently knocked Van Dam off that--
[Jerry] I think the referee just fell into the ropes somehow there.
[Jim] I would disagree with that, but in any event,
the results are what they are.
Jericho now with a huge advantage here, to put Van Dam away.
Both men on the top turnbuckle.
-Nowhere to go, but down from there. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Jim] It's a double-arm superplex right off the top rope.
And, Jericho, this may be enough.
Jericho's put the shoulders down and Van Dam able to kick-out.
[Jerry] Man. You got to admit, JR, just from the sound of things.
King Jericho, you said it yourself, that has a nice ring to it.
-[Jim] It has somewhat of a ring and-- -[Jerry] Now what would King Rob…
-[Jim] King RVD. -[Jerry] Oh, King RVD, that's not right--
Shut your mouth, JR. That's not right.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] Royal Van Dam.
[Jerry] Speaking of not right…
[Jim] And it's reflecting Jericho sucks about the…
Well, that would be breaking through his feet.
[Jerry] Yeah, but they'll throw the guy off his game here.
-…three, four… -[Jerry] They'll distract Y2J.
[Jim] Jericho with the Irish whip.
[Jim] Wait. Look at Van Dam.
What a takedown by Van Dam with his legs, he's got a near fall.
And Jericho quickly back up, trying to dispel any momentum.
Jericho on the clothesline, a lateral press here,
and Chris Jericho looking for a three falls [inaudible] two-count.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Well, look out here.
Jericho, that creates risky environment, exposing that top turnbuckle,
that steel ring that pulls those ropes there together, that corner.
And the referee trying to get that put back into place.
[Jerry] Look at it, ref.
[Jim] Inside cradle, the inside cradle by Van Dam.
And Van Dam got a bad break there, got a two-count.
You don't get too many second chances on Chris Jericho, I'll tell you.
[Jerry] I wonder what kinda referee would right in the middle of the match--
-Look at this. -[Jim] Here we go. Look out here.
Two!
[Jerry] I mean, suddenly, in the middle of the match,
the referee thinks
he's the equipment repair manager or something.
Does he realize what's on the line here?
[Jim] The referee just trying to keep a safe environment for them to compete.
Come on. Let's go. Stop choking him. Let on.
-One, two, three… -[Jim] Certainly, Van Dam
can get him worked on that one.
…four, come on.
[Jim] The bottom line is, that turnbuckle is still exposed.
-[Jerry] Now, he got some tapes exposed. -[Jim] And Jericho, he's choking Rob.
And Van Dam, the air getting choked out of him here
as Jericho really taking advantage of that five-count,
breaking on four as you pointed out, King, earlier.
[Jerry] That may be signs of Jericho getting a little desperate here.
[Jim] The fuel that runs these athletes is oxygen.
And that's what Jericho was robbing RVD of his fuel.
[Jerry] He's talking smack to him. Uh-oh, here we go.
-Oh, no. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Nobody there for Jericho.
[Jerry] Surely, before this match, both of them were thinking
if they get past their opponent here,
they'll either have to face Test for the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
You think either one of them have the preference, JR?
[Jim] Jericho would like it to be an all-Canadian finalist,
which he indicated last week on Smack Down.
-[grunts] -[Jim] And now,
-Jericho got RVD down. -Are you giving up?
[Jim] RVD does have the educated feet. He does have the great Five Star.
But in this position, they're both somewhat metered.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] It's all Canadian. Who can win, JR?
[Jim] I'd say Van Dam or between Jericho and Test.
Who could win?
[Jerry] Could be a Canadian winner, right?
[Jim] It could be. Two in the final, they're who'll bare teeth.
[Jerry] When was the last time you heard a Canadian winning anything?
-[Jim] ThÏey won a hockey gold medal. -[Jerry] Gold medals.
[Jim] It's in hockey. The Olympics have those every four years.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh. Van Dam using those feet again. Van Dam has fought his way back into this
and that might not be what Jericho certainly what he wants here, offensively.
Jericho making a big mistake there. Van Dam avoided the contact.
But, unfortunately, for Jericho, he did not.
His shoulders striking the ring post.
[Jerry] RVD showing a lotta quickness, as Jericho was coming in at full speed.
[Jim] Van Dam with those…
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Jim] …shots
and that nice spinning heel kick.
[Jerry] Almost kicked Jericho's head off. I doubt Jericho knows where he's at now.
[Jim] Van Dam, oh, that's reversed by Jericho.
-[Jerry] Man. -[audience cheering]
[Jim] Van Dam again scores with those feet.
[Jerry] RVD loves to kick somebody in the head, didn't he?
[Jim] RVD can beat you in different ways and we're seeing that offense
from RVD in this first semifinal match in the King of the Ring tournament.
[grunts]
[Jim] Springboard kick right to the face. Will this be enough?
How much… Oh, Jericho, out of desperation,
Jericho get a shoulder off the canvas on that exchange.
[Jerry] How many kicks to the head can Y2J take?
[Jim] Oh, wait. Another kick.
Another kick got in there, Jericho tried to get his hands up, but to no avail.
[Jerry] Look out. Again the cover, and Jericho…
[audience cheering]
Did he count to three?
[Jim] Referee's hand was coming down for the three when Jericho kicked-out.
RVD now trying to increase the momentum, increase the advantage here.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Look at this. Oh, there's a kick for you.
[Jim] Yeah. What an enzuigiri that was. It could be it here.
And Jericho thought he had the three and so did I, frankly,
but Van Dam disagreed with both of us and kicked-out.
[Jerry] I'll tell you, both of these guys are showing
how bad they want to win this King of the Ring tonight.
-[audience] RVD, RVD, RVD, RVD. -[Jim] Fans here for…
Showing their support of Rob Van Dam with the RVD chant.
[Jerry] I hear a little Y2J chant going too, JR.
Come on, hey.
[Jim] The King of the Ring started in 1993,
but the stakes have never been higher in this tournament with the winner
getting a guaranteed main event at Summer Slam
against the Undisputed champion.
-[Jerry] That did it. -[Jim] That German release suplex
folding up RVD should be all.
Or Van Dam able to… He kicked-out at the very last moment.
[Jerry] How did he do that?
[Jim] And Jericho, that released German suplex
-folding RVD up like an accordion. -[Jerry] Right.
It looked more like a jackknife if you ask me.
[Jim] Jericho now in the driver seat, it would seem.
-[Jerry] He's now in the driver's seat. -Back off.
-Let's go, Chris. Come on. Get over here. -[Jerry] He'll issue a punishment now.
He'll do a little showboating I'm afraid.
[Jim] None of these men have ever been the King of the Ring in their careers.
This will be a quite the first for… or before they'll survive here tonight.
-Edge, King of the Ring last year. -Oh.
[Jerry] That's right. No matter who wins tonight, it'll be a new experience.
[Jerry] Look out! I thought he was coming here on our table.
[Jim] Jericho got a hot shot at riding that top rope
and Van Dam with a split-legged moonsault. The hook of the leg.
This should be… Oh, it's not.
Oh, man. What resiliency and toughness by Chris Jericho.
Van Dam, normally, puts people away with that split-legged moonsault,
but not on this exchange.
[Jerry] Now look at this one more time.
The split-legged moonsault as you see and right on the mark.
-Look at him there. Look at this! -[Jim] Jericho.
Jericho, looking for the walls of Jericho.
Jericho trying to pull Van Dam to the ring's center.
-[Jerry] Look at this! -[Jim] Van Dam reversed it!
Van Dam got the reverse. Did he get three? No.
He didn't, but how close was that?
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Jim] And what a move that was!
Van Dam has done his homework, a nice reversal of the walls of Jericho.
[grunts]
-[Jim] Oh, look out here. -[Jerry] Jericho. Look at that reversal.
-[Jim] The athleticism by Jericho. -[Jerry] Caught midair with the boot.
-[Jim] Right for that… -[Jerry] Exposed buckle.
[Jim] That may be it. JR, wait a minute. Wait a minute. How did Van Dam kick-out?
Van Dam's head bounced off that exposed turn buckle
and then Jericho used the ropes for even more leverage.
[Jerry] Even with the help of the ropes, he didn't get the job done.
-And now Y2J. -[Jim] Wow.
Jericho with the unfair advantage now. He's got to put RVD away.
Van Dam seems to be extremely resilient here.
Nobody there for the lionsault. Jericho walked right into that kick.
[audience cheering]
That kick on Jericho right on the jaw.
-RVD now will be over if he hits this one. -[Jerry] Look out. No.
[Jim] Nobody there. Van Dam missed the Five-Star Frog Splash.
Can Jericho capitalize? And Jericho going for the lionsault.
This has got to be it. RVD missed his, Jericho took the lionsault,
and Van Dam's left shoulder comes off the canvas.
No, that's got to be a half a second before the three-count, maybe less.
[Jerry] These guys are killing each other, JR. They're out to destroy each other.
-[audience chanting] -[Jerry] I'm just concerned
that whoever wins this thing, he'll have nothing left for the finals.
[Jim] This shows you how badly they not only wanna be the King of the Ring,
but they want a spot in the main event at Summer Slam
-against the Undisputed champion. -Hey!
[Jerry] They're not expending every bit of energy they have
because they want to, it's because they have to.
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] Oh, look out here.
Jericho's got the walls. Jericho's got the walls of Jericho on RVD.
Van Dam, too close to the ropes, that will save Van Dam's skin right there.
Nobody will get outta the walls of Jericho when he gets it set in.
I could tell you that, nobody.
[Jerry] I thought Van Dam was reaching out to tap out,
but instead his hand fell across that bottom rope to save himself.
[Jim] Jericho with a handful of Van Dam's hair.
-What's Jericho gonna do now with Van Dam? -[Jerry] Right in that middle post, JR.
[Jim] Got back into the ring post as Van Dam's legs are a little limp,
a little spaghetti-like, if you will.
And Jericho holding onto that hair of Van Dam.
Jericho off balance, he crouched himself.
Jericho off balance,
and now Van Dam continues to climb up to the top
perhaps instinctively.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Jim] And Van Dam got the Five Star.
Van Dam got the Five Star. Will it be…
-[Jerry] Got it. -[Jim] Yes, it is.
-[audience cheering] -["One of a Kind" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Rob Van Dam.
[Jim] One hell of a physical matchup to kick off the King of the Ring
and a result to the victory,
it's RVD advancing into the finals.
[Jerry] I'll go up there and see if I can get a word with RVD. Okay. Hang on.
♪ …When I look in your eyes… ♪
[Jim] Van Dam has advanced to the King of the Ring finals.
And Jerry "The King" Lawler wanna try to get a word as he said with RVD.
-♪ Hey, hey ♪ -♪ One of a kind ♪
-♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ -♪ One of a kind ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey… ♪
[Jim] One more match, one more to go for Van Dam
to get there where he wants to be tonight.
♪ One of a kind ♪
All right… Unbelievable victory.
Now that you've won, you'll go on to face either Test
or Brock Lesnar in the finals of King of the Ring.
Any preference?
Whatever. Dude, I don't care if it's Test, or Brock Lesnar, or Godzilla.
Nothing is gonna keep the King of the Ring from being Rob Van…
[Jim] Oh. [inaudible] . And Jericho, Jericho assaulting Van Dam.
[audience clamoring]
Jericho showing absolutely no sportsmanship
after getting beat fair and square in a hell of a match.
And Jericho now having his way with RVD.
And remember, Van Dam has gotta regroup here.
And Jericho could give a damn about RVD,
and Jericho now punishing Van Dam in the walls of Jericho.
I'm the king of the world.
[Jim] And Jericho showing no sportsmanship,
an absolute pathetic loser is Chris Jericho.
And Jericho has seen his main event at Summer Slam be eliminated
thanks to RVD and Jericho doesn't like it one bit.
[indistinct conversations]
And certainly you got to wonder now how much more damage
has Y2J done to Rob Van Dam.
Jericho absolutely livid here that he lost a hell of a match,
and quite frankly, it could have gone either way.
But on this night, Van Dam was the better man, as simple as that.
But how much damage now has been done to RVD?
Okay. Rob Van Dam may not care, but Chris Jericho sure does, huh?
Did you hear what Van Dam had to say about you, Brock? Huh?
Oh, you're a Japanese movie monster, Brock. Oh. You're Godzilla, Brock.
You're…
[screams]
You're a Godzilla.
And Van Dam doesn't get it, does he?
They still don't get it, do they?
Godzilla was a fake,
but you, Brock Lesnar, you are real.
You are as a real as they come, Brock Lesnar,
because you are the Next Big Thing.
And tonight, tonight, Brock, you become the next King of the Ring.
Now is the time to prove that. Let's go.
♪ Test, this a Test ♪
♪ Test, Test, this a Test ♪
♪ Test, Test, this is a Test ♪
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is a King of the Ring semifinal match.
Approaching the ring, weighing 282 pounds, Test.
[Jim] Certainly, all the insider say that Test is spreading the break through
of being the next big major WWE Superstar.
A prominent member of the Smack Down roster,
and this is a breakthrough environment, a breakthrough match, if you'll, for Test.
The winner of this match will meet RVD, King, a little bit later tonight.
Certainly, I mentioned, you gotta wonder how much damage Jericho did to Van Dam
in that post match.
[Jerry] I got news. I'm not gonna volunteer to go in the ring
and interview the winner after this match.
I don't wanna be anywhere around that anymore.
["This is a Test" music fades]
[Jim] This should be a physically intense contest here.
[audience cheering]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Jim] They're two young stallions.
[announcer] Accompanied by Paul Heyman, from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing 295 pounds,
the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
[Jerry] Look at Heyman, JR. I mean, he doesn't waste any time,
every second, every minute, he is just pumping.
He is just pumping Brock Lesnar up, get him to a fever pit.
[Jim] Right. A former University of Minnesota,
all-American and amateur wrestling, former NCAA National Heavyweight Champion.
And look at how big Test is.
Test has got to be 6-6 or 6-7 in that 280-pound range.
[audience cheering]
And certainly Test not intimidated
by the bounty and reputation that Lesnar is building here in the WWE.
Now, they're both tied up.
And again, the winner of this match will meet RVD later tonight
to determine the 2002 King of the Ring.
[Jerry] Yeah, this is a very interesting matchup here.
You can tell just from the first opening seconds of this.
I don't know if Brock Lesnar's…
I don't know if he's faced anybody as big and as powerful as Test is.
Two!
[Jerry] This is gonna be quite the match for the Next Big Thing.
[Jim] And two young bulls in there
and Lesnar trying to close his will on Test.
Test with an experience advantage as we know.
[Jerry] I'd say it looks like it's working as well.
[Jim] I'm sure that Heyman, the agent for Brock Lesnar,
has compiled a very deliberate game plan. There you see Heyman.
A fever blister on the lips and the eyes of Heyman.
[Jerry] And he's licking his lips already. Look at this.
[Jim] Test using a smashmouth style knocking down Brock Lesnar.
And Lesnar knocked down here.
[Jerry] I'll tell you, I said, "This Test is a big powerful boy."
[Jim] Test over that big boot.
That's a knockout punch, to say the least, of Test.
He had it cocked and ready to go early here.
I doubt even Lesnar can withstand a shot to the jaw with that big boot of Test.
[Jerry] That's right. Test was, I don't know, just one big boot away
from being in the finals tonight, King of the Ring.
By one fall, he's all yours. Watch the boot.
[Jim] Wanna coach him on the outside here, the agent of Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar's gotta make sure he gets back in the ring before the 10-count.
[Jerry] JR, you're a bit hard on Heyman. You gotta give him credit.
He has truly got this guy. Every time we've seen Brock Lesnar,
Heyman has him ready without a doubt. I mean, he's been nothing but successes.
So you got to give him a little credit.
[Jim] D'you think he'd be ready without Heyman?
-[Jerry] Oh, who knows? -[Jim] Great intensity here by Test.
Now he's got the opportunity. He's beating Lesnar down, he's doing it.
Test dissolving Lesnar much to the chagrin of Paul Heyman
on the outside,
and Lesnar looking on the outside for a bit of guidance from Heyman,
that may be a misnomer.
[Jerry] Test wants this thing badly. He wants to be the king.
Look at that.
[Jim] Lesnar's own momentum working against him here
and he's taken two elbows right to the face.
And now, oh, look at Lesnar with a powerful spinebuster.
What do you say, Test?
[Jim] A very physically intense contest
we're seeing here between these two young bulls.
And Lesnar dropping those elbows
with a great deal of velocity right into the sternum…
-What do you say? -…the solar plexus of Test.
[Jerry] You can only imagine what that must feel like, JR.
The guy as big as Brock Lesnar coming down on you,
not only with all his weight but with that extra added force
that he's packing in there.
That's gotta kick the wind out of your sails.
-What do you say, Test? -[Jim] What a hard Irish whip that was!
Great velocity, in the impact in those ribs, and the lower back.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Certainly, being highlighted here by Brock Lesnar.
He's not wasting any motion on any other body part.
That was a straight right hand and then a knockdown right to the back.
Those of Test, on his back, I should say.
You are the Next Big Thing.
[Jim] Heyman doesn't want Lesnar to make any rookie mistakes.
[Jerry] He doesn't want him to forget that he's the Next Big Thing either.
[Jim] Test fighting back, great opportunity for Test as well.
It's not gonna be an all-Canadian finals. It may be a 50% Canadian final.
There's a suplex by Lesnar and Test…
Move back, move.
[Jim] When Test tried to reach for the ropes, he kicked-out there.
-[Jim] Look at the form. -[Jerry] Right.
[Jim] That's a nasty move there, another pinning predicament here.
And again, Test just able to roll that right shoulder
above the canvass, just an inch or two.
And that's all it takes.
[Jerry] Lesnar, so physical, so intimidating, so dominating,
is this young rookie from the University of Minnesota.
-[Jerry] Oh, now, look at the strength. -[Jim] A lotta strength here.
-[Jerry] You got that right. -[Jim] Test is at least 280.
And he just… A backbreaker by Lesnar with ease on a man of 6-7, 280.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Now Lesnar has regained the advantage here again in this matchup.
And again, hammering down on that mid back area.
[Jerry] Paul Heyman had regained his smile, but it's going away now.
-Oh, my God! -[Jim] Atomic drop.
Oh, and Lesnar recovers and powerslammed Test.
-Right, let's get it done! -[Jim] Heyman says, "Get on him."
Lesnar does, but Test kicks out before the three-count.
[Jerry] That's where Heyman is valuable, JR.
Normal guy, I mean, Lesnar at that point, he could have taken a minute to rest.
He could have tried to get his win, but Heyman is there remaining.
"Get on him, stay on him, don't let him regroup."
[Jim] This is breaking down on the… He'll get that big blow of hand
and he's gonna be the last man standing almost in this one.
Get up!
[Jim] Both men trying to muscle each other on their respected vertical bases.
[Jerry] You got too many men with this, or two men with this many muscles,
it should boil down to this. Oh, wow.
[Jim] Lesnar with a kick to the heart. Wait, Test coming back, oh,
with a sidewalk slam right in the air out of Lesnar
who instinctively rose to his gut, off his back.
[Jerry] Heyman looks like he's about to blow chunks over there.
He's gonna get sick. He can't believe this.
One!
[Jerry] I wanna see which one of these two is the most powerful, JR.
[Jim] Lesnar blocks a right hand, does back the rights of his own.
Lesnar is a highly-skilled, highly-trained grappler.
Not a striker as they say. But Test… Now, Test came with all of it.
[Jerry] There's a strike for you right there.
[Jim] It knocked Lesnar right on his Next Big Thing backside.
And now Test, again, takes Lesnar for the ride
and follows with him again with another clothesline.
Lesnar trying to shake it off and looks like a big heavyweight fight.
Who's gonna get the right hand and the most… Uh-oh. Look out here.
[Jerry] The momentum, I feel it shifting, JR.
[Jim] Oh, a Nelson Slam. This could be all here.
And, oh, Lesnar getting on his side there,
look at the amateur instincts, to get off your back.
[Jerry] Stay on him, Test.
Take a page out of Heyman's book. Don't let him rest.
[Jim] Test imploring him to get up, Lesnar to get up.
-[Paul] No, no. -[Jim] No. Oh, look out here.
-[Paul] No. -[Jim] Test with a pump-handle slam,
-but countered. -[Jerry] Did you see that?
[Jim] Lesnar with a waistlock from behind, but Test is blocking
and trying to fight his way outta that and is successful.
[Jim] This is going downstairs again. Looking at the pump-handle slam,
going back to it and he's totally got it.
Test got it. This is gonna be it here. Here we go. And, oh…
And Lesnar, I mean, barely kicking outta that pump-handle slam.
[Jerry] And Paul Heyman about to have a stroke there at ringside. Look at him.
I don't think he's ever seen the Next Big Thing this close to--
-[Jim] Oh, wait a minute. -[Jerry] Test with this big thing--
[Jim] Test with that big right boot to the face. Lesnar avoided it.
Test got back to his feet and…
This time, what a shot!
What a shot! That's gonna be it here. Here we go. It's all over.
Oh, wait a minute. My God, Lesnar kicked-out.
The Next Big Thing kicks out.
[Jerry] Watch this boot to the face, and did you hear it?
-[Jim] And Lesnar ate some shoe leather. -[Jerry] How did he kick-out from that?
[Jim] I have no idea on earth how Lesnar was able to kick-out.
[Jerry] Get on him, Test. Get on him.
[Jim] Test says he better kick-out at one. You're not gonna kick-out at two.
Lesnar barely able to get up. He used the ropes to pull himself up.
Lesnar in big trouble here.
[audience shouting]
-[Jerry] Who's this? -[Jim] Heyman. Heyman distracting Test.
Hey. Wait a minute. Uh-oh. Lesnar, F5.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The hook of the leg and Lesnar wins it.
["Next Big Thing playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
You did it.
[Jim] And this was a war between two young bulls,
and I'll tell you what, Heyman, with his distraction there.
[Jerry] You got to give Heyman credit.
Was he a valuable [inaudible] to reach out of that time, JR, or not?
-[Jim] Well, absolutely. -You won! One more to go--
[Jim] On this occasion, Brock Lesnar needed Paul Heyman,
and Heyman was there for him.
[Jerry] A very hard-fought victory for Lesnar.
So now we know, the King of the Ring final later tonight live here,
RVD and Brock Lesnar, a couple of athletes from the RAW Roster,
will compete for the King of the Ring title here tonight.
[Jerry] One of them will be going to Summer Slam for a shot at it all.
[Jim] Our folks are standing by back in the locker room,
Greg Lloyd in front our Smack Down locker room
and the coach representing the RAW Roster standing by.
Coach, take it away.
Thanks, JR. Now that RVD and Brock Lesnar, both superstars from RAW,
have advanced onto the King of the Ring finals,
I thought I'd try and get some comments from other RAW Superstars
on who they think is gonna be crowned King of the Ring.
Bubba Ray, can I have a quick second? RVD and Brock have both advanced on.
Who do you think will be crowned King of the Ring now?
Coach, firstly, I think it's great
that two guys from the RAW brand are in the finals of the King of the Ring.
RVD and Brock are both incredible athletes and they're great competitors.
I've been in the ring with both of them, especially Brock in the past two months.
And as much as I'd like to see RVD get his hand raised,
I don't think he's making it past the Next Big Thing tonight.
The kid is on a roll and he's too damn tough.
Ah, I tell you, I wish it was me in the finals of the King of the Ring
going to Summer Slam and getting my shot
at the WWE Undisputed Championship, but it's not and that's fine.
I'm gonna bounce back and find another way to make an impact here.
I'm standing outside the Smack Down locker room
hoping to get some reaction from some Smack Down superstars and…
-What was that? -I'm sick of this.
Guys, Lance and Christian, your thoughts on the King of the Ring final
which is RVD versus Brock Lesnar, an all-RAW final.
Yeah, we were just talking about that. If I can be serious for a minute,
it was supposed to be Jericho and Test, an all-Canadian final.
Now, it's just all-American.
[audience cheering]
As far as I'm concerned, this just proves what you said on Smack Down.
This entire company of WWE, is prejudice against Canadian athletes.
Come to think of it, America themselves is the most prejudice country on earth.
And, Lance, you hit the nail on the head when you said last week
the entire world hates this country.
The entire world…
hates America.
America is the most hateful country in this world.
And as Canadians,
it's very important we don't get sucked into their pro-American hateful abyss.
We need to rise above it.
As Canadians, we need to carry the flag of civility, tolerance, and peace.
-You're right, eh? -Yeah.
[Jim] What the hell was that all about, King?
Ladies and gentlemen, we're here in Columbus, Ohio.
The Nationwide Arena is sold out tonight for the 10th annual King of the Ring.
We know the final now, Brock and RVD, a couple of guys from the RAW Roster.
And our colleagues from Smack Down are here as well.
We'll send it up to Michael Cole and Tazz. Gentlemen?
Hey, thanks a lot, JR, and thanks a lot, King.
We're high above the Nationwide Arena here for King of the Ring,
and coming up next,
the Cruiserweight Championship is on the line.
Does everybody knows that Cruiserweight is so exclusive to Smack Down brand?
[Michael] That's right. It'll be the champion,
The Hurricane, defending against Jamie Noble,
and, of course, his freak of a girlfriend, Nidia, will be hanging out at ringside.
Tazz, we learned a couple of weeks ago that it was actually Nidia
who is the stalker of The Hurricane. Why?
Well, because Nidia is the ex-girlfriend of The Hurricane,
so The Hurricane kicked to the curb.
The Hurricane tonight better not be worried about Nidia.
What The Hurricane is to worry about is that tough, scrappy boyfriend of Nidia
named Jamie Noble.
Jamie Noble, in my view,
is a big time threat tonight to The Hurricane's Cruiserweight title.
Nidia is a vengeful witch who's hell-bent.
She is hell-bent making sure her boyfriend wins the gold.
Remember, this whole mess started with Nidia
playing the role as the stalker and it all started with the letters.
[Michael] Nobody's been leaving notes for The Hurricane.
These notes had said stuff like,
the pain will begin when you win the title.
Who is sending these notes to this guy?
"You think I'm a witch? I flew in on my broom.
If you're looking to find me, I'm in your locker room."
Stand back, there's a hurricane coming through.
[laughing]
I don't know what your play is here. To be honest, I don't care,
but the Helms-Nidia relationship, that's way over.
-I'm The Hurricane now. -[Nidia] Listen here, Mr. Superhero.
Your days as Cruiserweight champion is about to end.
No, what are you doing?
Hurricane, let me introduce you to my boyfriend
and future Cruiserweight champion, Jamie Noble.
Jamie Noble, boy.
[Jerry] Check out this Nidia freak. I think aggression really turns her on.
[Jim] Nidia, Noble, there's a trailer down the street, go get yourself a room.
You tell that heinous haystack
that The Hurricane will take him on…
anytime, any place.
I love a good confrontation. It turns me on.
Whoa, wee.
Look at here, baby. We know we bagged ourselves a real-life superhero.
I hear you looking for Jamie Noble, boy, huh?
Any place, huh? Anytime, huh?
[Tazz] Looks like Nidia will get some of The Hurricane.
She owes him, I guess.
[Jerry] No, she's de-masking The Hurricane and a slap.
Nidia and her slimy boyfriend, Jamie Noble, humiliating The Hurricane.
Look, Jamie Noble and Nidia had made some impact.
[Jim] The winner of this match will face The Hurricane at the King of the Ring.
[Jerry] Look at Nidia.
[Jim] Nidia, grabbing the leg of Billy Kidman,
right on his head is Kidman.
-Goodbye, Billy Kidman. -[Jim] And Jamie Noble advances.
He's heading to the King of the Ring to take on The Hurricane.
-Whoa. -[Jim] That's The Hurricane's mask.
[Jerry] Oh, boy. Ugh.
[Tazz] Stand back, there's a hurricane coming through.
[Jim] Hey, The Hurricane, release a chokeslam.
The Jamie Noble and The Hurricane get his mask back.
[Jim] The Hurricane defends the Cruiserweight title
against Jamie Noble in King of the Ring on pay-per-view.
[heavy metal music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Introducing first the challenger accompanied by Nidia
from Hanover, West Virginia, weighing 200 pounds, Jamie Noble.
[Jim] I tell you what, King, this is certainly appeared a draw to…
the king of the trailer park. Jamie Noble, and his…
[Jerry] That girl, she scares me. [laughing] .
[Tazz] Stand back, there's a hurricane coming through.
[Jim] Uh-oh.
["Eye of the Hurricane" playing]
[announcer] Weighing 215 pounds,
the WWE Cruiserweight champion, The Hurricane.
[Jim] The Hurricane is up to defend the Cruiserweight Championship
against newcomer, Jamie Noble.
And as we have seen, I guess,
before The Hurricane came in the WWE,
he got a boyfriend-girlfriend thing going on with Nidia.
[Jerry] A little bit.
-Check her out. -[Jim] I'd rather not.
-[bell ringing] -[Jerry] She needs to be dipped.
[Jerry] I don't know [Inaudible] why she's always chewing gum, JR.
[Jim] King, what do you want? We do it the backward?
-[Jerry] -[Jim] No. She's chewing that gum.
Probably, it's the same gum she had in her mouth last week on Smack Down.
Caught in a little tie up here. The Cruiserweight Championship
-on the line. -[Nidia] Come on, baby.
[Jim] Three championship matches tonight including the undisputed title,
The Undertaker and Triple H a little later tonight,
of course, Molly Holly challenging Trish for the women's championship as well.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Looks to be survival of the fattest, I mean, fittest.
Sorry, Molly. [inaudible]
[Jim] A go behind by Hurricane Helms on Jamie Noble.
Noble certainly is a loudmouth individual, isn't he?
[Jerry] Where is he from? West Virginia?
[Jim] I think that's what I heard, West Virginia.
The hills of West Virginia.
[Jerry] You got to be able to relate to him, JR. You're a redneck.
[Jim] Look out here. There's nothing wrong being a redneck.
-[Jerry] Got a way there. -There you go, baby.
[Jim] And Noble, I'd like to see where his family trees branched.
[Jerry] Can I ask you one question, JR?
-[Jim] Go ahead, King. -[Jerry] Will you tell me the truth?
[Jim] I'll try.
[Jerry] Have you ever lived in a mobile home?
-[Jim] You're damn right. -[Jerry] Absolutely…
-[Jim] That's right. -[Jerry] Was it a double wide?
-[Jim] No, I didn't want a double wide. -[Jerry] How wide was it?
-[Jim] About eight to ten feet. -Backing off.
-[Jerry] You actually lived in a trailer? -[Jim] Yeah.
-[Jim] What about her? -Man, you, you call her… it's like…
[Jerry] Would she be classified as like trailer park trash?
[Jim] I think she'd definitely be on the back side of the trailer park.
Now, look at Hurricane.
[Jerry] But they say, one man's trash is another's man treasure.
-[Jim] I've heard that. -[Jerry] Jamie seemed to love her.
Oh.
[Jim] Shot to the head by Hurricane Helms. The champion has been dominant thus far
in this Cruiserweight Championship matchup.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Jim] And Hurricane looking to load up
Jamie Noble and Noble knows that.
He's fighting out that chokeslam predicament.
Shot to the face by Hurricane. And Noble able to kick-out.
[Nidia] Good.
[Jim] Ric Flair says he's got one more running in, King,
and he's gonna be coming up next against Eddie Guerrero.
[Jerry] I can't wait to see that.
Eddie Guerrero with intent Latino Heat, he's gonna try to cut that run short.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] And he's looking for head scissors applied by Hurricane Helms
grounding his adversary.
And Nidia just looks like she needs a long hot shower.
[Jerry] I want everybody to disregard that unflattering chants
they're throwing right there.
Speaking of that shower,
I bet you'd like to take that shower with Nidia, wouldn't you?
-[Jim] Oh, stop it. -[Jerry] What?
She's young enough to be my daughter.
[Jerry] You say that like it's a bad thing.
[Jim] Oh, from you, that's a different ball game.
[Jerry] She maybe young, but she's got experience, JR.
-[Jim] I can believe that. -[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Jim] Nidia trying to distract and she did.
[Jerry] No, I think she thought his shoelace is untied.
-[Jim] Please. -[Jerry] Watch it, Nidia. Watch it, Nidia.
[Jim] Running away with this…
And Nidia and Jamie Noble is setting up The Hurricane.
The Hurricane's emotion is getting the better off him.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] Now check this out again.
Two!
-Look at Hurricane. -[Jim] Nice setup.
[Jerry] Chase this young lady.
Well, that was… Nidia provoking The Hurricane.
He took the bait, and Jamie Noble's took advantage.
And Noble now going for the cover,
hooking that near leg and Hurricane kicking out.
[Jerry] Who wouldn't take the bait? Look at Nidia.
-The more I look at her, JR… -[Jim] You like her as she's breathing.
-[Jerry] What? -[Jim] And she's spindly.
[Jerry] I can't wait to see her Tuesday night
in that divas undress lingerie special.
[Jim] And you'll tell them what she will not be wearing. And look at this.
[Jerry] I heard she's trying on the underwear at the yard sale.
[Jim] Going back.
[audience booing]
I ain't gonna go there.
Jamie Noble now maybe wasting some valuable time.
[Jerry] He's showing off for Nidia.
-One, two, three. -[Jim] Just look at her. Look at her.
-[Jerry] Look at the way she squats, JR. -[Jim] Oh, stop. Squat.
-[Jerry] She got great balance. -[Jim] There's no squatting in wrestling.
Snap suplex by Jamie Noble, taking down Hurricane
and the champion in trouble.
Referee Mark [inaudible] got a [inaudible] out of that situation.
[Jerry] I think she considers that wrestling, JR.
[Jim] Yeah, some fixation. Wanna chewing that gum, don't you?
Abdominal stretch applied by Jamie. Jamie Noble…
using that form, a hip down the rib.
-[Jerry] He's jealous of that gum? -[Jim] Well, he's jealous for the gum.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] I doubt she's represented herself with a great classy way thus far,
-but I could be wrong. -[Jim] Yeah.
-[grunts] -[screams]
-[Jim] Smack Down every week. -[Jerry] I heard a few rumors.
[Jim] Here we go. Here we go.
-[Jerry] I heard a rumors. -[Jim] Sure you do.
[Jerry] Hurricane would like to say that he dumped Nidia,
and I heard that it was the other way around.
I heard that Nidia dumped Hurricane because he was no superhero,
if you know what I mean. Did you get my drift on it, JR?
-[Jerry] Get it? -[Jim] I got it. Look. Here's a cradle.
Maybe their adventures and The Hurricane were not mutually rewarding, I dunno--
[Jerry] No. I heard his superpowers came up a bit short.
[Jim] Crossbody. Here we go.
That, ladies and gentlemen, research done by the King.
[Jerry] I get all the important… Oh, man.
[Jim] The Hurricane put himself in the top position,
didn't execute his victory roll which I think he was gonna go for.
[Jerry] There's a victory roll. Roll him over. You'll get the victory.
-[Jim] Here it is. Here… -Three.
Three!
-[Jim] Another near-fall. Hurricane is… -[Nidia] One, two, three…
[Jerry] Uh-oh. On the other hand, JR, Nidia tells me that Jamie can perform,
if you know what I mean. Did you get my drift?
-[Jim] I'm glad to hear that. -You're okay, Hurricane, huh?
[Jerry] Did you see that pickup truck they arrived in tonight?
[Jim] And what is it? Focus on the in-ring performance.
[Jerry] I'd like to focus on that right there.
[Jim] She's young to be your granddaughter.
[Jerry] Nidia will perform in the ring if you wanted to, JR.
He's trying to move, come on.
[Jerry] Just give her the nod. Go ahead, give her the nod, JR.
-She'll get right in the ring and perform. -[Jim] I don't think that's necessary.
-[Jerry] I know her type, believe me. -[Jim] I'm sure you do.
And cross-arm break takedown.
Hurricane bought himself a bit of time there,
but not enough to get the cobwebs loose,
but it comes back when Hurricane comes downstairs with that right boot.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Jim] A high-impact move there now.
The champion hooking up the challenger. Got a near-fall at him.
-[Nidia] Number one, number one. -[Jerry] Look at Nidia now.
[grunts]
[Jim] Sleeper hold applied by the… Cruiserweight champion and a jawbreaker.
Man, Noble ran his head right up into the jaw of Hurricane Helms.
No!
[Jim] And now, Noble trying the sleeper hold.
Something like that applied.
Look at that nice little take down there, breaking down Hurricane.
[grunts]
Nidia looking all the… Want him to look.
You should take her into your wing. You can teach her a lot, King.
-[Jerry] You think? -[Jim] I know you got it all
-to calm you up. -[Jerry] You know a few things.
Did you see where she was wearing Hurricane's mask the other night?
[Jim] I saw that. -[Jerry laughs]
I watch Smack Down every week.
-I saw what she did. -[Jerry] Oh, yeah.
[audience cheering]
-What's that about forgettin' that mask? -[Jim] What in the world for?
Look at Hurricane and Noble exchanging those fists and forms
in the center of the ring.
-That's all you need, in that match. -[grunts]
[Jim] Nice agility by Hurricane. Scores with the neckbreaker.
That maybe it right there.
[Jerry] Nidia, you may have to think back to where you have that mask.
You may have to use your pelvis power here. Uh-oh.
[grunts]
[Jim] Downstairs goes Noble.
And The Hurricane meets Noble coming off the ropes.
And now, the Cruiserweight champion
seems to be back in the driver's seat, if you will.
[Jerry] Oh, that may do it.
[Jim] It should be all here. And almost not though.
Hurricane signaling that the end is near.
[Jerry] Nidia, he signaled the end's near.
Wait. Jamie Noble may've something else to say with that belly-to-back suplex.
[Jim] And got a near-fall outta Hurricane landing him on the back of his head.
Noble's got a great opportunity here if he can seize it after that suplex.
But it's Hurricane scoring.
[audience cheering]
Hurricane with the cover and Noble again refusing to stay down,
and Hurricane thought that he had the three-count there.
[Jerry] I can't believe that Nidia doesn't appeal to you.
You lived in a trailer and just because she's so young,
you lost in the generation gap or something, JR?
Wait a minute. What's he doing now?
[Jim] Hurricane, that's… That's a Hurricane.
[Jerry] Huh, there… Oh.
[Jim] And Nidia getting that… she… Well, that doesn't belong to her.
[Jerry] I think she wore it out here. I'd like to see her wearing that cape.
[Jim] Noble trying to get a cheap shot in.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] Noble suplexed from the inside to the outside of the ring.
[Jerry] He can't do that.
-[Jim] And now, Helms, Hurricane Helms. -[Jerry] Nidia.
-[Jim] The Cruiserweight champion. -[Jerry] He's flying. Oh, no!
[Jim] A good crossbody…
from the top turnbuckle to the outside and the champion found his mark.
[Jerry] Oh, he's going to count on that gum now, ain't he?
Now, look at Nidia. We're trying to take a look at the replay.
At the same time, Nidia over here, she gave the sign--
-[Nidia screams, laughs] -[Jim] Nidia's trashy. That's all she is.
[Jerry] I think she kissed Hurricane right in the mouth.
-[Jim] And that… -[Jerry] What's trashy about that, JR?
Come over here, Nidia.
[Jim] Yeah, Uncle Jerry's looking for you.
-And Noble… -Come on.
[Jerry] JR, you're only as old as the woman you feel.
-Come on. -[Jerry] Something like that.
-Come on. -[Jim] What the hell is this?
[Jerry] He'll suplex Hurricane out onto the floor.
[Jim] Noble's got a front facelock on Hurricane Helms
and the Cruiserweight champion fighting outta it.
-[Inaudible] . Got him on the top. -Two!
-It's a dangerous… -[Jerry] What in the world! Oh, God.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Helms with that neckbreaker from the top,
and Hurricane may have knocked the breath out of himself.
-[Jerry] Of course. How smart is that? -[Jim] Noble is there to be pinned.
Hurricane hurt himself with that high-risk move.
[Jerry] He's barely got the energy to crawl across. Look at Nidia.
[Jim] Oh, wait a minute. Nidia…
[Jerry] You said it yourself, she should get involved.
-[Jim] She's smarter than she looks. -[Jerry] Get it down, ref.
[Jim] Distracting the referee at the exact right time.
[indistinct conversation]
[Jery] Uh-oh. Now what? Look out.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Hurricane sidestepping Noble.
[Jim] Hurricane going for a chokeslam and that would be it for Noble.
Hurricane for the cover, and, wait. Oh, God. Noble kicked-out.
I didn't see that one coming.
Jamie Noble showing his toughness and resiliency.
[Jerry] And Hurricane, he can't believe it.
-[Jim] Hurricane's gonna try… -[Jerry] He flew all right.
[Jim] Helms crutching himself in that top turnbuckle.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Jim] The powerbomb by Noble.
-He's got the cover and… -[bell ringing]
What? He got the three. Wait a minute. What did she do?
-[Jerry] What? -[Jim] What did that woman do?
-[announcer] The winner of this bout… -[Jerry] I didn't, uh…
[announcer] …the new WWE Cruiserweight champion…
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[announcer] …Jamie Noble.
[Jerry] It's like they just won the lottery, JR.
-[Jim] Oh, God, they need a body condom. -[Jerry] A what?
[Jim] I don't understand this.
I think Noble is a the Cruiserweight champion but…
[Jerry] Look at Nidia. She wants to get it on in the middle of the ring.
You want… You want to see her perform, JR, you may see it.
That… I guarantee you, that trailer's gonna be rocking tonight.
[heavy rock music playing]
[Jim] Let's take another look at this.
Nidia tried everything that she could think of.
[Jerry] She even actually tried to distract… Hurricane with a kiss.
-[Jim] There was tongue involved. -[Jerry] I think she's spiting her gum.
[Nidia screams]
[Jim] And then take a look at…
You see that, the perfect powerbomb.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Let's see, you said Nidia did something here.
Oh, foot's on the rope. Oh.
[Jim] Nidia shoved the foot off the rope for that pinfall would have been stopped.
But, ladies and gentlemen, earlier tonight on Heat, The Great One,
the People's Champ and The Rock arrived here in Columbus to a tremendous ovation.
[audience cheering]
And, King, I'll tell you, by the looks of The Rock's face,
he has something definitely on his mind here tonight.
The Rock is here in this arena,
but we still don't know what he's really thinking.
If The Rock told us last week he was gonna be here,
he'd not miss this King of the Ring. I'm just waiting.
He's gotta come out here, he'll eventually tells us what he'll do.
Well, he's here, he means business and so does Terri
-who's standing by with Latino Heat. -All right.
Eddie Guerrero, you surely seem confident heading into your match with Ric Flair
especially after what you did to him last week.
Let's take a look.
[Jim] It just happened last Monday night…
-He left on your watch. -…on RAW.
[audience clamoring]
And I'm holding you personally responsible for ruining my life.
Do you hear what I'm saying?
Do you hear what I am saying?
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh, Flair didn't blame for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
leaving the WWE by Guerrero and Benoit,
and then Guerrero and Benoit doing a real number on "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
who said that he, a former owner of RAW, had one more run left in him.
And then Guerrero putting Flair's own figure-four leglock
on "The Nature Boy".
[Jerry] And if you get those legs broken, you can't run very far, JR.
It's obvious, after what you did to Ric, he's gonna be pretty fired up.
My question to you is, are you at all worried
that you might have unleashed the dirtiest player in the game?
I'll be. Come on, Mamacita, first of all, all right? Let's think.
Wait, I'd like to take this opportunity, okay, to say hello to my brothers.
[speaking Spanish] What's up, men? It's me. That's right.
Oh, man, I can't forget my abuelita, you know. Hey, que paso, abuelita?
Wait, wait, wait, wait. My cousins, my cousins, that's right.
Chewy, Berto, Tabo, Juanito, Juanita, Maria, yeah. Hello.
There's more, but I can't get through 'em, that's all right.
Hola, que paso, hey. You know what, I almost forgot little Timmy.
Yeah. Man, he's that foster kid we picked up over the weekend.
[speaking Spanish]
They're at the chanton right now man, yeah, they're all checking me out.
They're checking me out, man, because I'm gonna take on,
wooh, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, the legend [speaking Spanish] .
[laughing]
And you're asking me, Mommy, if I'm worried?
Estas loca?
Are you crazy?
Huh? [speaking Spanish] . I'm in the best shape of my life.
I'm in my prime, baby.
Ric Flair, he can't do half the moves I do in the ring.
I mean, he only dreams about that.
Los suena, you know what I mean, baby?
You know, he says he has one…
one last great run left.
You know, the only running he's gotta do is to run into the retirement home, baby.
And the only memory he's gonna have left when it's all over…
is the one of the vato, the man who put him there.
Latino Heat.
[audience cheering]
-[Ric Flair intro music playing] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Charlotte, North Carolina,
weighing 234 pounds,
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
[Jim] Can't tell you what has been a chaotic last few weeks
for "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Two weeks ago in Atlanta on RAW,
Flair lost a no-holds-barred fight to Vince McMahon
and that loses the ownership of RAW.
Certainly, you can thank Brock Lesnar for that, if you will,
because it was Lesnar the difference-maker.
[Jerry] And Paul Heyman, he probably orchestrated the whole thing.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] You're getting way too close to Paul Heyman.
[Jerry] No, I'm not.
[Jim] And Ric Flair says he's got one last run left in him
and that run starts tonight.
[Guerrero] Latino Heat.
[upbeat music playing]
[Guerrero and men singing in Spanish]
[announcer] From El Paso, Texas, weighing 248 pounds,
Eddie Guerrero.
[Jerry] JR, did you put that sign there, the dirtiest mullet in the game?
[Jim] No, I know nothing about those mullets thing at all.
-None of that. -[Jerry] We heard Latino Heat say that
he was in the best shape of his life, but he'll get Ric Flair turn right there.
He looks like he's in great shape, too, and, you know.
♪ Latino ♪
[Jerry] I mean, as they said it, JR, age is just a number,
it's all in your mind and Flair feels like he's got one last run left in him.
Somebody's gonna have to prove him wrong.
[Jim] An absolute tremendous condition Flair is, look at him.
He's in good condition. I've seen him in the last ten years,
and I have seen Flair
in so many magnificent battles over his career.
[Jerry] And let's give the devil his due, let's face it.
Eddie Guerrero, he comes out here and he says these things like,
well, Flair can't do half the moves that Guerrero can do in the ring,
but just, to be honest with you, JR, you and I know this,
Flair's probably forgotten more about wrestling
than Eddie Guerrero knows now.
[Jim] You're probably right about that. Flair, a 16-time ex-champion of the world
and Guerrero forcing Flair back in the corner.
Guerrero's got the youth and the sting and the quickness,
but Flair has got that wonderful knowledge of everything going on inside those ropes.
And the grasp through that
as well as anybody has ever laced his boots.
[Jerry] No, there's no substitution for ring psychology.
Flair's a master of that.
[Jim] As you heard, Guerrero holding Flair responsible for…
many of the situations going down here in the last several weeks.
[Jerry] That'd have knocked Flair a little woozy.
Whoo!
-[Jim] Totally, Guerrero is no… -[Jerry] Now, what are you talking about?
You know what, JR, don't sugar-coat things.
Don't… Just go ahead and say what you think.
You're talking about Austin walking out.
When Austin walked out, Eddie had his sights set on Stone Cold
for this night, for this event, that did not come to be.
And Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit for that matter.
[Jerry] And I know you don't believe this,
but Eddie probably would have beaten "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
-don't you think? -[Jim] He might have, I dunno.
I won't say he would or he wouldn't 'cause he had-- they won't wrestle.
[Jerry] Look out.
[Jim] Right now, Eddie Guerrero will worry about Ric Flair and vice versa,
Guerrero scoring with that dropkick and Flair trying to regroup now.
Whoa!
[Jerry] That's where Flair will have to rethink this thing,
I mean, he gonna have to come up with something to take advantage of,
or to offset the lighting-like speed that Eddie Guerrero have.
I mean, there's no no two ways about it.
Eddie Guerrero at this point in his career is faster.
He has more speed than Ric Flair.
[Jim] Probably always has and always will, but Flair is a master of ring psychology.
Guerrero is not gonna do anything that Flair probably hasn't seen before,
or hasn't prepared for in this matchup.
You gotta remember how important this match is for Ric Flair.
He was the guy that was the owner of RAW sitting on top of the world
until he lost it all in that one match in Atlanta as Guerrero tried…
-[audience cheering] -[groans]
[Jim] Shot to this… That just lit up Eddie Guerrero.
[Jerry] There's some Latino Heat. Oh, look at Flair.
[Jim] But if Flair is right in saying that he has one more run left in his game,
it's gotta start successfully here, at least in my view, tonight.
[Jerry] Without a doubt, let's just see how he run or, like you said, start it.
I'm on the way.
[Jerry] Flair feels like he's on his way now, that first big chop.
That's something that in every Flair match he waits for.
[Jim] King, have you been chopped like that before?
[Jerry] From Ric Flair? Of course.
-[Jim] What's the feeling? -[Jerry] Not good.
[Jim] Like electricity getting shocked or something?
[Jerry] Yeah, it feels probably like
when you just try to replace one of those fuses in your trailer…
that shock, you know, it feels like that.
[Jim] I thought it was a breaker, but it wasn't.
[Jerry] I don't… Trailer don't have breakers,
-they've fuses. -[Jim] That's the problem.
Eddie Guerrero has got a thousand problem right now with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Uh-oh, shot to Flair.
Oh, Eddie Guerrero, well, right and block that one.
[Jerry laughing]
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] God Almighty.
[grunts]
[Jim] Right from back for the right hand,
taking Guerrero down and turning his back from the referee
using that closed fist. I don't see that often.
-[Jerry] Oh, there's… -[Jim] Low blow.
-[Jerry] Eddie is playing the game there. -[Jim] Flair is like a maestro.
He can orchestrate the referee pretty much anywhere he wants it.
[Jerry] Flair pointed over here, you and I and the referee looked at us.
Next thing, you know, Latino Heat is cooled off.
[Jim] Flair scored to those right hands and again Guerrero will get punished.
[audience exclaiming]
[grunts]
Come on. Come on. Come on.
[Jim] Flair hammering those rights and lefts
and what has been a physical night thus far here at the King of the Ring.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] And look at Guerrero's chest, it is deep, deep red.
[Jerry] Calm down, calm down, Eddie.
[Jim] Eddie getting all hussed by the man here.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] Tantrum looking for, a temper looking for a tantrum.
[Jim] Guerrero's blood is…
-[Jerry] Look out. Calm down. -[Jim] …rushing to his chest.
A lotta contusions already on the well-defined chest of Guerrero.
And Guerrero's gonna milk this 10-count.
[Jerry] But now, he's trying to play Flair's game now.
He'll take his time as well. He should.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] But it's sad to say Guerrero most probably long.
-What's up with that guy? Okay. -Come on.
[Jim inaudible] Referee trying to get Flair to step back.
Guerrero's somewhat cautious returning to the ring.
-Can't say I blame him. -Hey, come on. Let's go. Come on.
[Jim] Great opportunity here for Eddie to say the King of the Ring
and beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
[Jerry] It's like he'd also be able to say that he stopped Flair's last big run
and that's like stopping that big hitting streak
that Castillo's on or something like that. That's his claim to fame, [inaudible] .
[Jim] Guerrero still got that confidence,
someone with a flamboyant entrance re-entering the ring there for Guerrero,
front facelock on "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Guerrero using his leverage now.
Guerrero is gonna quicken the pace here as best he can.
That, to me, would be his bit half of offense here.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Jim] Ric Flair showing his strength.
[audience cheering]
Look at this. Flair with a standing vertical suplex.
And Guerrero and Flair both down, but Guerrero clutching at his lower back.
Two!
[Jim] Flair missing that chop and Guerrero going after the knee.
Guerrero then dropkick right to the knee.
And now Guerrero stomping away at the thigh muscle
and the knee of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
And this is more of a Flair strategy in the past
as he sets it up for that figure-four leglock.
And this is…
certainly, some unique strategy.
-No! -[Jerry] I'd just think that--
What d'you say?
[Jerry] We talked about different scenarios,
but I think the longer this match goes, the more it favors Eddie Guerrero.
-[Jim] You're right. -[Jerry] That's one of the things that--
It's just no denying that, you know, it's a fact of youth and stamina there.
[Jim] Flair's got great stamina but the youth as Guerrero's advantage.
Inside cradle, here we go.
And Flair, that was one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Ric countering his own… it was a…
Perhaps a precursor to the figure-four.
Flair is a great counter wrestler.
That wealth and experience goes to show what he can do in a heartbeat,
and now Guerrero has Flair grounded.
And some of these [inaudible] athletes, one thing that they fight
in addition to Mother Nature is their legs.
Keeping their legs healthy and under them,
and right now Guerrero's focusing on those legs with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
You seen Flair do this in many occasions throughout his illustrious career.
Get him in the ring.
[Jim] Focus on those legs. And there it is!
Now Eddie Guerrero saying, "Want to know exactly how that feels?"
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Flair's won hundreds and hundreds of matches for this figure-four leglock.
Eddie Guerrero taking a pain for all that left leglock,
and now has Flair's knee right over the top rope
and that shot right to the sternum.
[Jerry] I think Eddie Guerrero may have it part of his plan or his strategy
to stop Flair's big run.
Eddie is now using Flair's own figure-four and that'd be ironic.
Come on.
[Jim] We saw Guerrero use the figure-four on Flair Monday night on RAW.
[Jerry] He bragged about that all week long.
[Jim] I'm sure he did.
[Jerry] He bragged about that all week long.
[Jim] And… Oh, look at this.
-Oh, God. Oh, shit. -[Jim] Eddie on the top rope.
Flair's leg was hanging on that bottom rope.
Flair is screaming now writhing in pain as "The Nature Boy"--
-[Jerry] Here he goes. -[Jim] You're right.
[Jerry] Here he goes. He'll beat him with his own move.
[Jim] Eddie Guerrero with Ric Flair's figure-four leglock.
Last lock.
[Jim] First made famous by "Nature Boy" buddy, Rogers,
and Flair has mastered it,
And what a feather in Guerrero's sombrero, if you will,
to beat Flair with the figure-four leglock.
-Oh, God. -Come on, Flair. What d'you say?
-[Jim] Ric's gotta get to the ropes. -[groaning]
[Jim] He's reaching, but to no avail Flair's shoulders are down now.
The shoulders are down. And, oh, Flair in so much pain.
He's barely been able to get his shoulders off the canvas.
-What d'you say? Come on, Flair. -[Jim] This is good strategy for Eddie.
[Jerry] There's still nothing but punishing,
taking what energy Flair has left right outta him,
also, doing severe damage to his legs. You're right.
This is great strategy from Latino Heat.
[groaning]
[Jim] Flair trying to reach for the ropes. Flair knows it.
He can get to his stomach.
He has the ability to reverse the pressure on the figure-four,
to put the pressure on Guerrero, but that's a lot easier said than done.
[Jerry] Oh, he got to the ropes.
[Jim] Flair's in the ropes, and referee calling for a break.
And Guerrero not relinquishing, the hold right away.
[Jim] Guerrero's taking advantage to the ref's five count.
Breaking on four. He would've been disqualified on five.
And Guerrero pulls himself back up
and [inaudible] trying to compete here on one leg.
Guerrero with Flair right back down the corner, right above us here.
[Jerry] I don't agree with this strategy. You need to go back to the legs.
You need to go back to those legs as quickly as possible.
[Jim] Flair barely able to stand. Snapmare.
Flair wasn't standing for long.
-[Jerry] And the legs. -[Jim] And Guerrero…
bringing that neckbreaker.
[Jerry] See, this is where we talk about the difference in experience
in being the ring general.
You know that Flair would've gone right back to his opponent's legs.
[Jim] Whoa! And Guerrero, his ego maybe getting the better of him.
And that maybe trying to exchange chops with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
-Now the reverse chinlock. -[Jerry] I don't agree with this.
[groaning]
[Jim] One would assume that Guerrero would have gone back to the legs, right.
[Jerry] Yes, of course.
[Jim] Well, you gotta wonder, a strategic standpoint,
maybe thinking he's got another idea, I don't know.
[Jerry] He's obviously got another idea, but will it work? That's the question.
I think in my opinion he's giving Flair a chance to recuperate.
Get back in this thing.
[Jim] You see as this plays out if it was a strategic error or not for Eddie.
[groans]
Guerrero is like he wants to show Flair he's a better…
Figure-four and Guerrero delivering those chops.
I agree that he's better at delivering chops than Flair.
-[Jerry] Oh. Oh. -[Jim] Look at the eyes of Eddie Guerrero.
-[Jim] A little overhead and a right-hand. -[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Jim] Flair elevating Guerrero right over the top.
-Guerrero elevated right over the top. -[Jerry] Right into our table here.
[Jim] Flair down himself.
[woman shouting]
Guerrero in danger being counted out here…
reached at ten.
[groans]
[Jim] Nice counter. Flair got hanged up from the top rope.
[grunts]
[Jim] That facelock by Guerrero. What'll he do here?
Guerrero is on vertical suplex.
The second-generation star. He grew up in El Paso.
-[speaking Spanish] -[Jim] Now back with the advantage.
Again you wonder why he's not utilizing those weakened legs of Flair,
-but Guerrero may, it may be over here. -[Jerry] There you go.
-[Jim] Guerrero's frog splash is amazing. -[Jerry] He feels froggy, whoa, no.
[Jim] Flair saw it coming.
And maybe Guerrero did a little bit too much posturing.
-[grunts] -[Jim] And now Flair, that chop block.
[Jerry] We heard Eddie Guerrero say, he's got a ton of relatives looking on…
See, now look at this. He's giving Flair with the up…
Nearly get back in this thing and get the upper hand.
[Jim] Flair put a torque on that leg.
Looking for the figure-four and… Whoa, wait a minute.
Here comes The Rabid Wolverine Chris Benoit.
-Certainly, an ally of Guerrero. -[Jerry] There, he's seizing.
[Jim] An enemy of Flair to say the least.
And this is giving Flair so much to think about.
But veteran with the figure-four on Guerrero.
I guarantee you, Flair won't relinquish this maneuver.
[Jerry] You got that right. Flair has got it locked in.
[Jim] Where he's won hundreds of matches with this very maneuver.
[Jerry] That's him, Benoit.
[Jim] He knows if he gets in the ring right now,
he's gonna make Ric Flair the winner. He don't wanna do that.
[Jim] Benoit looks to be in great shape, been recovering from his neck surgery.
-What d'you say? Come on. -[groaning]
[Jim] And Benoit and Guerrero have been pretty much inseparable
the last couple of weeks it would seem to me.
-Come on. -[groaning]
[Jim] Guerrero finally gets into that bottom rope.
[Jerry] Down the rope, take a break.
[Jim] And Flair does with efficient and a clean break.
Unlike Guerrero did earlier.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Oh, [inaudible] .
Flair again. There's the veteran move right there.
The chop again measure then, right back to those legs.
-[Jerry] Flair again-- -[Jim] Flair the roll up.
Flair's got the roll up here, he's got the tights.
Guerrero pulling Flair tights. And then a backslide.
-[Jerry] Backslide. -[Jim] Both arms hooked.
And Flair able to roll up those shoulders before the three-count.
Flair had side headlock take down.
Flair trying to get another pinning predicament here.
-And Guerrero-- -[Jerry] Oh, wait a minute.
-[Jim] Look at Guerrero's strength. -[Jerry] Wow.
[Jim] Guerrero bridging up, but Flair's weight on top of him.
Two.
[Jim] And Guerrero almost a sequel outta that predicament.
-[groaning] -Come on.
[Jim] I can only imagine. And you know that's coming, those chops.
What goes to an athlete's mind.
Flair got caught, he walked right into that elbow…
-or walked right into the reverse elbow. -[Jerry] You know he's ready.
Flair closing up and chopping the same.
-[Jim] And Guerrero, the Tornado DDT. -[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Jim] Guerrero hooked up the Tornado DDT.
Now looking for a three-count. He should have it here.
And Flair with a foot on the rope, the referee sees it, stops the count.
[Jerry] That's a veteran maneuver.
Anything you do to save yourself is okay at this point.
[Jim] Flair didn't waste any strength, or any energy breaking on that count.
And Guerrero now seizing the moment here. Flair's foot still over the top rope.
Referee's trying to restrain Guerrero here.
Flair's got to get out of the ropes, now he finally does.
Guerrero choking away there.
-[Jim] Referee, Chad Patton, has issues… -[Jerry] Hey.
[Jim] Hey, wait a second. Chris Benoit jerking Flair outta the ring.
[Jerry] Oh, no. Look at this.
[Jim] And Benoit the Crippler Crossface on Flair.
Guerrero has got the referee hooked.
The referee isn't seeing a damn thing what's going on here,
and Benoit with that deadly Crippler Crossface
punishing Ric Flair.
Let's get it outta here, come on. Let's get you to the back.
You should be out. Let's get it out. I'm the referee.
-Let's get it out. Come on. -[Jim] Benoit, get outta here.
[Jerry] That's a little late, ref.
-The damage has been done. -Get out.
Referee didn't see what happened, but he knows that Benoit did something.
-[referee] You should be get outta here. -[Jim] Flair is motionless.
-What are you talking about? -[Jim] Flair is a beaten man here.
Benoit is being told to get back to the locker room.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Hey, hey, look at this, look at this.
-[Jim] Well, it's Bubba Dudley. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] Oh, the Bubba Bomb.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Bubba Dudley said he was gonna make an impact. Look out.
-And Benoit sees it. [Jerry] He's right behind him.
He's in hot pursuit.
[Jim] Benoit chasing Bubba Ray Dudley, and Flair now, pulling back in the ring.
Flair may win this here with Bubba's unrequested help is gonna be…
Look at this, it is over.
-[audience cheering] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
[Jerry] Did he see Bubba Ray?
How did the referee not see Bubba Ray in the ring?
[Jim] Because, the referee is taking Benoit out of here.
-The referee had his back to the ring. -[Ric Flair intro music playing]
Benoit got the Crippler Crossface on Flair.
It looked like that was gonna be the end of "The Nature Boy".
But the wily veteran, the resilient Nature Boy
able to overcome for the unlikely assist from Bubba Ray Dudley.
[Jerry] This is a little bit scary. This was an upset.
JR, the run may have begun.
Cheers to me. Hey, baby, what's your side?
So, do you come here often? Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
Have you ever seen an F this big?
[announcer] World Wrestling Entertainment, get the F out.
-Thanks. I needed that. -[laughing]
[Jim] Ladies and gentlemen, we're having a great time here tonight
in Columbus, Ohio,
where they are, as well, in the heart of Times Square.
The world of fans have got it jampacked tonight for the King of the Ring
and they're not alone.
That table over there, they've gotten their food.
Those people came in after us and they're finishing up.
-How could our waitress be this slow? -God.
I'm really sorry, I'm really busy. It's King of the Ring.
Thank you. I hope this isn't your chosen profession.
No. This is a part-time. I still go to school.
-Oh, really? What university? -Nassau Community College.
[laughing]
It's no Harvard, but it's close, I mean, at least in distance.
-It's close, yes. -Enjoy, sir.
-Thanks. -Silly taunt. Really?
[Jerry] She stuck her finger in his food, JR?
[upbeat music playing]
-[audience cheering] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Women's Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger, Molly Holly.
[Jerry] Ladies and gentlemen, Molly Holly earned the opportunity
to challenge Trish for the women's title two weeks ago on RAW.
We'll take you back and show you how Molly used that…
well uh, ample sized caboose.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Jim] She calls it the Molly-Go-Round…
[bell ringing]
[Jerry] That Rikishi-like bomb would knock the…
-Take a look at this now, this was… -[Jim] It was Trish's undergarment.
[Jerry] Trish's own un… undergarments?
Those are panties, JR, a panty. Trish's panties.
What a waste of good panties!
[Jim] What'd you do with them if you have them? Never mind.
-[intro music playing] -[audience cheering]
[Jerry] Look, oh, JR, look.
[announcer] Walking down the aisle, the WWE Women's Champion,
Trish Stratus.
[Jerry] She's got puppy power.
[Jim] And Trish has become an awesome WWE Women's Champion.
-[Jerry] Oh, look. -[Jim] And Trish is absolutely livid.
-[Jerry] Easy, Trish. -Back it off.
[Jim] And she's got to be--
Molly got everything to gain here and nothing to lose.
Certainly, Molly believes it. Her virgin-like wholesome ways
are what should be representing the women's division here.
The elbow and the lateral press,
certainly, it's in a no near-fall in that exchange.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] Hey, listen. JR, I hear my chant going.
They're trying to get it started.
[Jim] And what would that might be?
[Jerry] You know. You remember? She's a bad ass, JR?
-That's the hair. Hey. Stay off the hair. -[Jerry] Come on, JR
-[Jim] Here's another cover. -One, two… Hey.
-You know what, I won't… -[Jerry] She never considers liposuction.
[Jim] No, watch out.
I won't spend a lotta money to get back down to an average size.
-[Jerry] JR? -[Jim] For a lipo.
-[grunts] -[groans]
[Jim] I bet she's never worn a thong in her life.
[Jerry] I don't know. Somebody should look--
Look, there's Molly's thong right there. Look at the size of it.
[Jim] Arm bar takedown. And, Molly Holly, nice, some move here,
quite hyped, and it's the elbow of Trish Stratus.
[Jerry] All right. JR, I'll ask you something.
You call those nuts and crazy.
-No. -[Jerry] You'll give it up.
You're wearing a thong, which you don't have to.
Come on, what color thong?
[Jim] That is a repulsive thing to use visually.
[Jerry] So, was it like polka-dotted? Or like…
[Jim] They're going to make little kids run to their room right now.
-[Jerry] What, JR? -[Jim] JR in a thong.
-Have you worn a thong? -[Jerry] I thought it was kinda--
They've got those crazy stores and crazy shops out there…
-[Jim] Oh, here we go. -Two.
[Jerry] …who sell those toys and that sorta stuff.
[Jim] If it gets to state law, don't own a cell phone.
-[Jerry] What? -[Jim] To men.
-[Jerry] Oh, to men. -[Jim] Molly is stomping down Trish here.
You can get one of your ample lady friends go and buy one for you.
Watch the hair.
[Jim] There was this one girl I knew in the [inaudible] .
[Jerry] That's what I thought. Look at this.
-[Jim] Look at this athleticism. -[Jerry] Yes, Trish.
[Jim] Nice roll in by Trish. The victory roll and a near-fall,
Trish trying on Molly's shoulders in a hurry… A neckbreaker.
-Trish is going for the cover. -One, two…
[Jerry] Body on, body on Molly Holly.
[Jim] Oh, Molly, sternum first.
First the direct… and the roll-up for Trish using those very strong legs.
Her legs have got to be the strongest in any female in the WWE.
-[Jerry] Oh, wait a minute. -[Jim] A drop toehold in Trish's throat.
-[Jerry] Throat? What about the puppies? -[Jim] Well, that's your area.
-[groaning] -Two, three, four…
[Jim] Molly choking Trish, look at that. Hanging her up in that bottom rope.
-[groans] -[Jerry] Oh. Wow!
[Jim] Oh. Dropkicking Trish right outside now.
You know, you stay here and this is battle of the ladies.
This doesn't concern you.
[Jerry] What d'you mean doesn't concern me?
[Jim] Molly's already on your bad side.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh, Trish.
[Jim] Trish's beautiful face is bouncing off the apron of the ring.
[Jerry] Gonna pop those puppies again. At least Trish has been invited to--
-[referee] Get in the ring. -[Jerry] …to the divas undressed,
that great lingerie special debut beginning Tuesday night.
[Jim] Molly wasn't invited?
And Trish right there in the front row.
[Jerry] Molly is trying to tell me that who's trimming down.
[Jim] Molly is… Right now in…
[inaudible]
[Jim] …tremendous advantage here.
Molly has just made little of any mistakes in this round--
-[Jerry] Let's say it, she's a bad… -Get in here.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] She can't help it. She's posteriorly challenged.
[Jerry] What posteriorly challenged?
[audience cheering]
[Jim] A kick.
It was stratusfaction that kick to the head of Molly going off the apron.
[Jerry] Would you like to play a little naked twister with Molly there?
[Jim] No, I wouldn't. I'm a happily married man.
[groans]
And I don't ever wanna… her rear end and mine have probably got the same size.
-[Jerry] No, wait a minute. -[Jim] No, mine is a little big.
Hey, back it off.
-[Jim] Molly didn't mean to… -Trish, back it off.
[Jim] …be comfortable there, to say the least.
Off the rope. Come on, off there.
[Jerry] Look at Trish. Look at this.
[Jim] There's that leg strength taking Molly round on the top turnbuckle.
[Jerry] I love leg strength.
-[grunts] -No, get off.
[Jerry] Wow!
[Jim] Very loud chops by Trish, the Women's Champion.
[Jerry] Look at this. Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
[Jim] Molly missing the chop, but Trish doesn't miss with hers.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] I feel like Trish is gonna fire right here, JR.
[Jim] Trish taking down Molly, this is WWE women's title on the line here.
[woman] Come on, Molly.
[Jim] Trish looks great in her purple ring attire.
[Jerry] Trish looks great in anything. Look at this how she looked great.
-Watch this. -[Jim] Trish kicking.
Up there right to the tip.
And another shot done by Trish taking Molly down.
-[Jerry] The purple puppies are… -[Jim] Trish.
Trish was looking for the stratusfaction. Molly hits her belly to belly.
Molly has got the belly to belly, and then she… Oh, she got two.
But Trish fell on the back of her head.
Two! No, it's all right. [inaudible] two.
[Jim] Now is the time not to debate the referee, Jack Doan.
[Jerry] He said two, Molly.
[Jim] And Trish has got to a bad way here.
-Molly, if she can capitalize… -Off the hair.
we could have a new women's champion here.
-[audience cheering] -Get off. Get off the hair. Get off there.
[Jerry] You're right. Trish is in a bad way here.
You don't think Molly's going for that butt bomb again, do you?
-[Jim] You call it the Molly-Go-Round. -[Jerry] I call it the butt bomb.
-[Jim] And, oh, man. Molly. -[Jerry] See?
She may have broken her two-by-four, right around on her backside. Uh-oh.
And a nice roll up, Trish has got the roll up and Molly counters.
Molly has got the tights, Molly's got the tights.
-[Jerry] What? -[Jim] Hey, ref, oh, come one.
[announcer] The winner of this bout and new WWE Women's Champion,
Molly Holly.
[Jerry] It was survival of the fattest.
[rock music playing]
[Jim] Well, I'll tell you what, Molly had a hell of a time
getting her handful of material, but she did.
And that unfair advantage kept Trish's shoulders down for that three-count.
So, now it's the first time I guess we could say
that a women's champion is well virginal and proud of it.
[Jerry] Virginal?
[Jim] Molly is a… I can't believe this.
[Jerry] The WWE Women's Champion.
Well, take a look at the size of that [inaudible] , JR.
Wow. Oh, man.
-She might have broken a tailbone. -One, two.
[Jim] Molly did the counter and then watch this.
She got that material, right there you see it.
And that's how the cure, Molly Holly, wins the women's title.
She wins it by cheating. How about that?
Kurt Angle.
[audience cheering]
Tonight, you face Hollywood Hulk Hogan
and what some are calling the Battle of the Real American Heroes,
-and I was just wondering if… -Hold on a second, what did you just say?
Battle of the Real American Heroes?
What the heck did Hulk Hogan ever do to become a real American hero?
I'm the one that won Olympic gold medal.
I'm the one who trained and sacrificed for years to represent this country.
Hulk Hogan became a real American hero
because Vince McMahon told him he was gonna be a real American hero.
[audience cheering]
If Vince wanted Hogan to become a zoo keeper,
he would have became a zoo keeper. It's that simple.
And yet people cheer him…
and they tell me I suck.
[audience cheering]
I don't get it. I really don't.
But tonight, I'm going to do something about it.
You see, two years ago, King of the Ring, I won the damn thing.
And last year, I wrestled in three matches,
and I took Shane McMahon out in the Street Fight.
And tonight, I'm gonna make Hulk Hogan tap faster than "Mr. Bojangles" on speed.
Why? Because I can.
Because I'm legit. Because I'm the real deal.
[audience cheering]
And I don't need to place my hand to my ear like an idiot…
to know that I'm this company's only real American hero.
[audience cheering]
It's true. It's red, white and blue true.
[Jim] Michael Cole and Tazz in the skybox high above the Nationwide Arena.
Some interesting remarks of Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] I agree with everything Kurt Angle just said.
What more does Kurt Angle has to do with his life
to prove that he is the true American hero.
This guy won a gold medal for his country. He's a bona fide American hero.
And I think tonight, Hulk Hogan is going down to Kurt Angle
because Angle is younger, stronger, faster, and he's more technically sound.
[Michael] As Kurt Angle ever been in the position where he will be tonight
in that ring with thousands of a "Hulkamaniacs"
cheering for Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
And you know this all started,
all Hollywood Hulk Hogan wanted to do was simply retire.
[Hogan] All I ever wanted to do was bow out gracefully.
[commentator ] Ladies and gentlemen,
experience Hulkamania for the very last time.
[Hogan] And then along came Mr. Vince McMahon.
There's no chance in hell of you retiring.
[Hogan] I am gonna retire, but not now,
just as much as winning the WWE Undisputed Championship
meant to me.
There's one other thing that means just as much,
and that's a one-on-one confrontation against Vince McMahon with me
kicking his ass right in the middle of that ring.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Hey. Kurt Angle. He just ambushed Hogan.
[Hogan] Angle did attack me from behind.
Now, I'll show all my "Hulkamaniacs" what I might do to Angle
because I'm gonna rip that goofy wig right off his head.
[Jim] Look at Hogan. Hogan's got that wig off.
Angle is bald. Angle is bad. Hogan makes good on his promise.
The wig has been removed.
[Hogan] I'm challenging you, baldy, at King of the Ring, dude.
[Angle] At King of the Ring,
I'll embarrass you far more than you did to me.
I am not a joke. The real joke around here is you, Hogan.
I mean, you look like you're a hundred years old.
[Hogan] Kurt Angle, the biggest joke is gonna be that King of the Ring
when this 100-year-old man punches you out and kicks your Olympic ass.
[Michael] King of the Ring,
the battle of the real Americans, Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Hogan] What's you gonna do, brother, when Hulk Hogan
and all my "Hulkamaniacs" rip that ugly toupee off you?
[Michael] Kurt Angle.
[Angle] I am going to break your ankle, Hogan.
[Michael] King of the Ring. [echoing]
[audience cheering]
[rock music playing]
[audience cheering loudly]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Hollywood, California,
weighing 275 pounds,
Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Jim] Boy, will you listen to the ovation for Hollywood Hulk Hogan?
[Jim] This is the 10th King of the Ring, only the second for the icon Hogan.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The first King of the Ring in '93, Hogan lost the main WWE title
to the late Yokozuna in the match that was fully surrounded in controversy.
No title on the line here tonight, but a lot of red, white and blue pride.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] They're all on their feet now for the red and yellow, JR.
Hulkamania is still alive.
[audience cheering intensifies]
[Jim] Hogan certainly will have his crowd behind him.
Speaking of crowd, we look forward to tomorrow night, ladies and gentlemen,
where the King's favorite city outside of Memphis, Cleveland, Ohio.
Tomorrow night, RAW will be live in the Gund Arena.
[intro rock music continues playing]
[Jim] Hogan has a sold-out crowd in the palm of his giant hands…
But will he pass so well against the 1996 Olympic gold medal winner
and the winner of the 2000 King of the Ring?
["Medal" music playing]
[audience chanting]
[fireworks banging and whistling]
[announcer] From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
weighing 237 pounds, Kurt Angle.
[Jim] Angle has done it all in the WWE, except beat Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Jerry] Did that fan say, "Say no to rags?"
-[Jim] Rugs. -[Jerry] Oh, rugs.
What are they talking about?
[Jim] That hideous synthetic thing on the top of Angle's head.
[Jerry] Are they talking about that hair on Hogan's head?
[Jim] Hogan is bald as a cue ball with that little son of a--
-He's got more hair than Angle. -[Jerry] Okay. It's a bad hairpiece.
Let me remind you of some of those…
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] …some of those hairpieces that… Vince used to wear.
Do you remember those? Hideous.
Vince snaps that giveaway.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The sold-out crowd.
[Jerry] Unbelievable. There's so many people.
[Jim] They're "Hulkamaniacs" tonight, loud and proud…
believing they'd be enough to pull Hollywood Hulk Hogan through
against a younger man with a magnificent background.
And Hogan, locking up
and showing a strength advantage in the early going here.
[Jerry] Oh, kiss it.
[Jim] Hogan, like Flair earlier, knows every trick in the book
and certainly Angle is a very emotional competitor.
Angle has won every title that there is to win in the WWE.
[Jerry] And a gold medal.
[Jim] That goes about the same.
First gold medalist in the history of this company.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] And Hogan with a good arm on the mark on his elbow.
Hogan's got to keep this game plan… straight ahead, deliberate.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Gonna be looked at all the fans around the world.
We're live in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Bermuda to Bahamas,
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Brunei.
Of course, it's all in the Brunei a big Jerry "The King" Lawler fan.
-[Jerry] Oh, yeah. Of course. -[Jim] We're live in Africa
-and South Africa by the way. -[Jerry] And Egypt.
-We're live in Egypt, JR. -[Jim] I was wondering about that.
[Jerry] You know there are "Hulkamaniacs" in every single one of those countries
-you just mentioned. -[Jim] No doubt about it.
No doubt about it. I'm sure, King, I know you wanna say hello
to everybody in Tanzania where your fans got started.
[Jerry] Tanzania? I got a huge fans all over there.
[Jim] Hogan overpowering Angle, overhand wristlock.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] But, JR, there's something tonight,
King of the Ring is being seen in over 150 different countries.
I dunno how many countries are out there, but let me tell you that
this is being seen in 150 countries.
-Come on, Kurt, gain your composure. -[Jim] There was a lotta territory.
And so far, Hogan seems to be inside of Angle's head.
-Come on. -[man] Take it off.
[Jim] Regarding that amateur headgear,
he's holding that hideous-looking rug in place.
Angle lost his hair…
to Edge.
[Jerry] That was a miscarriage of justice.
If anybody ever need their head shaved, it's Edge.
[Jim] Angle going downstairs.
That's a right hand, a couple of hit on Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Jerry] So you gotta ask Jericho. Oh, look at that.
[Jim] We're forcing Edge back in action soon
and Angle would knock him.
Almost beheaded. Hollywood Hulk Hogan that clothesline.
[audience cheering]
Angle seems to be a bit distracted by the crowd here tonight
and maybe a little bit overwhelmed that he's actually in the official match.
[Jerry] Who wouldn't be, JR? Come on, all of these "Hulkamaniacs" here.
[Jim] Then sidestepped Angle and used angle's own momentum to go over the top.
-[audience cheering] -[Jerry] Listen to this crowd.
Come on, Hogan, get him back to the ring.
[Jim] Hogan in great shape you've ever seen.
And the veteran on the outside here with Kurt Angle and…
-[audience chanting] -[Jerry] Listen. This will bother Angle.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] He's a very high-strung, emotional man, this Angle.
Hogan rolls back into the ring and breaks the referee's ten count.
[Jerry] JR, come on. I'd like to see how you'd react
if you went out and sacrifice years out of your life, everything,
devoted your entire life to doing something,
and then finally doing something for your country,
and then finally winning the gold medal,
and then everybody in the country turn their back on you, how'd you feel?
[Jim] I started joining the Army Reserve one time.
[Jerry] What does that have to do with any of this?
[Jim] It's serving my country. Look at Hogan sending Angle's face,
just introducing him to that top turnbuckle.
Nine.
[Jim] If you're keeping a score at home, that's nine.
[Jerry] I know one thing, Hogan's good enough without that headgear,
-I mean, that protective headgear. -[Jim] Protective headgear.
[Jerry] And people can get tough in our ears.
[Jim] Uh-oh, Hogan is indicating that he's got that thought on his mind.
[Jerry] Wait, watch his ears.
[Jim] And Kurt Angle doesn't want… Right, that knee kick caught Hogan.
[Jerry] How d'you see everything, JR? That's not no kneel kick.
I'm looking right at it. I'm right here. This is me here, King, right beside you.
You can see that on our monitor but…
[Jerry] You're here and you're in better company than I am.
[Jim] Okay. Let's see if we see it here. Okay.
-[Jerry] I saw it there. -[Jim] Saw it? That's in there.
Now that Angle low blow, now he's starting kicking,
choking away at Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
That's it. Come on.
[Jim] He pulls himself back up, not gonna stay down long.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] That's a little chop, teeing off of him.
-[Jim] There he goes. -[Jerry] I could see one Angle fan there.
I see somebody waving, glory, there light and blue.
[Jim] It could be for Hogan…
because he's not as American as apple pie.
And Angle just exploring those right hands.
[Jerry] But like Kurt said, what did Hogan ever do to become a great American hero?
-Did he win a gold medal? -[Jim] No.
He's entertained fans around the world for many years--
[Jerry] Talk about apple pie all you want to,
but apple pie don't taste good if the apples were rotten.
[Jim] Angle with a suplex and then maybe an untimely celebration here, let's see.
[Jerry] I'll give it to you that Hogan is a great American entertainer,
but not a hero.
Uh-oh, here we go.
[Jim] There's a suplex. Here we go. And Hogan kicking out.
-I'll tell you what, King. -[Jerry] What?
[Jim] You're talking about all these countries watching us tonight,
we thank them for it,
but there's "Hulkamaniacs" all over the world, around the world.
This man is respected by fans, young and old alike.
[Jerry] I can understand that a lotta those countries that we mentioned
probably don't have fun feelings for Angle because he beat the best representatives
that those countries had to offer in the Olympics.
He fought for the United States.
He fought for the red, white, blue and beat all of those other countries, JR.
[Jim] Hogan counters a suplex here. That was in the '96 Olympic Games.
Hogan now, he's not an amateur specialist, there's no doubt about that.
Coming back with a right hand. Scoop slam by Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Jerry] D'you remember what country that guy was from
that Kurt beat for the gold medal?
-[Jim] He was an Iraqi. -[Jerry] Right.
I'm sure there are no Kurt Angle fan clubs in Iraq.
[Jim] Angle with a sleeper around Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[Jerry] A lotta "Hulkamaniacs" in Iraq.
[Jim] Hogan trying to turn into it to lose that pressure,
but look at Angle from that…
arm bar across the, near the throat,
cripple the neck of Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] Hogan maybe fading away here.
Now, Angle with a reverse chinlock,
still applying the pressure on a grounded Hogan.
[Jerry] Pretty perceptive, JR, as that's what happens to all "Hulkamaniacs",
they just finally fade away.
[Jim] I don't think Hogan's quite ready to fade away yet.
I think Kurt Angle may have something to say about that, but…
you've seen Hogan is in tough, tough spots in his career.
And Hogan's never been in the ring with a more accomplished,
accomplished grappler than Kurt Angle.
[Jerry] All "Hulkamaniacs" are sorta like old fishermen, they just fade away.
[Jim] Wait, old fishermen don't fade away, they just can't raise their Poles.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Referee, Mike Chioda, checking with him.
-[Jerry] Get it? -[Jim] I got it.
-[Jerry] Look at the smile on there, JR. -[Jim] Oh, Hogan.
-The hand not going down on a three-count. -[Jerry] Look out.
[Jim] And the Hulkamaniac is giving Hogan an emotional lift.
And Hogan counters into a sleeper of his own.
[Jerry] Hang on. Reverse it. Do some… There you go.
[Jim] And Hogan suplex hard and heavy that time.
Angle that counter right into what he does best,
-that suplex thing. -[Jerry] Yep.
He dumped big Hulk right on his bald head just like he did with that Iraqi.
[Jim] Angle's got the bald head, Hogan's got some hair.
[referee] Three!
-[Jerry] Let them up. -[Jim] Hogan has got a nice-sized cranium.
-[audience cheering] -Four!
He's hurt in that lower back. Kurt Angle having to use the ropes
to pick himself up so he's a little worse for wear as well.
[Jerry] Watch it, Kurt, put the wheel there.
[Jim] Hogan going back to what he knows best,
a straight American right hand.
-[Jerry] Look at this, Kurt. Look at this. -[Jim] Angle Slam.
-[Jerry] This is outta pure instinct, JR. -[Jim] The Angle Slam, this will be it.
-The Angle Slam. And Hogan kicked-out. -[Jerry] What?
-[Jim] Hogan kicked-out on the Angle Slam. -[Jerry] Get your composure, Kurt.
[Jim] And Kurt Angle can't believe it. He may breakdown and cry.
[Jerry] He won't. He's not gonna cry. He got the straps. He's about to go--
[Jim] Wait a minute. Kurt's gonna go, I think you'll go, Kurt.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Jim] Oh, no.
-[audience cheering] -[Jim] Hogan is hulking up.
[Jerry] I hate this. I hate it when he hulks up.
-[Jim] A huge adrenaline released. -[Jerry] No, no.
[Jim] And Hollywood Hulk Hogan now, dominating Kurt Angle with a right hand.
-The big boot, the big boot. -[Jerry] No, not this.
-[Jim] You know what's left? -[Jerry] Hold on. Wait.
[audience cheering]
-[Jerry] No, no, give him the leg drop. -[Jim] Hogan didn't go for the leg drop.
-[Jerry] Don't embarrass him, no. -[Jim] Oh, yes. Oh, my God.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] In person, it's even worst than watching on Smack Down.
-Look at that ugly bald head of Kurt. -[Jerry] He goes right back on his head.
Come on. Come on, Kurt, this should fire you up if anything does.
Oh, he missed him.
[Jim] Angle getting a lotta attention, it got a little hot in there.
Stupid ass, you. You'll give me my wig now.
[Jim] Completely disheveled now. Angle may be taking a walk.
-Screw you. -[Jim] His ears can be cauliflower.
Or already cauliflower. Angle has left right out of here.
-[Jerry] Kurt, where are you going? -[Jim] You're kidding me.
-Kurt's got a case of a limber tail? -[Jerry] No, wait a minute.
-Don't let him do that, Kurt. -[Jim] Wait a minute, Angle.
-[Jerry] That way, he stripes you. -[Jim] Angle has grabbed a steel chair.
-Angle with a steel chair. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Jim] And hit it right back to his own face.
Another big boot by Hogan.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] No, this can't happen.
[Jim] And Hogan, he can't connect the leg drop.
Angle's got the ankle lock on Hogan. Will Hogan tap? Has he ever tapped?
-[Jerry] He's got it. -[Jim] Can Hogan ever get the ropes?
-Angle has got the ankle lock. -[Jerry] The Olympic Angle lock.
[Jim] Angle's gone aggressive. Hogan is trying to get to the ropes.
[Jerry] Pressure, pressure.
[Jim] And Angle pulling Hogan back to the center of the ring.
How much more can even Hogan withstand?
[Jerry] He's gonna break your leg, Hulk. He'll break it.
[Jim] Angle's got that leg up and turning.
Hogan is writhing in pain, a pain that he's riveting
-through Hogan's massive brain. -[Jerry] Listen to this crowd, JR.
[Jim] Hogan… Oh, he rolled away with Angle holding on like a bulldog.
[Jerry] Man.
[Jim] Hogan is trying to turn to free himself with all he's got,
-Angle won't relinquish the pressure. -[Jerry] Look at this!
[Jim] He pulls Hogan to the center of the ring
for the second time.
I've gone to the ropes. I got to the ropes.
[Jim] Hogan's gotta get to the bottom ropes.
-[Jerry] No, Hogan has gotta tap out, JR. -[Jim] How long can Hogan bear this pain?
And Hollywood Hulk Hogan is tapping. Hogan tapped, Hogan tapped. Angle wins.
-Hogan tapped. -[announcer] Here's your winner,
Kurt Angle.
[Jerry] Finally, American justice had prevailed.
[triumphant music playing]
[Jim] Hogan withstood the ankle lock as long as any human physically could.
[Jerry] His ankle may be broken.
Regain your dignity.
[Jim] Angle trying to cover up that hideous-looking bald head.
[Jim] Kurt Angle has defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
Hogan, for the first time at least in my memory, tapping out.
[Jerry] Now, once again, Kurt Angle picture-perfect. Look how good he looks.
Whoo!
[Jerry] This is what brought this on, Hogan.
He's mocking Kurt Angle and then this chair shot.
Oh. I thought that was the end of Kurt, the big boot,
but somehow Angle was able to lock in that ankle lock.
[Jim] Hogan, look, Kurt delivered a leg drop,
and there you see Hollywood Hulk Hogan tapping out in the center of the ring.
Kurt Angle, perhaps the most notable victory,
non-title victory in his life, has beaten Hogan.
Finally, The Rock has come back to King of the Ring.
-Oh, you're The Rock now, huh? -It doesn't matter, Booker.
Let The Rock say this, he knows that you and him aren't friends,
but that's okay, because you have a friend.
He is…
Goldust.
The Rock knows that Booker T likes Goldust very much.
The Rock also knows that Goldust likes Booker T very much.
-Well, then--. -[clearing throat]
[audience cheering]
First of all, it goes like this…
"Finally, The Rock has come back to Columbus."
[audience cheering]
Trying to talk like The Rock, walk like The Rock, sound like The Rock?
-Yeah. -Well, make no mistake about it.
There ain't no way, no way you could ever be the jabroni beating,
pie eating, trail-blazing, eyebrow raising, all around,
smack it down People's Champ, The Rock.
[audience cheering]
Hey, man, you ain't gotta worry about him,
what you need to concern yourself with is,
jumping into the grill of the check cashing, sucker trashing,
never loony, spinaroonie, slamming jamming,
five-time WCW champion, Booker T, you dig?
Well, what about me? The gold wearing…
sometimes, oh, so daring, but I'm not very good at this.
Look, man, we have never seen eye-to-eye on nothing, and probably never will.
But last week on RAW, man, you got down for your crown, dawg.
I'm down with that.
-You're down with that, huh? -Yeah.
The Rock appreciates you're down with that because I meant it.
Anyone who don't wanna be with this company, they can get the F out.
-I agree. [inhales deeply] -[audience cheering]
-I, too, am so down with that. -You, too, so down with it.
Man, what's wrong with you? Stop doing that.
-Take my shirt off. -All right.
-Oh, leave it on. You paid for that? -Yeah.
Good.
Look, the fact of the matter is this,
we have never seen eye-to-eye, fine, no problem. We never will.
We ain't never gonna see eye-to-eye, but the fact of the matter is this,
The Rock is here for one reason,
and that's to watch the WWE Undisputed Championship match.
That's it.
Undisputed Championship match,
a championship that is much bigger than the People's Elbow.
-Yes. -A championship that is much bigger
than the spinaroonie, much bigger than the spinaroonie.
And a championship that is much bigger than the… than…
What do you do? Can say what?
What d'you do when you gotta finish your move?
Oh, I've more ammunition in my cannon than you'll ever realize.
What's the matter with you? Stop that. Stop rubbing yourself.
-I'm not. -You are. Stop that.
Nobody wants to hear about your cannon, ammunition,
and nobody's cannon, and especially yours.
You sick freak.
[audience laughing]
Stop it.
[audience applauding]
Even though we don't see eye-to-eye,
we see eye-to-eye on something when the time is right.
You guys need to do your thing and layeth the smacketh down
on the nWo's candy punk asses.
If you smell…
[audience cheering]
[indistinct shouting]
Stop that, stop it, stop, stop that, stop trying to talk like The Rock,
walk like The Rock, stop wearing The Rock's T-shirt,
put a little eyebrow on, paint your hair,
stop touching yourself, stop all of that, stop it.
This is the way it goes, "If you smell
what The Rock is cooking."
[audience cheering]
Now, can you dig that? Suck.
Sucker.
-[audience cheering] -[groans]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Jim] And we're ready now, ladies and gentlemen,
to crown the 2002 King of the Ring.
Our final matchup is here now.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
will determine the 2002 King of the Ring.
Introducing first, accompanied by Paul Heyman,
the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
[Jim] Brock Lesnar defeated Test earlier tonight
to advance in the finals here.
He'll be taking on RVD momentarily. And so much, King, riding on this man.
["One of a Kind" playing]
[fireworks crackling]
[Jerry] Wow.
[announcer] Coming down the aisle, Rob Van Dam.
[Jim] Van Dam who defeated Chris Jericho earlier tonight
to advance here to the finals
was also assaulted by Jericho after the match.
You gotta wonder if that'll have any adverse effect on RVD.
He seems to be moving very well, getting into the ring.
Paul Heyman from his ECW days knows Van Dam like the back of his hand.
[Jerry] I think the only adverse effect on RVD is gonna be Brock Lesnar.
-♪ Hey, hey ♪ -♪ One of a kind ♪
♪ Hey, hey… ♪
[Jim] Lesnar is a 6'3", 295-pound machine,
but RVD is so unorthodox.
[Paul] This is the one, right?
[Jim] RVD has got a wealth of experience advantage on Lesnar--
-One victory away, Brock. -[Jim] And certainly…
-And he's the… -…it's hard to prepare for RVD to cross.
There's just very few people that possesses uniqueness,
especially offensively.
[Jerry] I'll give you, JR, but tell me, how do you prepare for Brock Lesnar?
[Jim] Well, that's a great question.
Lesnar has everything, size and strength, and power,
and a great amateur ability,
and RVD has gotta strike quickly and suddenly here.
Van Dam has got to quicken the pace and try to confuse Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar is a rookie here in the WWE.
-[Jerry] yeah. That's where the… -[Jim] The shot.
-[Jerry] What do you call it? -[Jim] Watch with those big quads.
[Jerry] That's where happy Heyman will come into play out there at ringside.
He'll nullify the fact that Brock Lesnar is a rookie with his advice.
[Jim] Van Dam using those kicks and charley horse that… What a shot!
The fineness of Brock Lesnar.
And Lesnar feeling that leg, and Van Dam, great strategy,
going upstairs and downstairs, trying to confuse Lesnar.
The bottom line, trying to get Lesnar off Lesnar's feet.
Oh, look at this. Lesnar overpowering Van Dam and down.
What a counter! And Van Dam with a look of frustration and anguish.
I don't wanna say fear as I don't think Van Dam's afraid of anything alive,
but Van Dam was countered as he has never been countered before.
[Jerry] He should be very afraid of that living thing he's in the ring with.
What Heyman said earlier, "Godzilla's fake, but Brock Lesnar isn't."
The hair, Brock, come on. Let's go.
[Jim] Again, the winner of this match becomes the prestigious King of the Ring,
but he also earns the right to fight in the main event at Summer Slam
against the Undisputed champion.
Look at Lesnar using overwhelming strength
to take Van Dam from one corner to the other
with a great deal of force and velocity.
[Jerry] Who's that champion gonna be, JR?
We're gonna find out that tonight, aren't we?
[Jim] We'll surely find out who'll walk outta the King of the Ring
with the WWE Undisputed title tonight. Man. That's unreal.
The strength of Lesnar turning that move into a powerslam.
There's a hook to the leg.
Charles Robinson down, got a great look and got a two-count out of.
[Paul] …title shot at the Summer Slam.
[Jim] I mean, look at Lesnar, if we exclude his lack of experience,
this guy has no weaknesses.
Hands down.
He's got a glass jaw. He's got plenty of stamina.
He's got ungodly strength, a great amateur ability.
-[Jerry] I can disagree with that. -[Jim] Look at this.
[Jerry] I can't disagree with that. This guy's superhero.
[Jim] Lesnar is holding on to the Van Dam, but he's gotta be, 235, had shown--
[Jerry] Strength and quickness, JR, look at that.
[Jim] Great rotation by Lesnar, getting a lotta torque
turning Van Dam in midair and then dropping him with that powerslam.
Title shot.
[Jim] And Heyman will be a hard name to live with
if Brock Lesnar is fortunate enough to win this matchup
and become the King of the Ring
and earn that main event opportunity at Summer Slam
against the Undisputed champion.
As you can tell, Heyman is not one of my most favorite people.
-Squeeze, Brock, squeeze. -[Jim] Just look at that man.
[Jerry] Say it. Don't sugarcoat it. Tell everybody how you feel about him.
[Jim] That's reasoning out straight ahead. One thing about Heyman,
he's good to latch on to the Next Big Thing.
He's been associated with some of the biggest stars
in sports entertainment.
[Jerry] You're saying he's a coat-tail rider?
[Jim] He has the curse sometimes. You gotta give the devil his due.
And Lesnar now goes hard with his hands locked.
Look at Van Dam trying to fight with everything he's got.
And it was towards him, not what he's budging,
again forcing Van Dam into the corner.
[Jerry] You know what, I wonder, JR.
You guys ask yourself, do you think that possibly Brock Lesnar is truly better
with that man, Paul Heyman, in his corner? If not, why would Brock keep him?
-D'you think it rather… -[Jim] Lesnar's no dummy.
-[Jerry] And Heyman doesn't come cheap. -[Jim] I'm sure he does, right.
-None of the agents come cheap. -[Jerry] Well, so… Oh, bam.
[Jim] And Lesnar, he just buried his left shoulder to that ring post,
and the ring post didn't set a thing.
[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Jim] Look at Lesnar, he's brought that kick and now…
And Van Dam going back to the thighs.
Again, those shots to the thighs trying to…
-Listen to this. -[Jerry] Bam. Oh, God.
[Jim] Lesnar's barely standing. He's taken every shot RVD can ditch out.
And Van Dam, cat-like, up on the top.
-One shot, and down goes Lesnar. -[Jerry] That got him.
[Jim] Down goes Lesnar from that shot by RVD.
Van Dam, picking the pace, rolling thunder,
right on the chest cavity. It could be over here.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Jim] Look at the strength of Lesnar powering out of that lateral press.
[Jerry] He threw RVD halfway across the ring.
[Paul] Give him the title shot.
[Jim] Van Dam has got to do what he can to keep Lesnar grounded.
-A lot easier said than done. -[Jerry] Right.
[Jim] Look at… Oh, wait a minute, Van Dam on the top rope.
-It's a five-star here. And he goes… -[Jerry] He got him.
[Jim] Van Dam with a Five-Star Frog Splash.
[Jerry] Look at Heyman.
[Jim] Heyman behind the referee's back. But, oh, wait a minute.
Van Dam fell on Lesnar and Heyman feigning a heart attack.
[Jerry] Let's bring it. Right almost back… Oh, no. Oh, no.
[Jim] Heyman knocked down. His head goes one way,
his hip goes another.
-And without… -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Jim] Wow. Lesnar just… He just caught Van Dam in midair. The F5.
Lesnar caught Van Dam in midair and it's over.
-[bell ringing] -Lesnar is the King of the Ring.
-Brock Lesnar has done it. -[announcer] The winner of this bout
and the 2002 King of the Ring,
the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar.
[Jim] I'll tell you what, King,
my God, Brock Lesnar looks to be the Next Big Thing.
And this rookie now has earned the main event shot
at the Undisputed title at Summer Slam.
[Jerry] That's exactly what Paul Heyman has been preaching to us.
-Has he made a believer outta you now, JR? -[Jim] I've always believed in this guy,
but I'll tell you, watch this, this is unbelievable.
Van Dam got distracted by Heyman to ball up from a five-star,
and then the F5 by Lesnar, catching RVD in midair.
And now, look at this, man, what an animal.
What an animal. And Lesnar is the 2002 King of the Ring.
-We go to Summer Slam. -[Jim] Main event at Summer Slam.
I dunno who the Undisputed champion is gonna be, King.
[Jerry] What d'you think Brock Lesnar is telling him now?
What do you think Heyman is saying to Lesnar?
[Jim] Brock Lesnar just maybe about to become the man around here.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Triple H headed our way.
[audience cheering]
It's good to see you.
-Group hug. -[laughing]
-How you doing, man? -It's all good.
-Good? -Good luck to you, man. Good luck.
-Thanks. -You should bring that strap home.
-Yeah. Hey, kiddo. -What's up, man?
-How are you doing? -Good.
Good luck. It's over.
-What's going on? -Good luck.
Thanks.
If you need us out there tonight, you throw it up, we'll be there, buddy.
Get that strap.
What was the deal with that?
Hey, we know Triple H and the nWo go way back, mainly with Shawn Michaels.
But, folks, coming up next,
Triple H has a lot more on his mind than renewing old friendships.
It's the undisputed title on the line, Triple H and The Undertaker.
[Tazz] This next match could determine who Brock Lesnar faces at Summer Slam.
You know, Cole, we know Big Evil's all about respect.
And tonight, if The Deadman can defeat The Game,
people have no choice, but to respect The Undertaker.
Come on, The Undertaker hasn't respected Triple H, ambushes, sneak attacks,
but Triple H has yet to surrender. He has yet to retreat.
And this Undisputed title for The Game is a religion.
It is Triple H's life. It is what Triple H lives and dies for.
And this rivalry between these two started two months ago in earnest.
[heavy rock music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
-[Jerry] Oh, look at… Oh… -[Jim] A chokeslam.
[Jim] The chokeslam to the back of the head.
The chokeslam by The Undertaker. And The Undertaker beats Hogan.
[The Undertaker] Deadman walking.
Let me tell you who I am. I'm the new WWE Undisputed champion.
[Jerry] Red Devil, Big Evil.
[The Undertaker] You will respect The Undertaker.
And I don't care if you're a legend or some punk.
If you cross my path, you will pay the consequences.
[Jim] What a sick, sick human being!
[The Undertaker] You will respect The Undertaker.
[Jim] This is disgusting.
[The Undertaker] And knowing the person that poses a challenge to me.
[Jim] Oh, wait a minute. Triple H, The Game,
The Game hammering away on The Undertaker.
It was The Undertaker who cost Triple H the Undisputed title at backlash
and The Game hasn't forgotten.
[Triple H] You give me the chance. You won't be leaving with this.
[Vince] Who should face The Undertaker on the King of the Ring?
The winner of tonight's one-on-one encounter
between Triple H and Hulk Hogan.
-[Jim] Bam, the Pedigree. -[Jerry] It's over for sure.
Triple H beats The Undertaker at King of the Ring.
[The Undertaker] What Triple H has to realize,
there's blood in the water now, and I am the great white shark.
[Jim] The Undertaker sending a message to The Game here.
[The Undertaker] You will respect The Undertaker.
[Jim] The Undertaker has left Triple H a twisted wreck.
[Michael] The King of the Ring on pay-per-view,
Big Evil, Red Devil, The Undertaker,
defends the Undisputed title against Triple H.
[Triple H] Deadman, get your ass down here.
[Jim] Triple H has gone berserk.
[Jim] Vince.
[Triple H] You bring his ass to this ring or you ain't having a show.
[Jim] Triple H has exploded. The Game has been pushed way too far.
[Triple H] See you in hell, Deadman.
[tense music playing]
[The Undertaker] The only shot you got at King of the Ring
is me walking in that ring
and kicking your face right off of your head.
[Triple H] I am going to get back what is mine, my religion, my law.
[The Undertaker] Triple H, he better bring his A-game to King of the Ring
because this right here says that I'm the best and I also hurt people.
[tense music playing]
[Triple H] I am going to become the Undisputed champion.
[Jim] You just got a match, physically intense,
this confrontation for the richest prize in our business will be.
[The Undertaker] You will respect The Undertaker.
[music fades off]
It'll be unbelievably physical and intense.
So, ladies and gentlemen, momentarily, we've been joined
by the agent of the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman.
D'you realize that right now
both Triple H and The Undertaker have the opportunity of a lifetime,
because one of these men go on to Summer Slam
to lose the Undisputed title to the Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar?
I dunno that they're thinking about Brock Lesnar right now.
They're smart, they're not and they are. Are you staying out here for this match?
[Paul] Why? Don't you want me out here?
[Jerry] I can answer that for you.
-[motorcycle engine revving] -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
It's for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Introducing first from Houston, Texas, weighing 305 pounds,
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
The Undertaker.
[Jim] Six feet ten inches tall,
305 pounds is The Undertaker.
["Dead Man" music playing]
[Jim] This should be an awesome matchup.
[Jerry] Let me just say this to Paul Heyman.
Certainly, congratulations are in order for Brock Lesnar.
-[Paul] Yes, they are. -[Jerry] Very impressive.
But we just saw The Undertaker and we just saw Triple H.
These two men have done everything in their power to destroy each other,
they'll continue it here in a few minutes, either one of those guys look like losers.
I don't think either one of them are even thinking about the fact
that they can lose to Brock Lesnar.
[Paul] I didn't say that either one of them are loser.
They're both great champions. They're both great winners.
-[Jerry] You said one of them will lose. -[Paul] That doesn't make you a loser.
It just makes you a victim of the Next Big Thing.
-["The Game" playing] -[audience cheering]
♪ Time to play the game ♪
[announcer] Introducing the challenger from Greenwich, Connecticut,
weighing 272 pounds, Triple H.
[Jim] Can The Game scale this mountain? He's done it all in the past.
The only man in WWE. He used to be the WWE Champion,
and the Intercontinental Champion, a Tag Champion, a European Champion,
a King of the Ring winner, that was in 1997,
and the winner of the Royal Rumble.
He's overcome a career-threatening injury.
He'll arrive here now and The Game knows he's gonna leave a bit of his heart,
a little bit of his soul behind in this matchup
with the Red Devil, Big Evil, The Undertaker.
♪ I am the game You don't want to play ♪
[audience cheering]
[Jerry Inaudible] , Paul Heyman.
Does Brock Lesnar… Or maybe I should say, do you have a preference
between these two men as to who Brock Lesnar faces?
[Paul] No, sir, no preference at all. Either Brock Lesnar can end
the great 12-year-legacy of the Deadman, The Undertaker,
or Brock Lesnar can beat Triple H as The Game.
Either way, the Next Big Thing and the next Undisputed champion
is Brock Lesnar at Summer Slam.
[Jerry] You're that convinced. You're that sure of yourself?
[Paul] Yes, sir, 'cause Lesnar has earned my confidence as well as yours.
[Jim] There's an over 150 countries watching this,
and one man here that we know of, for sure, and that is The Rock.
The Rock is here. He's back in the locker room there.
We saw that earlier. He's here for one express reason.
And that is to watch this WWE Undisputed Championship matchup,
and it should be outstanding.
It's all about this championship.
[audience cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Jim] Senior referee, Earl Hebner, signed this all important contest.
One fall to a finish here
with The Undertaker's Undisputed Championship on the line.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] They'll have a war of the words first.
[Jim] A lotta mind games being played, but either guys will go for it.
Triple H riding that cheap shot
and The Game beating The Undertaker to the punch.
Right hands by The Game, right hands by The Undertaker.
And the challenger getting the better of that exchange.
And The Undertaker comes back, the knee, the headbutt.
Oh, the first knockdown in this contest created by Triple H.
Triple H has battled through a lotta injuries.
-[grunts] -[Jim] He's here tonight,
ready to fight for the fight of his life,
the most important thing in The Game's life,
the most important thing in The Undertaker's life,
and that's the Undisputed title.
And look for the overwhelming power of the champion.
-Hey, hey, boys. -Cheat, cheat.
[Jerry] And The Undertaker, like I said, both of these guys, we've seen it.
Over the past months, they have literally tried to destroy each other.
-Don't put your hand. -[Paul] Who wouldn't?
I mean, the Undisputed Championship is on the line,
the most important prize in this sport.
[Jim] Triple H with a straight-ahead choke on The Undertaker,
and certainly, The Game knows how to break the rules and utilizing rules
and so as The Undertaker.
[Jerry] Is that why, Heyman, you're so eager
for Brock Lesnar to win that championship?
[Paul] You know how much money and status goes along with that championship--
-[Jerry] There it is, JR. -[Jim] Money.
Check this, I knew he's gonna get around with that.
[Paul] The root of all percentages for agents, money.
[Jim] Great right hand by The Game, but from the outside,
The Game cannot win this championship by disqualification or count out.
He's gotta be very careful of that situation.
He can only win the title by pinfall or submission here.
-[audience cheering] -[groans]
[Jim] The Undertaker taking the legs first with his knees right into the steel steps.
[Jerry] That's a bad thing to have happened to him this early in the match.
Let's go, The Game. Whoa!
[Jim] Triple H catching the right hands, glancing blows, going right to the head,
Couple of right hands of his own.
The Undertaker trying to cover up here on the outside,
but it's Triple H with a clear cut advantage here
with those shots right to the head of The Undertaker.
[audience cheering]
The Undertaker being beating down here
and referee, Earl, showing some leeway, not wanting to count out either man.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The Game back in the ring.
The Undertaker, the veteran, the shot to the back of the head.
[man] Awesome.
[Jim] Three title changes have occurred in the King of the Ring events,
'93, '98 and 2000.
Straight right hand again by The Undertaker, measuring The Game.
A lotta pride and machismo on the line. It is athlete to athlete, man to man.
Hey, hey, hey.
[Jerry] And make no doubt about it, this is about the Undisputed Championship.
[Paul] JR, tell me one thing, why. Why is Triple H's elbow all taped up?
[Jim] He's had a lotta problems with that elbow.
He's not making any excuses for it, but we know it was dinged coming in here.
Triple H has not talked about it. He has downplayed it.
[Paul] And who dinged that elbow, JR?
[Jim] Why don't you answer your question?
[Paul] I will. The reigning champion, the Undisputed champion,
The Undertaker trying to fend off the number one contender, why?
Because that's what the title means.
[Jim] Triple H now, mounting the champion.
Now, come on, try to get off. One…
[Jim] You got to wonder how much force The Game is gonna have
as this match goes on in that right arm,
but be that as it may, The Undertaker trying to walk out.
Man, the snake eyes on The Game,
whose face bounces right off that top turnbuckle.
[Jerry] But look at how Triple H holds on. Look at how Triple H keeps conscious.
Wham.
[Jim] There's a knockdown by The Undertaker.
Now, looking for the three-count. And referee, Earl, got a two outta it.
And now The Undertaker… That's a painful exchange,
painful situation there, that formed right across the bridge in the nose.
[Jerry] He's grinding into the face of Triple H.
[Paul] There's no depths The Undertaker will not sink to,
to defend the title, and that's what a champion is supposed to do.
Tell me, King. Wouldn't you sell six of your nine ex-wives
just for a shot at the championship?
[Jerry] I've had a lotta ex-wives, but actually only three of my own, but…
Yeah, sure. Anybody in the WWE, that's what it's all about.
You're not here unless you're thinking about the Undisputed Championship.
[Jim] Shot to the kidneys on lower back by The Undertaker.
[Paul] If your goal's not to be number one,
if your goal is not to be the Undisputed champion,
then you're simply wasting your time.
[Jim] The Undertaker again with the cover and again that right forearm
grinding into the face of the challenger for the Undisputed Championship.
[audience cheering]
[groans]
[Jim] And another right hand by The Game. This has been a slugfest.
You gotta wonder who's gonna blink first. And sidewalk slam by The Undertaker.
The Undertaker driving the elbow.
And now going for another cover.
And Hebner got a two-count outta it.
The Game able to kick-out, there's extremely a lot of injuries,
or a lot of energy, I should say, on these near falls.
[Paul] Hey, JR, how come The Rock hasn't come out here yet?
[Jim] I dunno know if he's coming out. He's not scheduled to be.
He's watching the match.
[Paul] Weren't you at RAW on Monday? You're the host, aren't you?
-[Jim] What d'you want? [Paul] And wasn't The Rock
-in The People's Ring? -[Jim] Stop being a wise ass, Paul.
-What's your point? -[Paul] I have to be a wise ass.
It's in my nature. Wasn't The Rock in The People's Ring?
Didn't The Rock say,
[imitates The Rock] "The Rock, King of the Ring?"
Didn't he say that? You were there, Mr. Lawler.
[Jim] He said he was gonna be here. He is here.
[Jerry] I agree with Paul, why don't he come out here?
[Jim] He never say he'll come out here. I don't know.
-[Paul] Don't you have any sources? -[Jerry] You mean, he's watching the match
-in the back on TV? -Get in the ring.
I'm telling you, get in here.
[Paul] I have something to tell you guys about The Rock.
All right, just a little bit later. Believe me, they're not gonna believe it.
I'm not doing anything.
[Paul] Not alone in the ring or anything. You won't believe it.
-[Jim] Not you. -[Jerry] That is the truth.
[Jim] I'm measuring this game.
The Game has had exposed two shots, one on the elbow, one on the foot.
As if both these guys wanna incapacitated the other, knock the other out.
This isn't one of those catch-as-catch-can things.
This is what two guys gonna find out who can take the most punishment.
-[Jerry] Watch this. -[audience shouting]
[Jim] He's gonna pull off the attempt.
[Jerry] This could take Triple H's head off right here.
[Jim] That's it, great elevation dropping at 305 pounds right across The Game.
And The Game now, he is, he is in deep trouble.
And this could be it here. Again, The Undertaker…
The Game didn't really kick-out.
He pulled that right shoulder off the canvass.
[Paul] And notice how Triple H kept his arm up in the air.
Made sure Hebner realized that he had kicked-out.
The hunger, the passion that Triple H has to become the Undisputed champion.
[Jim] Irish whip in and The Game has gotta get back on this thing offensively.
[Jerry] So, what you're telling us, though, is that,
that Brock Lesnar is even hungrier than Triple H?
[Paul] Brock Lesnar is the hungriest man I know.
He will become the Undisputed champion at Summer Slam.
[Jim] Oh. Shot by The Undertaker,
catching The Game coming off the ropes. And again, going for the cover.
He wants to end it here now. A kick and a near fall.
[Paul] And whether Brock Lesnar faces The Undertaker
or whether Brock Lesnar faces Triple H,
he will be defeating a great champion at Summer Slam
to kick off the era of the Next Big Thing.
[Jim] I'm sure you guys are probably renegotiating the deal about that thing.
-Right? -[Paul] I'll let you know about that.
[Jim] And tossed outside by The Undertaker.
Again, this has been a very deliberate,
methodical pace established by The Undertaker.
[Jerry] You mean if Brock Lesnar were to become the Undisputed champion,
you get even the bigger piece of the pie?
[Paul] I'll be a bigger pain in the ass, I guarantee you.
Not that I'm a pain in the ass now.
[Jim] Triple H trying to fight back. Hooking up The Undertaker on the outside.
They're on the outside.
And a suplex and The Undertaker's lower back
bouncing off the mat,
like a stone being skipped across the lake.
Just bouncing and bouncing.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] He's pulling himself back up, but…
I'll tell you what, this onslaught by The Undertaker
has taken its toll on the challenger
who is gamely trying, no pun intended, trying to fight back in this thing.
But The Undertaker again scores with the heavy-duty artillery.
[Jerry] Triple H knew he had to get back in the ring.
Outside the ring isn't the place for Triple H to be.
[Jim] The leg drop. A cover and Triple H this time got his right shoulder up.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Undertaker mildly debating, I think The Undertaker is enjoying
inflicting even more punishment and pain on the challenger.
I'll tell you what, three weeks ago, whoever it was on Smack Down,
The Undertaker used that steel chair to wear The Game out
was the most intense beating
I think I've ever seen another human being sustained.
[Paul] But not as big of a beating as The Rock took tonight.
-[Jim] The Rock? -[Paul] The Rock.
-I'll tell you the scoop, JR. -[Jim] The Rock?
[Paul] Tonight, after Brock Lesnar, the Next Big Thing,
won the King of the Ring,
Brock Lesnar went up to The Rock in the locker room.
And Brock Lesnar tossed out The Rock.
Brock Lesnar walked into The People's Locker Room,
smacked The People's Champ across The People's face…
[Jim] And game with the headbutt. Trying to free himself here.
[Paul] Excuse you, I was talking.
-[Jerry] I think we'd have heard about it. -[Jim] Yeah.
[Paul] I'm telling you, you're hearing it about it now.
When Brock Lesnar ran The People's Champ out of The People's Locker Room,
The People's Champ got into The People's Limo
and drove his People's ass right at The People's Highway
outta Columbus, Ohio.
[Jim] Look at that, big fat body drop by The Game.
[Paul] And you can bank on that being the truth.
And Brock Lesnar's agent does not lie.
-[Jerry] Can you check on that, JR? -[Jim] Yeah. I'll get right on that.
[Paul] Check it out all you want, The Rock got his punk card pulled.
[Jerry] All right. Shut up.
-[Paul] Gee. -[Jim] WWE.com to get it clarified.
Clothesline by The Undertaker again. A cover.
He got his body on The Game, but The Undertaker not able to hook a leg…
and restrain the challenger, The Game able to kick-out.
[Paul] Hey, if I'm lying, where's The Rock?
Where's The Rock? He's still hanging out with Booker T and Goldust?
Come on, you know it's the truth.
Do you think The Rock has any match for Brock Lesnar?
-[Jim] Oh, yeah. -[Paul] Please. Please.
This is the dawning of a new era. And it's the era of Brock Lesnar.
[Jim] The Undertaker exposing that top turnbuckle again.
And The Game, trying to take The Game.
[grunts]
That turnbuckle, that steel exposed.
And The Game now fighting back against The Undertaker.
What a reversal with the Irish whip.
And The Undertaker follows it in with more high impact.
[Paul] I'll make the prediction right now.
Brock Lesnar versus The Undertaker for the undisputed title at Summer Slam.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Paul, is that as true as the story you just told us about Brock and The Rock?
-[Paul] It is true. -[Jerry] Can we guys check on that?
-I don't need you. -[Jerry] I feel
-somebody would've told us about that. -[Paul] I just told you about it.
-[Jerry] I mean, somebody. -[Paul] Oh.
[Jim] Oh, exposed turnbuckle, Undertaker's spine cracking that steel.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Jim] And The Game now.
Avoiding the right hand came with the neckbreaker.
And The Game maybe having some problems in that right elbow.
[Paul] Maybe? Maybe having issues with the right elbow?
He is having problems with the right elbow.
[Jim] How d'you know that? You're not a doctor.
-[Paul] I don't need to be a doctor. -[Jim] You're only a proctologist.
[Paul] I can tell what a humorous guy you are.
I can tell Triple H is having problems the same way The Rock…
[Jim] Spinebuster. Here we go. The spinebuster, the hook to the leg.
And The Game, the hand was coming down for a three and The Undertaker kicked-out.
[Paul] Before, I was so rudely interrupted,
the same way The Rock is having problems tonight
because Brock Lesnar pulled his punk card in The People's Locker Room.
[Jim] Paul, you've been known in this business to tell a few…
-[Jerry] Whoppers? -[Jim] Few lies. Whoppers, lies.
Exaggerate the truth.
The Game right in that turnbuckle again.
-The Game will do it. -[Jerry] Look out. Oh.
[Paul] Is Brock Lesnar alive?
[Jim] The Game comes back with a high knee.
A high knee on The Undertaker, a cover, it's gonna be… No.
-Two, two. -[Paul] Tell me, JR, is Brock alive?
Is Brock Lesnar a figment of my imagination?
[Jim] Of course, not.
Lesnar is real, as real as they come. He's the Next Big Thing.
He is the King of the Ring.
And at Summer Slam, he'll be the Undisputed champion.
[Jim] DDT. The Undertaker… There's a cover.
There's a cover for DDT. Undertaker got the cover in The Game.
[Jerry] Is this what you had to go through for months, JR?
[Jim] Oh, man. It took years.
[Jerry] Can you just respect this match there, Paul?
[Jim] It took years all of my life.
[Jerry] If you wanna talk, talk a bit about these two guys in the ring here.
[Paul] I'd be happy to talk about these two guys in the ring.
[Jerry] No, you're talking about Brock Lesnar.
[Paul] One of whom will face Brock Lesnar at Summer Slam
for the Undisputed Championship.
-You talk too much, Lawler. -Did anybody ever tell you that?
[Jim] A right hand by The Undertaker on Triple H.
And The Game…
The Undertaker driving that right hand aiming at…
Triple H able to avoid it.
And The Game, uh-oh, maybe going for it. Here, there's one. And, wait a minute.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim inaudible] -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Jim] Undertaker counter. Undertaker countering the [inaudible] .
[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Jim] The Game got catapulted right into the referee.
-[Jerry] No. -[Jim] Oh, no.
Hebner got squashed by The Game hammered by The Undertaker.
Referee is down here. Both men are down.
Undertaker and The Game colliding. Both men are down.
[audience cheering]
Referee is down. The champion and the challenger are down--
-[The Rock] If you smell what The Rock… -[Jerry] What?
-[The Rock] …is cooking. -[Paul] Wait a minute.
-What… Why are you… -[Jerry] What's this, Paul Heyman?
-[Jim] The Rock left, didn't he? -[Jerry] Who's that?
-[Jim] You're lying again, Heyman. -[Jerry] Can't you tell the truth?
-He came back. He came back. -The People's Limo, huh?
[audience cheering]
Heyman running like a scalded dog out of here.
So The Rock is here.
And The Rock has came out to clarify exactly what happened.
Brock Lesnar never came to The Rock.
If he did, The Rock will shake his hand like a man.
Pauly talking out of his ass as usual.
The Rock didn't get in The People's Limo and drive down The People's Highway.
[Jim] Obviously, not.
[The Rock] Paul Heyman needs to take a walk by The People's Salad,
keep The People's Foot up his ass.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] Well, The Rock, we got carnage everywhere here now.
The Undertaker and The Game both down.
The referee has been absolutely annihilated.
And the Undisputed Championship on the line here.
Man, this is a more than a chaotic situation.
[Jerry] So, Rock, you've been watching this in the back.
You've seen what's taken place there? Rock?
The Rock has been watching in the back. He's seen what's taken place.
He sees the carnage. The Rock sees two guys going at it.
Two warriors going at it,
won't quit for the most prestigious title in sports entertainment,
the WWE Championship.
[Jim] Undertaker getting that weapon, that steel chair,
and the referee, Earl Hebner, lying face first on the canvass.
The Game trying to find his way back up.
[Jerry] Uh-oh, watch this chair. Watch this chair shot. Oh.
[Jim] And The Game…
[groans]
[Jim] And The Game coming back on The Undertaker.
Undertaker dropping that steel chair.
-[Jerry] Oh, look out. -[Jim] A facebuster by The Game.
Undertaker now in trouble.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Jim] What, what a clothesline right over the top, The Undertaker.
The champion right in front of us and here comes The Game running after him.
The Game with that bad elbow the right side,
comes with the right hand with everything he's got.
The Undertaker trying to get his hands up.
[audience shouting]
[Jim] Triple H is beating the hell out of the champion here on the outside.
Referee is still down.
And this is muscle law out here.
This is the epitome of vigilantism.
-[woman shouts] -[Jerry] Watch it, Rock.
[Jim] The Undertaker just kicked The Rock's head off.
[audience clamoring]
[Jim] What the hell is the meaning of that?
[Jerry] Look out.
[Jim] God Almighty.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] Did you see he kicked The Rock right through the…
[Jim] What a cheap shot.
[Jerry] …through the entire announce team.
[Jim] What a cheap shot by The Undertaker on The Rock.
-[Jim] Right, right. -[Jerry] Look out! Look out!
[Jim] And The Rock unarming The Undertaker and the right hand.
-Undertaker in trouble. -Look out. Look out. Look out.
The Rock aiming for The Undertaker.
But The Undertaker… Triple H rocked between the eyes with the steel chair.
[Jerry] Watch it.
[Jim] Rock's head bouncing off the Spanish announce team.
Undertaker, the vicious knee to the midsection.
And The Rock face first into the ring post.
The People's Champion is down.
-The challenger is down. -[man] Come on, Rock.
[Jim] And The Rock was gonna take The Undertaker's head off.
But The Undertaker dodged and ducked,
and The Game got laced between the eyes and The Game is bleeding.
[Jerry] That chair shot opened Triple H up.
[Jim] The Rock's inadvertent chair shot intended for the champion
that hit the challenger has busted The Game wide open.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Look at The Undertaker. He feels it now.
Look at the carnage around the ring.
But, King, the referee is still down.
-[Jerry] I see that. -[Jim] The Rock is down.
[Jerry] The Rock is down and Triple H is barely up. Game is bleeding.
[Jim] But barely able to stand, but he'll never quit.
The challenger will never quit on you, but it may be humanly impossible.
Oh, my God. The last ride.
-[Jerry] Oh, got him. -[Jim] On the bloody, battered challenger.
Undertaker falling backwards.
He's the worse for wear, as well, with The Rock down on the outside.
[Jim] But there's another referee.
Referee, Nick Patrick, in. Undertaker crawling toward the challenger.
-One, two… -[Jim] He got the cover. It's not over.
-My God, it's not over. -[Jerry] What?
[Jim] The bloody Game kicked-out.
I don't think The Undertaker can believe that.
[Jerry] I don't like the look on The Undertaker's face, do you, JR?
[Jim] How did the challenger withstand the last ride?
[Jerry] Oh, look out. Man.
[Jim] Undertaker taking exception about the referee's count
had nothing to do with the referee.
-And again, look out. -[Jerry] Look at The Rock.
[Jim] And The Rock got him.
The People's Champion unloading, unloading on The Undertaker.
Oh, my. Rock bottom.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] The Rock with The Rock bottom,
the thunderous rock bottom on The Undertaker.
[Jerry] We got The Undertaker laid out. We got Triple H laid out.
The referee is still out. What now?
[Jim] We have two referees down. The champion's down, the challenger down,
The Rock gonna make his way down the aisle.
[audience chanting]
[Jim] And the crowd here chanting for The Rock.
[Jim] The Rock who told us all,
and he did what he said he was gonna be coming down here,
to watch this match. He was cheap shotted by The Undertaker.
[audience cheering]
[Jerry] All of these guys are laid down, The Undertaker, and Triple H.
Wait a minute. Triple H is stirring.
-Oh, no, look at him. -[Jim] A bloody and battered Triple H.
[Jerry] I think if he could just somehow crawl across
the prone body of The Undertaker.
[Jim] The Undertaker's got the goal,
but The Game's got the heart of a champion.
Can The Game get the cover? Can The Game get the pin here?
[Jerry] He's trying his best. Just drop your arm across him.
[Jim] He's been busted open by the chair by The Rock.
-[Jerry] All we need the referee. -[Jim] The last ride.
Not bad he's got the arm over. The referee…
Come on, ref. Come on, Earl.
The shoulders are down. The referee, can he see the shoulders?
-[Jerry] Come on, count. -[Jim] That's two.
One more and we got a new champion. The Undertaker's shoulder is up.
The arm came down, but the shoulder was up the canvass.
I don't think The Game is even aware.
He wouldn't have been aware if he had won the title there.
A chair shot by The Rock, an errant chair shot,
intended for The Undertaker, but almost beheaded The Game.
The last ride and somehow The Game is still breathing.
[audience chanting]
And now, The Undertaker is beginning to stir a little bit.
The referee is trying to regain his senses.
And the Undisputed Championship is hanging in the balance.
[Jerry] Well, if The Undertaker makes it to his feet, it'll be bad for Triple H.
[Jim] Look at Triple H. With everything he's got,
every fiber of his being, trying to pull himself up.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Oh, God Almighty.
I mean, I don't even know how either man is,
and they're neither standing, but they're both trying to.
These two men wanna resume this fight
for the Undisputed Championship of the WWE.
[Jerry] We still got two referees down.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] A battered, a bloody Game has pulled himself up,
but so has The Undertaker, the Undisputed champion.
[Jerry] And The Game going downstairs.
-He's locked. -[Jim] Pedigree.
-[Jerry] He got it. -[Jim] A Pedigree.
The Game scores with the Pedigree.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Another crossing. One more time. Triple H has got to cover him, cover him.
He's trying. The Game is trying.
[audience cheering]
-[Jim] He's trying to cover the champion. -[Jerry] We still got no ref.
[Jim] Put in the count. One, two, three.
[audience cheering]
[Jim] Waiting for a three-count. Come on, Earl.
[Jerry] Hebner's hurting for certain, there's no doubt about it.
Referee, Nick Patrick, was dropped out by The Undertaker, the second referee.
[audience shouting]
[Jerry] Earl, poor Earl Hebner is up.
-He's gotta be hurting like hell. -[Jim] He may have a broken collarbone.
-[Jerry] The Undertaker's been Pedigreed. -[Jim] Oh, a low blow. A low blow.
The Undertaker blowing downstairs, perhaps out of desperation,
-but The Undertaker went downstairs. -[Jerry] Look at this.
[Jim] And there's a roll up. There's a roll up. No.
[Jerry] The cover… He's got the tights. He got it.
-[bell ringing] -[Jim] And the three-count.
[heavy metal music playing]
[announcer] The winner of this bout and still Undisputed WWE Champion,
The Undertaker.
[Jerry] The Undertaker bearing that low blow and then cradled The Game.
He's earned respect now.
Nobody can deny that The Undertaker is a survivor.
[Jim] We've always respected The Undertaker
for his accomplishments, but his attitude sucks.
And what a matchup!
The Game with that chair shot rattling his brains,
the inadvertent shot by The Rock busting The Game open.
And then Triple H was still the last ride
and not a living human being who I can remember has ever done that.
[Jerry] And The Rock, The Rock has gotta be sorely disappointed.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Jim] And now, The Undertaker talking trash to The People's Champion.
[Jim] Wait. He's not calling out The Rock, is he?
[heavy metal music continues playing]
[Jim] What the hell does The Undertaker think?
-Talking trash to the… -[Jerry] Oh, no.
He talked a little too long. He talked a little too much, JR.
[Jim] And The Rock with the right hands, The People's Hands,
finding their mark on The Undertaker,
who just did low blow with Triple H was fine on the pine by The Rock.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. And The Rock now has to show himself.
Here comes the most electrifying move
in sports entertainment today, JR, The People's Elbow.
[Jim] And The Rock throws the elbow into the backbone of the champion.
[The Rock] …what The Rock is cooking.
["Electrifying" music playing]
[Jim] The Undertaker retains the WWE title.
-And wait a minute. -[Jerry] What?
-[Jim] The Game. -[Jerry] Look out.
[Jim] Going on The Rock with the Pedigree.
The Game said the hell with that chair shot.
You tasted the Pedigree, Rock.
["The Game" music playing]
Watch. There's more carnage.
The Rock got drilled with a Pedigree.
Keep your eyes to The Undertaker.
[Jerry] Triple H thinks that The Rock deserves that, JR.
A lotta people will agree with you. Wait a minute, Triple H. Watch your back.
[Jim] Oh, look out here. It was the last ride, the chair shot.
Scramble brains and now the chokeslam.
[heavy metal music playing]
[Jim] Good God Almighty.
These three men have literally beat the hell out of each other…
with pride and the WWE Championship on the line.
The Undertaker is still the man. He is still the toughest man in the yard.
[Jerry] Unbelievable. I don't know if I've ever seen--
Look at this sight. What are we seeing? Triple H, The Rock laid out.
[Jim] The Undertaker has left The Game.
The Undertaker has left The Rock…
lying motionless in his yard.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Jim] But more importantly,
The Undertaker is still the WWE Undisputed champion
at the King of the Ring.