[theme music playing]
[narrator] The struggle for power,
three men fighting for the gold.
The desperate man, grasping onto his identity
which slowly slips away from his once iron grip.
The vengeful man,
trying to regain the taste of power
momentarily savored and abruptly lost.
And the confident man, ready for battle
at risk of losing nothing and the opportunity to gain it all.
Three men with varying motivations,
yet all sharing a common goal.
One man will emerge triumphant
while sparing his opponents no mercy.
And now, WWE No Mercy.
["Click Click Boom" playing]
♪ C'mon, c'mon! ♪
♪ Click, click, boom! ♪
♪ I'm coming down on the stereo Hear me on the radio ♪
♪ Click, click, boom! ♪
♪ I'm coming down with the new style And you know it's buck wild ♪
[Ross] We are live in St. Louis, Missouri.
We are live in the sold-out Savvis Center,
where tonight on pay-per-view here at No Mercy
championships will be decided
and the course of sports-entertainment could well change
for a long time to come.
Jim Ross and Paul Heyman in St. Louis, our fans in WWE New York,
in the heart of Times Square are [indistinct] these fans in St. Louis.
It is going to be, in my mind, a memorable night.
["Click Click Boom" fades out]
["Loaded" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Introducing first, accompanied by Lita,
at a combined weight of 441 pounds,
the WCW Tag Team champions,
Matt, Jeff, the Hardy Boyz.
[Ross] The Hardys have been WCW Tag Teams champions 13 days.
They'll be accompanied by Lita, a viable part of Team Xtreme.
But ladies and gentlemen, if you didn't join us on Heat tonight,
we got to inform you that the Triple Threat Match
of the WWE title night will now be a no disqualification match.
And Paul, what does that mean for The Alliance?
[Heyman] What that means for The Alliance is
that if Van Dam and Austin are together,
Stone Cold will retain the title.
If Van Dam moves in against Austin,
the title is in serious jeopardy.
["Hammerhead" playing]
[Howard] Representing The Alliance, at a combined weight of 447 pounds,
the challengers, first accompanied by Ivory,
Lance Storm.
[Ross] Ivory representing The Alliance
accompanying Citizen Storm to the ring.
A very-- This gonna be a great Tag Team matchup.
♪ Stand back, There's a Hurricane coming through! ♪
["The Eye of the Hurricane" playing]
[Howard] Accompanied by Mighty Molly,
the WWE European Champion,
The Hurricane.
[Ross] Well, Hurricane Helms is the reigning European Champion.
But certainly, I have been impressed in recent weeks
with the teamwork and continuity that Helms and Storm have presented.
And certainly the Hardys know Hurricane very well.
They're all from-- originally, from North Carolina.
[Heyman] And they all started together.
I mean, The Hurricane had a storied rivalry with The Hardys
before any of them made it to this level of pay-per-view.
And, I might add, from what I understand,
The Hurricane
used to beat the hell out of the Hardys all the time in the Carolinas.
[Ross] I hadn't heard that. But in any event, ladies and gentlemen--
[Heyman] Are you doubting my sources, J.R.?
[Ross] Well, uh…
yeah.
But in any event, ladies and gentlemen, tonight on No Mercy,
seen live around the world,
England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia.
[bell ringing]
[Ross] And, matter of fact, fans in more than 100 countries
will see No Mercy on a tape-delayed basis as well.
We are worldwide here tonight.
We're happy that you're with us, as there you see the superhero,
Hurricane Helms and Jeff Hardy starting it out here.
Nice go behind by the European Champion
looking to add more gold to his collection.
Shoulder block by Hurr…
[Heyman] Why'd you stop?
I was mesmerized momentarily by that superhero pose.
[Heyman] Well, you should be. I mean he is a superhero after all,
and look at the way The Hurricane is manhandling Jeff Hardy.
[Ross] And surely George Reeves is rolling over in his grave.
And by the way, I'll get back to you who George Reeves is
a little bit later, kids.
And, uh--
[Heyman] You really dated yourself on that one.
[Ross] On the floor. Nice takedown by the Hardys.
Matt Hardy looking to get this one over quickly, and
again, the Hardys WCW title at stake here tonight.
And then an emotional night here, certainly.
The Rock and Chris Jericho. Blind tag was made
and Matt Hardy not aware of it until now.
And look at the nice double team by The Alliance challengers.
A cover by Storm, and a nice brisk count.
[Heyman] Storm takes advantage of every advantage.
He learned that at the Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
[Ross] And, uh--
[Ross] Well, Hurricane wanted a different kind of exchange on the tag.
-[Heyman] Well, you can't blame the man. -[Ross] Oh, no.
-[Heyman] He's a superhero. -[Ross] Exactly. Of course he is.
And nice takedown by Matt Hardy, the double clothesline
and Matt and Jeff, the risk takers, the daredevil
from rural North Carolina living their dream here in the WWE.
[Heyman] Oh, man!
[Ross] Almost a midair collision there. Matt got the better of it.
The jawbreaker on Lance Storm.
Calgary's contribution these days to the WWE.
And-- well, there's Ivory.
Ivory got involved, and certainly
Lance Storm quick to capitalize on the distraction.
[Heyman] Like I told you, Storm takes advantage of every advantage,
and now Lance Storm setting up Jeff Hardy,
and look out, J.R., there's a hurricane coming through.
[Ross] And-- Oh! The Hurricane just got
down-scaled to a… just a little wind.
-Now, speaking of a little wind… -[Heyman] Whoa. Never mind.
[Ross] …there's a knockdown, Storm getting knocked down there.
Oh, look at this. Mighty Molly, the trusty sidekick.
[Heyman] Every superhero needs one.
[Ross] And-- Oh, look at--
With cape on and all.
The cape-wearing superhero,
Hurricane Helms taking out the Hardys
and his own partner, Lance Storm.
[Heyman] Well, you don't expect a man to fly that way without a cape on, do you?
Check this out.
[whooshes] The Hurricane, over the top rope,
flies through the air,
and soars to the floor.
[Ross] I never conducted myself back in Oklahoma when I wore my cape.
[Heyman] You never left your feet when you were back in Oklahoma.
[Ross] Well, there's a reason for that.
And, uh, right now, the challengers,
Hurricane Helms and Lance Storm have an advantage here
and quite frankly have been out-hardering the Hardys with the continuity.
Nice dropkick by Storm, hooked in the leg,
and Lance Storm found a near fall in that situation.
[Heyman] But notice how Storm stays right on top of Jeff Hardy.
Lance Storm does not give up the advantage,
Lance Storm all over Jeff Hardy in pursuit
of the WCW Tag Team title.
[Ross] Certainly a huge night for all of us here in St. Louis.
One of the-- a city that has so much heritage
from the days of the legendary promoter, Sam Muchnick,
the days of the NWA Champions.
Another cover.
It's one of the greatest matches in the annals
in the '50s, '60s, and '70s
even before, occurred here in St. Louis at the Kiel Auditorium,
Wrestling at the Chase.
A lot of heritage, a lot of-- a lot of history in this town.
I'm privileged to be here.
As the backbreaker by Hurricane Helms
certainly grounding the high-flying Jeff Hardy.
Another cover.
And if this match ended now, I got to believe
the challengers are certainly ahead on points.
[Heyman] Oh, no doubt.
But don't think that Storm and The Hurricane want the match that way.
Storm and The Hurricane wanna win this match by pinfall
or submission and secure the WCW Tag Team title.
[Ross] You know, someone that wears a pink cape,
fashions herself as a sidekick,
Mighty Molly has got a little bit of an attitude these days.
[Heyman] Mighty Molly has a pinfall victory over Lita.
Don't forget that one either.
[Ross] And the whip goes in, Jeff Hardy putting on the brakes,
you could see that one coming.
And Lance Storm couldn't make a fair catch there.
Much to the chagrin of Mighty Molly and Hurricane Helms
the offensive momentum of the challengers, at least momentarily, stopped.
[Heyman] The first man to make the tag,
his team will have a clear advantage here.
Storm is closer and makes the tag.
[Ross] And the tag is definitely made.
Jeff Hardy lunging to make the tag himself couldn't get there.
Nice reverse mule kick and there's the tag to Matt Hardy,
Jeff's older brother.
Nice clothesline by Jeff Hardy, beating on Lance Storm.
A right-hand, another takedown.
The Hardys again won the WCW Title October 8th.
The lateral press and Storm interrupts the count.
[referee] Come on. Get out of here.
Come on. Come on, get out.
[Ross] Molly has only been with The Hurricane a couple of weeks.
They mesh well together.
The poetry in motion by Jeff Hardy
using his own body as a weapon, nothing new for the Hardys.
[Heyman] And this is where the Hardys have an advantage. Great double team!
[Ross] And the roll up, there's a roll up.
Inside that half nelson,
almost a version of the Oklahoma roll up.
[Heyman] I told you The Hurricane has the number of the Hardys.
[Ross] Hard slam by Matt Hardy.
Indeed, you're right.
The Hardys and Helms know each other well.
And the leg drop, very effective.
Leg is hooked. It should-- Oh. Man, that was a long but two and three quarter.
I think Lita thought that one should have been over.
Twist of Fate.
Missed the clothesline. Whoa, double press kick!
-[Heyman] It's over! -[Ross] It should be it here!
[Heyman] One, two…
[Ross] And then Jeff Hardy, at the last moment, able to interrupt
the count with a dropkick right to the ribs.
But man is, uh… is Matt Hardy in trouble?
Citizen Storm goes over the top to the floor.
-And now Mighty… -[Heyman] Hey, hey, hey, hey!
[Ross] Lita intercepted Mighty Molly!
The suplex by Matt Hardy on Hurricane Helms!
[Heyman] And here comes Ivory!
[Ross] Ivory woman-handling Lita by the hair.
-And wait a minute. -[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Oh, Jeff Hardy…
[Heyman] Comment on that, J.R., say something!
[Ross] Well, the runner-up-- He's using low blow.
-but now Lita on top! -[Heyman] Jeff Hardy's tapping!
[Ross] Litacanrana!
Man, look at the bodies, look at the mayhem!
Oh, not a good time to pose.
[Heyman] Look at the double team!
[Ross] Matt Hardy…
[Ross] Twist of Fate!
[Heyman] Where's the tag, J.R.?!
Where's the damn tag?!
[Ross] You got me, I think Jeff--
[Ross] There's no tag! Matt's legal!
Swanton, three-count!
It's over!
[audience cheering]
[Howard] The winner of this match and still
WCW Tag Team champion,
The Hardy Boyz.
[Ross] Certainly a quick kick-off to No Mercy here tonight.
Great effort by all involved.
But the Hardys successful
in retaining the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Rob Van Dam.
Now, I assume the first thing you're going to do
is go and find "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and apologize for frog splashing him last Thursday night on SmackDown.
No.
Let me just hope
that last Thursday you had a temporary lapse insanity.
And please, let me assume that
in no way shape or form that you're having anything to do with Vince McMahon.
Look, I'm not on Vince's side.
I'm only looking out for number one
and that's me…
R… V… D.
Don't do anything silly and anything that you might regret later.
Okay.
[Ross] Here comes a long black limousine as the country song says…
[Heyman] I don't listen to country music.
[Ross] I would've never guessed.
[Heyman] Oh, no.
-[Ross] And there is Mr. McMahon. -[Heyman] Oh, no.
[Ross] He said he was gonna be here, and he is here.
[Michael] Mr. McMahon! Mr. McMahon, where have you been?
I mean, it's a huge night.
-Really? -I mean, why did you come back?
-Help me with my jacket, will you please? -Oh, yes, sir.
-Nice lining, huh? -Yes, it's very nice.
Anyhow, you know, Rob Van Dam just arrived.
Well, good, great, great, I'm glad to hear it.
And let me just say that you have a lot of questions?
Uh-huh. A lot.
Your questions will be answered before the night is over
one way or another.
But I'm here tonight--
I'm here tonight to make a difference.
I'm here tonight to make an impact.
And the next time you drop my jacket…
I'm gonna drop you.
["This is a Test" playing]
[Ross] Well, it's good to see Mr. McMahon hasn't changed.
[Heyman] Not a bit.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing The Alliance,
weighing 282 pounds, Test.
[Ross] Well, certainly this young man has made a huge impact on The Alliance
and his big foot made an impact to The Undertaker's face
in a tag match on UPN SmackDown Thursday Night.
[Heyman] Well, check this out.
The Undertaker had Booker T up for the Last Ride.
Wham! Right in the face,
the big boot of Test, which knocked out The Undertaker
and Booker scores the one, two, three.
I love pieces of footage like that.
[Ross] Test, six-seven, 280,
has made an impact to The Alliance.
He's young, but what a challenge this is going to be.
["Out of the Fire" playing]
[Howard] Weighing 326 pounds,
Kane.
[Ross] It was on October the 5th, 1997
when Kane first walked through hellfire and brimstone
in this very arena,
his very first appearance
in the WWE here in St. Louis.
And Kane now and Test
certainly building a rivalry here, two big young studs
and this will be a straight ahead,
smash mouth, in your face matchup
between these two super heavyweights.
[Heyman] Oh, no doubt. Kane is not a man, he's a monster.
But Test, Test is gonna chop Kane
down to size tonight.
[Ross] This matchup certainly reminiscent of a lot of the heavyweight fights.
They're not boxing each other looking for that knockout blow,
and I think that's what Test and Kane are doing here.
They're not gonna feel each other out.
They're both gonna look for that high-impact knockout blow
And quite frankly, Test has that big right foot, Paul,
that has been ultra-ly impressive in recent weeks.
[Heyman] Oh, I agree with you.
But then again, Kane has the Chokeslam,
and Test has to be very careful to avoid the Chokeslam
just as much as Kane has to avoid the big boot.
[Ross] Kane catching the 280-pounder in midair, powerslam,
looking for a three, and WCW referee Nick Patrick, assigned this contest,
found two on that exchange.
Kane certainly the bigger, perhaps stronger of the two at about 325.
Shot, nice kick by Test, and Kane didn't go off his feet.
He certainly felt it, and Kane manhandling,
did the Big Red Machine, the 280-pounder.
[Heyman] For a long time, we all felt that Kane was invincible, invulnerable.
Oh my God!
[Ross] And Kane just muscling up Test!
Military pressing him to the high level
and then dumping Test over the top rope.
[Heyman] I've never seen anyone manhandle Test that way.
[Ross] Test big and strong. How resilient is he?
We're about to find out.
And another right-hand by Kane, and I don't care who you are,
too many right hands by the Big Red Machine
are gonna bring you to your milk.
And--
And-- Oh, wait a minute, Test has got that ring bell.
He's got the ring bell.
And right in the head! Wait a minute.
-[Heyman] Why? -[Ross] That should be a disqualification,
wouldn't you suggest?
[Heyman] If Nick Patrick had seen it, I would agree with you.
[Ross] Well, what was he looking at, your cap?
[Heyman] It is a nice cap, you know.
-Don't you like it? -[Ross] Aw, spiffy.
Kane just got nailed with a ring bell.
What I-- what I thought was right in front of the referee.
However, this match is continuing, and Test with the big advantage.
And the quicker Test can put Kane away
after that shot to the face with the ring bell,
the better for The Alliance member.
[Heyman] Oh, no doubt. I mean--
Test has to put away Kane quickly, but Test is all over Kane right here.
When was the last time you saw Kane dragged into a corner?
[Ross] It's been a while, I'll tell you.
Hard right hands, high impact stuff right to the head, the shot to the head.
[Patrick] Test, you got to break it up. Come on.
[Heyman] Here you go, check it out.
-No way Nick Patrick sees this. -[Ross] Standing right there, Nick.
The referee was standing right there.
There's no reason that Nick Patrick should let this match continue
after that sort of comeback by Test.
[Heyman] Could you show it to me again? I must have missed it.
[Ross] Oh, look at-- Good gosh, look at this power.
A vertical suplex.
[Heyman] Show it to me from a different angle or something.
[Ross] The cover here and Kane rolled that left shoulder off the canvas.
That was a vertical suplex.
Looks like that Test has got a busted lip.
[Heyman] Yeah, but that's not gonna stop-- Oh, man!
[Ross] Test walked right into that.
And this thing is-- and this is how it's gonna be
that may not prove too fruitful for Test
if you wanna get Kane just wide open and anything goes.
The Big Red Machine's got no problem.
Hard clothesline right to the solar plexus,
Could have drove the air-- driven the air out of Test.
But nobody there for the elbow.
[Heyman] And Test is on the move.
Notice the quickness, the agility of Test.
[Ross] Test will have that advantage.
I think Test, quicker, if any better,
better agility than the 325-pounder.
The elbow, another hook to the leg, and look at Kane.
Sucked that air and get both hands on the chest of Test,
and then bench pressed him off of him, so to speak.
[Heyman] But notice now Test stalking Kane.
Test all over the big red freakshow.
[Ross] Well, it's good see that Mr. McMahon hasn't changed.
[Heyman] I don't call him mister.
He's here. Well, maybe you should get in the habit.
He's here to make an impact.
[Heyman] Well, why don't you help him on with his jacket?
[Ross] That was Michael Cole's responsibility at that point in time.
You saying, you wouldn't help him with his jacket?
-[Heyman] No, I would not. -[Ross] Yeah, right.
[Heyman] I warned Rob Van Dam about Vince McMahon for years.
-Why would… -[Ross] Oh, look at this, sidewalk slam.
[Heyman] I mean, if Vince McMahon is in Rob Van Dam's ear,
then the title tonight is in grave jeopardy.
[Ross] Let me tell you, ear or no ear, the title is in grave jeopardy.
Because I got to believe Van Dam is here to win
and win the WWE title, and there's no disqualification.
Oh, high impact attempt.
And that would have certainly put Kane away
if Test could have found the mark, but it was not to be.
[Heyman] Man, Test tried to drive that elbow right into the heart of Kane.
Kane got out of the way just in time.
[Ross] Kane now…
A neckbreaker on Test.
New movement from the-- from the Big Red Machine
not one of his regular maneuvers offensively is that neckbreaker.
Both men are down.
This has been a very hard-hitting, in your face,
straightforward matchup between two big men.
[Heyman] Kane has to pull out all stops against an athlete like Test.
[Ross] Kane beating Test to the punch.
Right-hands finding their mark cannot bode well for Test.
And the knockdown.
But Test, to his credit, getting right back up.
[Heyman] Test backs down for no man or monster,
and Kane is a monster.
[Ross] Well, I can't argue that point.
Kane with a suplex, driving Test down.
The lateral press.
Perhaps too low in the abdomen there. Maybe not enough weight on the shoulders
as Test was able to get his shoulder up.
And you can miss just by a little bit in these pinning situations. It costs you.
And Kane now, those elbows hooking up the 280-pound man
with one arm, Sidewalk Slam, another lateral press.
Should be over here, but it's not, and it was that close.
[Heyman] Notice how Kane gets the shoulder up
so that the referee can see it,
ensuring that a three-count does not occur.
[Ross] Clothesline to the outside,
and Nick Patrick admonishing Kane.
As if that's gonna do any good
to The Big Red Machine after
getting his bell rung with the ring bell.
[Heyman] I'm so impressed with Test in this match.
Wham! Into the corner.
And there's the boot! There it is, J.R.
[Ross] First the ring post and then that big right foot of Test
taking down Kane.
And I'm not so sure the Big Red Machine is going to be able to recover
from a double high impact.
[Heyman] Check this out. Into the ring post
and now Test takes advantage of the situation.
[Ross] The cover, here we go. And thr-- No!
No three, Kane refusing to stay down.
[Heyman] And just like Test got the shoulder up before,
I'll give credit where it's due.
Kane making sure Nick Patrick sees the shoulder up.
[Ross] Busted mouth and all, Test…
seemingly measuring Kane,
throwing that big foot again. Kane avoided it.
And Kane now hooking up.
Oh, the Chokeslam!
The Big Red Machine delivers a thunderous Chokeslam.
And that should spell the end
of Test here in this matchup.
And Kane now,
fighting his own-- his way back up.
There's a cover, hook in the leg and-- Oh my!
I can't believe that. I don't think Kane can either.
Test kicking out of the Chokeslam.
-[Heyman] Once again, Test making sure. -[Ross] Or did he?
-[Heyman] What you mean or did he? -[Ross] Well, I'm not--
On second thought, he may not have got that shoulder up.
[Heyman] Oh, please.
Can't you give an Alliance member credit? [Ross] I've been giving plenty of credit.
Kane, the right-hand, just fighting back.
Who's gonna be the first to get that knockout blow?
They both withstood a lot here.
And a powerslam by Kane.
Kane close to seven feet tall.
And Kane now wants to end this one.
[Heyman] There's his--
[Ross] I don't have any idea what Kane's gonna do here,
but he's 325 on the top.
Looking for a clothesline it would seem.
Test had that one well-scouted.
And downstairs goes Test.
[Heyman] Pumphandle.
[Ross] Here comes the pumphandle slam.
And look at the manhandling of Kane by Test.
[Heyman] One… two…
[Ross] And Kane kicks out again!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Test must be thinking, "What's it gonna take
to put this monster down?"
[Heyman] But Test can't get frustrated here.
Test has to keep the pressure on.
Test has to take the fight to Kane to beat Kane.
[Ross] I don't recall anyone ever kicking out of that pumphandle slam.
And there's 280 pounds
with the elbow well-placed into the big red heart.
[Heyman] One… two…
[Ross] And again, Kane, my God.
This Big Red Machine is not human.
[Heyman] Test cannot get frustrated.
Test must keep the pressure on Kane.
Because if Kane gets a chance to regroup, then Test is in lot of trouble.
[Ross] Now what?
Now what is--
[Ross] First it was a ring bell. Now wait a minute.
This is not a no disqualification match.
This is not a hardcore match, but that is a hardcore weapon in there,
that steel chair. And, oh, Kane with a dropkick!
Kane dropkicked the chair right back into the face of Test.
[Heyman] A lot of leeway shown both ways by referee Nick Patrick.
[Ross] Well, that's one way of describing it, a lot of leeway.
And now Kane has got the chair, and Kane looking to use the chair.
And now Patrick is trying to unarm Kane.
He didn't do it, but--
-[crowd cheering] -[Heyman] Hey, hey, hey!
[Ross] Wait a minute! Nick Patrick shoved down!
And Kane looking for the Chokeslam!
Oh my God. Out of nowhere. From left field.
-The kick. -[Heyman] One… two… he got it!
-[Ross] And that is over.
["This Is A Test" playing]
[Howard] Here is your winner, Test.
[Heyman] Test has beat Kane!
[Ross] I'll tell you what, I've got to say this-- I hate to say it,
but Nick Patrick is a totally corrupt official, Paul.
[Heyman] How dare you say that?
[Ross] Well, it's the damn truth. I mean,
first he sees the ring bell, no disqualification.
He sees Test bring the chair in the ring,
-no disqualification. He unarms… -[Heyman] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
-[Ross] Oh, my… -[Heyman] Time out.
You never put your hands on an official. You don't.
[Ross] Starting with a ring bell, whooped with the steel chair.
Test gets the victory but not so fast.
[Heyman] Wait a minute!
J.R., condemn this action!
[Ross] Oh my Gosh. The man that's condemned is Nick Patrick!
A Chokeslam!
Nick Patrick assaulted here by Kane.
Some very…
[Heyman] Oh, no. Come on, please have some mercy!
[Ross] What's Kane-- Kane coming back in and grabbing Patrick again.
I think, quite frankly, one Chokeslam is more than enough here.
[Heyman] Oh. Have you no compassion?!
[Ross] I have plenty of compassion, but what do you want me to do about it?
[Heyman] Well, stop the man!
[Ross] Who can stop Kane and--
Wait a minute.
[Heyman] Oh, come on. J.R., please do something about this.
[Ross] Kane shaking his head.
I'm watching it as you are. Well, hey, I'm not-- You reap what you sow.
And Patrick's perhaps getting-- Well, oh my goodness.
[Heyman] Oh, no, no, no, no.
[Ross] Two Chokeslams…
[Ross] and a powerbomb on the official!
And maybe Nick Patrick will think twice…
["Out of the Fire" playing]
…about his ethics…
if he's able to remember this night.
Well, I'll tell you what, it started with the ring bell,
right in front of the referee, used by Test on Kane, no disqualification.
Test is pick them both up.
[Heyman] Well, here's something you can't deny, Test self-defense.
Wow, what a kick right to the face.
One… two… three, Test pins Kane.
[Ross] And then that very shady referee
got, perhaps, what he had coming to him and more.
[Heyman] That's terrible.
What do you want, Coach?
Well, I was hoping to get a word with Stone Cold,
if that's possible tonight.
I don't think Stone Cold wants to talk to you.
But you know what? Let me check. Just a second.
Hey, you wanna talk to Coach?
[Stone Cold] No, I don't want to talk to Coach.
But you can tell him that I think Kurt Angle is a sorry son of a bitch.
Stone Cold says he doesn't want to talk to you,
and by the way, he thinks Kurt Angle is a sorry SOB.
-[Stone Cold] Debra. -What? Wait a minute.
-[Stone Cold] While you got him out there, tell him RVD is a big piece of trash.
Oh, and by the way, he also says
that RVD is a big piece of trash.
-[Stone Cold] Debra, while you're at it, -Anything else?
tell him as far as Vince McMahon is concerned,
he's a bigger piece of trash than RVD,
and there ain't no way,
there ain't no way I'm gonna lose my WWE title tonight.
And he also says that Vince McMahon is a bigger piece of trash than RVD.
And Stone Cold also says
there's no way he's gonna lose his WWE Championship tonight.
Anything else?
[Stone Cold] Tell him thank you and to get his ass out of here.
Thank you, and you can get your butt out of here.
No problem.
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Wow, here comes Stacy.
-Hey, Matt. Um… -Hey, Stacy.
You wouldn't happen to know where the Dudleys--
Well, it doesn't matter anyway. You're a Hardy.
-So… -Yeah.
But I, um-- I was wondering, you know, you're a guy,
and I was wondering what you think about my lingerie?
It's, uh, good. It's, uh, it's real good.
-You look great. -Okay.
-Lingerie match. -Thanks.
-[Lita] Hey, Matt. -Hey.
-What are you looking at? -Uh…
-Nothing. -Oh, okay.
Uh, I just want to tell you, you did great tonight.
-Thank you. Thanks. You guys look good. -And you look great as always, yeah.
Thank you.
[sighs in relief]
♪ I am a woman ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Well, the time has come, the first ever Lingerie matchup
between Stacy and Torrie here.
The ladies will compete wearing lingerie
in this matchup.
And, as you can see, Paul,
a special consideration made into this matchup.
Well, folks, let's take you back in time
and show you how these two sexy divas
arrived at No Mercy.
[Michael] First ever Lingerie match.
[Ross] Torrie and Stacy in a Lingerie match.
[Tazz] Oh, they got my money for this one, baby.
[Michael] Imagine Stacy, Torrie, lingerie.
[Ross] Lingerie this Sunday on pay-per-view.
[Heyman] Yes, this is the match I'm most looking forward to.
[Ross] Oh my goodness.
Stacy Keibler putting a lip lock on Tajiri.
[Heyman] Here we go!
[Ross] And Torrie didn't like it.
And Torrie slapping Stacy Keibler.
[Heyman] Tazzmission.
[Ross] Tazz, the Tazzmission on Tajiri,
taking down the Japanese Buzzsaw.
Got a little problem in The Alliance with the ladies.
[Heyman] Here we go, it's Stacy and Torrie with Stacy on top.
[Michael] Torrie and Stacy here we go.
Torrie and Stacy.
[Heyman] You can't lose now.
It's a fight, and it's my kind of fight.
[Michael] These two women were once best friends within The Alliance.
But ever since Torrie started dating Tajiri who is a WWE superstar,
The Alliance has had a cold shoulder to Torrie.
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen, the Duchess of Dudleyville,
Stacy Keibler.
[Ross] And here comes Torrie to get some of Stacy.
And wait, Bubba Ray's got those eyes glued in on like radar.
And from behind came Stacy Keibler
another cheap shot on Torrie Wilson.
Tajiri being choked out in the corner.
The Dudleys with a damn table.
[Heyman] And look who's calling the shots.
It's all Stacy Keibler's idea.
[Ross] I cannot believe this. Poor Torrie Wilson.
Oh my God, don't do it.
-No, no, no. -[Heyman] Kill her!
[Ross] No, no, no, my God.
The Dudleys just throws Torrie Wilson right through the table
much to the delight of Stacy Keibler.
What kind of woman is she?
[Michael] Wait a minute.
[Heyman] What is Torrie Wilson doing here?
[Michael] Torrie Wilson is here.
Torrie Wilson getting her some of Stacy.
-Look out. -[Heyman] Hey!
Torrie Wilson will pay for that
at the Lingerie match this Sunday at No Mercy.
-["The Girl Next Door" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And we are back live here in St. Louis,
and this one should be most unique.
[Howard] The following contest is the first ever
Lingerie match.
Introducing first, coming down the aisle,
Stacy Keibler.
[Heyman] Here she is, J.R., the Duchess of Dudleyville,
the mastermind behind the Dudleys
putting Torrie Wilson through a table.
[Ross] I don't know what that says for the Dudleys,
for this young lady to be the mastermind
after having a couple of conversations with her,
but, boy, she is a leggy young woman and--
Don't know exactly what she got on underneath that robe,
but she'll be competing in it.
She'll be grappling in her lingerie
momentarily in this first ever Lingerie matchup.
[Heyman] She's not just gorgeous. She's a genius as well.
The mastermind, the brains behind the Dudleys
putting Torrie through a table.
I'm a huge fan of Stacey Keibler.
[Ross] Yeah, the vixen wearing lingerie.
You know something, don't you?
I thought so.
["Shadows" playing]
[Ross] Wow.
[Howard] Approaching the ring,
Torrie Wilson.
[Ross] I'd like that Boomer Sooner red she's got on.
And Torrie Wilson who, as we saw, has endured a--
being driven through a table by the Dudleys a few weeks ago.
This will not be one of the St. Louis classic,
Jack Brisco, Dory Funk Jr., catch-as-catch-can classics,
I don't think.
[Heyman] I don't know. I heard Jerry Brisco
likes to wrestle in lingerie.
[Ross] And here we go. No comment on that one.
Jack Doan must've won the referee's lottery.
He's selected to officiate this matchup.
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Well, red was always one of my favorite colors growing up.
And, uh--
I wonder when--
I mean, is Stacy gonna wrestle in that robe?
I didn't think that was part of the deal.
Or is that considered-- Oh, look at the athleticism
by the six-foot Stacy Keibler.
Very impressive.
And the knockdown by Torrie Wilson wrestling barefooted here tonight.
-I noticed her feet. How sick am I? -[Heyman] Very.
-[Doan] Hey, -[Heyman] And I'll comment on that later.
Meanwhile, now Stacy Keibler takes her time
to show off all of her…
[Ross] Undergarments.
[Heyman] …assets.
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] She has a lot of assets, there's no doubt about that.
Anybody can see that.
Oh! That--
That slap became a liability for Torrie Wilson.
[Heyman] Oh, here we go.
Now the match gets interesting!
[Ross] Good grief.
And Jack Doan just got it.
-[Heyman] Who's your mama? -[Ross] Doan smiling. Now that is weird.
And there's a take down.
Cat o' nine tails.
Heyman don't need it. He's got Cook on his back.
The roll over, girls are trying to jockey.
Yeah, wrong term.
And trying to maneuver for position.
And look at Doan, these women rolling all over him.
[Heyman] I want to be Jack Doan when I grow up.
[Ross] He wants to be Jack Doan when he grows up.
Stacy Keibler with a handful of hair on Torrie Wilson.
And look at the flexibility of that leg.
-[Doan] Two, three-- Hey! -[Ross] It reminds me…
[Heyman] You're looking at the flexibility?
What the hell is wrong with you?
I need to take you out more often. Then again, maybe not.
-[Ross] Oh, nice sunset flip. -One! Two!
Torrie Wilson-- And Stacy reverses.
Oh, another reversal here.
[Heyman] I'm looking, I'm looking!
[Ross] Well, there's another pinning predicament.
One… Right shoulder's up.
[Ross] Well, I can just imagine
what some folks might be thinking right now.
[crowd roaring]
Stacy, a little worse for the wear with that near fall exchange.
Watch the hair.
[Ross] And the referee said, "Watch the hair."
Hair.
[Ross] And it's Stacy with those long legs--
with that kind of a modified headscissors.
-Paul, you all right? -[Heyman] What?
Huh? Yes, I'm wonderful, thank you.
Let go of the hair.
[Ross] Torrie got a right hand in as Stacy pulled Torrie up by the hair.
Certainly, these ladies not trained grapplers.
They have got the guts to get out here in this lingerie.
Snapmare. Leg hook.
-Two! -[Ross] And a…
near fall according to referee Jack Doan.
Now, these two ladies came here from WCW as friends
in The Alliance of Torrie's interpromotional relationship with Tajiri.
Look at that move. Right off Tajiri's playbook.
Torri going for the cover. Oh, my.
[bell ringing]
[Ross] Well, I liked that.
[Howard] Here is your winner, Torrie Wilson.
[Ross] Make me write bad checks.
-[Heyman] I'll pay cash. -[Ross laughs]
Oh, my.
The ladies in the lingerie strutting their stuff.
And a little retribution for Torrie Wilson
on the leggy Stacy Keibler.
[Heyman] You think now they'll kiss and make up?
-[Ross] Well, I would think that's not-- -[Heyman] Please.
[Ross] In your dreams.
[Heyman] Actually, that's a very accurate statement.
[Ross] I can only imagine.
Kurt Angle…
this past Thursday night on SmackDown, we saw the return of Mr. McMahon.
Yet he seemingly supported Rob Van Dam.
Mr. McMahon is here tonight, and he vows to make an impact.
Well, Michael, we all know that Mr. McMahon
marches to the beat of a different drum.
And obviously, he has his eyes set on Rob Van Dam for some good reason,
but tonight, I got my eyes set on both Stone Cold Steve Austin
and Rob Van Dam because tonight--
[Vince] Kurt, Kurt.
How you doing, pal? Long time no see.
Good to see you.
[audience cheering]
I just wanted to drop by and wish you the best of luck tonight, okay?
Well, thanks, Mr. McMahon.
But quite frankly, I don't think I'll be needing luck
because tonight I'm gonna go out there
and win the World Wrestling Entertainment title one more time.
Oh, it's true.
It's-- Oh, hell yeah, it's true.
As a matter of fact,
it's Van Dam true.
Christian, we all saw what you did last week.
And now, we're just moments away from you facing your brother, Edge
for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder--
Remember when Edge and I were a tag team.
And everybody was saying, "How great is Edge?"
"He's gonna be a huge star one day."
Well, you know, the thing that people fail to realize is
that no matter how good you are,
there's always somebody just a little bit better.
And if anybody knows that,
it's the people right here in St. Louis.
I mean just three years ago,
Mark McGwire set the home run record,
and now look at him,
beaten, broken down,
and his precious record shattered by a better man.
Just like last week, the Cardinals were beaten
by a better team.
And just like tonight, I'm gonna prove to Edge
and the entire world
that Christian is just plain better.
[Ross] Well, there's only one way to ascertain that for sure,
and that's to get it on here.
[Heyman] No doubt, a ladder match
between the two masters of the ladder match.
Brother versus brother for the Intercontinental title.
[Ross] And this rivalry really escalated a month ago at Unforgiven.
[Christian] The whole world discovered just who the superior brother was
when I defeated Edge
to become your new Intercontinental Champion.
[Ross] Well, that damn Christian.
That is nothing but pure jealousy.
[Christian] I'm not jealous, I'm the Intercontinental Champion.
[Ross] Christian's got an ego problem.
[Edge] Christian, the police called. Mom's been in an accident. We got to go.
Why didn't they call me first?
-[O'Haire] Hey, what's up boys? You going somewhere?
No, we aren't. Get out of the way.
[indistinct chatter]
[foreboding music playing]
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen, there is a new member
of The Alliance,
Christian.
[Christian] There was an accident, Edge…
27 years ago when mom gave birth to you.
[Ross] The jealous, pathetic Christian.
This is revolting.
[Edge] I'm thinking a lot. I no longer have to feel guilty
when I beat the hell out of my brother.
I no longer have a brother.
Christian is going to have a little accident of his own.
♪ Never gonna stop ♪
[Heyman] The two men that are the masters of the ladder match,
Edge and Christian, going against each other
for the Intercontinental title.
[Michael] Brother versus brother in a ladder match
for the Intercontinental title.
[Heyman] The Intercontinental title dangling over the ring,
the only way to become the Intercontinental Champion
is to climb the ladder and retrieve the title.
[Ross] It'll be a ladder match at No Mercy
for Christian's Intercontinental Championship.
Brother versus brother.
♪ Christian! ♪
♪ At last you're on your own! ♪
["At Last" playing]
[Ross] And here comes the reigning Intercontinental Champion…
about to meet his very own brother.
Not a rousing ovation as Christian has gotten here before.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest is the ladder match
for the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Championship.
In the ring representing The Alliance,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Champion,
Christian.
[Heyman] What a huge coup for The Alliance of WCW and ECW
when we got our hooks
into the WWE Intercontinental Champion,
Christian.
[Ross] And there you see referee Mike Chioda
putting the Intercontinental Championship belt and wrapping it around that apparatus
that will be then suspended above the ring.
The object of the match, no pinfalls, no submissions,
no count-outs, no disqualifications.
One object, to use the ladder, to climb the ladder,
and retrieve the Intercontinental title.
Whomever does that is the champion.
[woman] You think you know me.
["Never Gonna Stop" playing]
[Howard] The challenger,
weighing 245 pounds,
Edge.
[Ross] I'll tell you what. If Edge can maintain his composure
and not get so emotionally in this matchup,
we could have a new Intercontinental Champion here tonight.
But you just don't know.
I've got a big feeling by the look of Edge's face.
And here comes Christian.
-Christian and Edge… -[bell ringing]
…meeting each other on the rampway
with the Intercontinental title on the line in this ladder match.
[Heyman] But how could Edge keep his composure?
I mean, Christian used their parents
in a setup to beat Edge's head in.
No way can Edge keep his composure in this match.
[Ross] What a sick ruse that was.
Created, perpetrated, and executed
by Christian using a call said,
Edge and Christian's own mother and father.
[Heyman] Hold on. With an assist from The Alliance.
[Ross] Yeah. I know The Alliance was involved,
-but it was Christian's idea. -[Heyman] Of course it was.
[Ross] And Edge now shoving Christian in the ring.
Remember, there are no pinfalls, no submissions,
no disqualifications, or count outs.
Only one way to end this match
and that is to utilize the ladder by climbing it and retrieving-- Oh, my.
High back bodydrop.
And retrieving the Intercontinental title,
whoever does that is the Intercontinental Champion
here tonight at No Mercy.
[Heyman] Seven times, Edge and Christian have been the WWE Tag Team champions,
and that's a fact.
It's always Edge and Christian. Edge and Christian.
Why was it never Christian and Edge?
[Ross] Well, I don't know, but why do you care?
[Heyman] Well, because I'm a friend of Christian's.
He's a fellow member of The Alliance.
I feel bad that Christian never got the credit he deserves.
[Ross] So how long have you been friends with him? Since last Thursday?
[Heyman] Since Wednesday when he agreed to join.
[Ross] Edge-- Oh, got hung up there.
And again, as Christian now for the first time
bringing the ladder into the fray, if you will.
And this ladder can be used as a weapon as we have seen on many occasions
And, well, right there, certainly was a weapon,
right back in the solar plexus of Christian.
The infamous table, ladders, and chairs matches
that these two men participated in as partners
were certainly some of the most memorable confrontations I've ever witnessed.
[Heyman] And now both Edge and Christian get to use that knowledge
against each other.
[Ross] Again, no disqualifications
as Christian is Bieled over the security wall
right up to the concrete floor.
And Christian, his brother would like to get away.
Comes back with a couple of right hands.
I just don't think Christian has the guts
and he certainly doesn't have the character his brother Edge has. Man!
No, but Christian has the Intercontinental title
which his brother, Edge, does not have.
[Ross] Edge won the King of the Ring this year,
certainly a great accomplishment.
Also, won the Intercontinental title,
lost it about a month ago at Unforgiven
as his own little brother, Christian, using that low blow then
to win the Intercontinental Championship.
-[Heyman] That wasn't just a low blow. -[Ross] Well, it didn't hurt anything.
-[Heyman] It was a low blow with a chair. -[Ross] There you go.
Well, I stand corrected.
Edge using the backdrop. Outside, back in.
[fan] He's a traitor.
And then Christian feeling the wrath,
the physicality of his own brother and the ladder.
This ladder can be used in so many unique ways,
and everything is a gamble.
Anytime you utilize an inanimate object like a ladder
or a table or whatever it may be,
it is a dangerous environment.
Even more dangerous than these men put their selves through
on a normal matchup.
And the catapult.
And Christian face first into the Home Depot special.
[Heyman] Which man is the better athlete?
Which brother deserves to be the Intercontinental Champion?
And in my opinion, the answer is Christian.
And that takes nothing away from Edge, who's a great competitor.
He's just not as great as his brother, Christian.
[Ross] Edge placing that ladder,
well, you see on the steps and on the security wall.
And Edge, he's got his eyes raked by his own brother.
And Edge elevated and dropped right on that ladder.
You noticed the ladder didn't move, didn't give,
but Edge's body did. Those ribs-- Edge holding his ribs there.
[Heyman] Advantage now goes to Christian,
the reigning Intercontinental Champion.
[fan] Come on Edge!
[Ross] Edge hurting for certain, trying to work his way back up.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
Christian with a handful of hair bringing Edge on that ladder,
and that is a dangerous bridge that he's teetering on.
Great camera shot there.
-Oh, man. -[Heyman] Oh.
[Ross] Christian, just straddling the rungs of that ladder.
And I can only imagine that bruising.
[Heyman] How can Edge treat his own brother that way?
Has he no shame?
[Ross] You've got to be kidding.
He's got some shame all right.
-Look at this. -[Heyman] I mean, look at this.
This ruined Edge's chances of ever becoming an uncle.
[Ross] Absolutely.
Well, that was a blessing in disguise if that could occur.
There'll be no Uncle Edge in his future,
as Christian thrown back on the inside.
Again, it would be a great opportunity for Edge to go for a pinfall,
but that is not the structure of the rules in a ladder match.
[Heyman] No pinfalls, no submissions,
no disqualifications, no count outs.
You climb the ladder, you retrieve the title,
and you leave the Intercontinental Champion.
[Ross] Edge-- Oh!
And did Christian make a--
Pulling the old rabbit out of his hat there using that ladder,
the ladder right back in the face of Edge,
and Christian still feeling the effects of what occurred to him earlier.
[Heyman] Here you go. Edge may be bigger and stronger,
but Christian is the more resourceful of the two brothers.
[Ross] Certainly was on that particular opportunity.
And that could be a knockout blow.
Again, you want to incapacitate your opponent to the--
to the extent that you're able to climb the ladder,
preferably unmolested, and get the Intercontinental title.
[Heyman] No doubt. No doubt. And now Christian has a chance.
Christian needs to get that ladder propped up
and go and retrieve the Intercontinental title,
which I might add belongs to Christian.
[Ross] Christian, the reigning Intercontinental Champion
strategically placing that ladder as close as he can,
directly underneath the Intercontinental title belt.
Christian climbs the ladder, gets the title belt, it's over.
And he will retain the gold.
But here comes brother, Edge,
upsetting the ladder, but getting taken down in the process.
[Heyman] But Christian landed on his feet.
Again, more resourceful is Christian.
And Christian nails Edge with a clothesline.
[Ross] That ladder, like a battering ram, right into the torso
of the challenger for the Intercontinental title.
You know, I think Christian, and maybe he hid it well,
was jealous of his brother all along.
[Heyman] I actually see it the other way around.
I think it's been Edge that has been jealous of Christian's talent
-for all these years. [crowd] Christian sucks!…
[Ross] Well, certainly Christian is a very talented competitor.
Now, he's looking for something else.
There's one ladder in the ring,
one ladder propped up against the ring
and now this steel chair.
We are seeing these two men, especially Christian,
effectively utilize the steel chair
because there's no disqualification. Anything goes here.
And, man, Edge is in a precarious spot, nowhere to go.
And--
Oh my God!
Almost a snapmare takeover by Edge.
And Christian, spine first, right on that aluminum ladder.
[Heyman] Desperation move by Edge, but Edge has to capitalize
on the advantage now.
[Ross] And I'll tell you what. Somebody thinking these guys knew how to fall,
how you learn to fall with your spine on an aluminum ladder is beyond me.
And Edge has the opportunity here
with his brother wracked in pain to set the ladder up
and go upstairs to the Intercontinental title.
That apparently is not what Edge has on his mind.
Oh, man.
Christian on his brother's shoulders. And again,
shoved off in a very precarious way on that ladder.
Both men are down, and Christian,
after two high impact moves in the rope, Paul, on that ladder,
he may not recover.
[Heyman] Christian's in a bad way.
The beating that these two men have inflicted on each other
is definitely taking its toll.
Edge slowly crawling to the ladder.
With Christian,
you can see the-- feel those ill effects
of his encounters with this ladder.
And now Edge setting the ladder up for something else,
that only he knows what's up here.
-[Heyman] Edge is still hurting, though. -[Ross] Absolutely.
[Heyman] Edge needs to fight off the pain
and put away Christian.
-But here comes Christian. -[Ross] Oh!
Reversal of the whip…
in a very strategically…
[referee] What do you say, Edge? Huh?
[Ross] …right on time move. I mean--
You've couldn't have asked for a better counter for Christian
and the bottom just dropped out.
Here's another look of this reversal.
[Heyman] Here you go. Christian with great presence of mind,
realizing… Wham!
That he was gonna be whipped into the ladder.
And Christian giving his brother a dose of his own medicine.
[Ross] I'll tell you what, you test the abs and the--
and the strength of that abdominal wall there
going the-- gut first in that ladder.
You've got a feeling who's gonna win out there as Edge now down,
and Christian seemingly has an advantage, but both men are hurting.
There's just no doubt and no other way around it.
[Heyman] This battle for the Intercontinental Championship.
Now, Christian needs to put away Edge, get the ladder, and go for the title.
[Ross] Uh-oh. Oh, my. Look out here.
And Edge…
driven face first right into the ladder,
tried to get his hands up and who wouldn't,
but it was too little too late on that exchange
as Christian seemingly widens the offensive advantage here
with some innovative work with the ladder.
Mike Chioda simply here to ring the bell
once the Intercontinental title has been taken down
from where it is hanging, high above the ring.
[Heyman] Christian needs to fight back the pain,
retrieve the ladder, climb it, get the title,
and get the hell out of St. Louis now.
[Ross] And with one ladder in the ring,
[fan] Grab the ladder!
Christian bringing another ladder into the-- into the mix here.
[Heyman] The master of the one-man Con-Chair-To has a ladder, props it up,
and now, now, the newest member of The Alliance, Christian,
gets ready to ascend towards his own title.
[Ross] You don't wanna create an environment
where it's a horse race up the ladder.
Obviously, the game plan, you incapacitate and then you climb.
And right now, Christian having a hell of a time.
He's using the ladder to pull himself up.
But Christian looking to go up top.
Edge, on the other hand, setting up his ladder
or the other ladder…
as it were.
Christian with a little bit of an advantage here
reaching for the Intercontinental Championship
and a right hand by Edge.
-And-- Oh my God! -[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Both men putting their bodies on the line.
The air driven out of both guys, the lower back of Edge
riveted with pain, but look at the damage done
on the high impact move to the champion.
[Heyman] Look at what these men are willing to put their bodies through
in pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship.
[Ross] When you land on your posterior, compressing that spine,
and that's a guy delivering the move.
Man, what a unique camera angle
looking straight down at the-- at the impact there,
and now it's hard to say who has a real advantage.
It would seem it would be the Edge, but I'm not so sure.
His back was apparently cramping up on him.
[crowd cheering and yelling]
You've got to have that lower body strength
and the strength of your legs to climb that ladder.
The fans getting behind Edge. The fans are wanting Edge
to win this Intercontinental title bout it would seem.
[Heyman] Well, that's only because the fans are biased towards him.
[Ross] And a shot to the kidneys and that lower back.
Not a bad move by Christian,
and now Christian looking to return the favor.
[crowd roaring]
Gosh almighty, that's in high impact.
[Heyman] Both men are down again.
Two ladders propped up,
the Intercontinental title dangling over the ring.
Edge and Christian battling it out.
Christian driving Edge right down into the canvas.
[Ross] And I've seen car wrecks that are more genteel
than that impact.
And the referee talking to both men.
Here's another unique camera angle, that shot from high above.
-[Heyman] Oh, man. Wham. -[Ross] All the way down.
Yeah, that's a hell of a trip, Paul. That landing is just-- it's bad.
It's an abrupt landing.
And a-- you know, I started to say Christian,
he's thinking, and he always is,
"I'd get rid of one of those ladders."
Commandeer one ladder, get rid of the other one.
And now Christian again looking under the ring.
He's got yet another steel chair.
What else is Christian looking for?
[Heyman] Two steel chairs.
[Ross] Well, we have seen Christian utilize steel chairs
about as effectively as anybody in recent memory.
[Heyman] The master of the one-man Con-Chair-To, Christian,
the Intercontinental Champion, the newest member of The Alliance,
comes back into the ring with two chairs.
[Ross] I'm not so sure that Christian even needs to add
the injury to injury here
and then insult his brother by retaining the title.
I'm not so sure Edge is gonna be able to get up.
And look at this. A defenseless Edge,
his face lying right on that steel chair.
-And, oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Edge rolled on his back, shoved the chair into his brother's face,
and that was out of desperation.
[Heyman] Now where is Edge going?
[Ross] Edge got something on his mind
because he is bringing yet a third ladder into the ring.
[Heyman] Now what's this about?
[Ross] All we need are tables and we got
tables, ladders, and chairs in this contest.
Certainly, ladders and ladders and chairs and chairs.
I have no idea what Edge is thinking.
He has definitely got something on his mind.
There you see that third ladder.
[Heyman] It's propped up between two chairs.
[Ross] And Christian face first on that ladder,
turned on his back, hammered in the face with right hands
by the challenger for the Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Oh, no. Oh, no. What in the…
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] What in the name of brotherhood--
Is Edge going up top?
-[Heyman] Oh, no! -[Ross] On top with a splash!
Edge just splashed his brother…
right across the ladder.
It may have hurt Edge almost as much as it hurt the Intercontinental Champion.
[Heyman] Now one man needs to fight back the pain,
needs to climb a ladder, and retrieve the damn title.
[Ross] This crowd oohing and aahing and then murmuring under their breath
talking about, "Can you believe that?"
This is one of those matches,
kind of like we talked about the car accident
you can hardly not take your eyes off of as you're going by.
Lot of rubbernecking here as the fans wondering
what these two guys are gonna do next
utilizing now three ladders with two chairs in the ring as well.
[Heyman] Two chairs, two brothers, three ladders,
and one title dangling over the ring.
The Intercontinental Championship at stake.
-Edge going up the ladder. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Edge climbing the ladder, wants to defeat his brother
and regain the Intercontinental title in the process.
Edge dangerously close,
but Christian more dangerous using that ladder.
Again, right in the ribs to knock his brother Edge off the ladder.
And again, the Intercontinental title at least for the moment is still safe.
[Heyman] This is Christian's chance.
Right now, Christian needs to take advantage of the situation
and retrieve the title.
Enough of the sibling rivalry.
Get your title and get out of here.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
-[Ross] Christian… -[Heyman] Come on, you got to admit,
my advice is brilliant.
[Ross] Not bad advice. I'd get it over with as quick as I could.
Boy, this misery and blues that these two men are…
are, uh… are affecting on each other.
You gotta wonder. Something's gotta give here.
Anatomically, something's got to give.
-[Heyman] Christian's going up. -[Ross] And so is Edge.
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Edge on the top rope!
Christian within a foot of his title, and a Spear!
Top rope, to the ladder, body on body,
and the champion and the challenger both down!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] And a look of-- I don't know if it's fright or pain,
amazement, bewilderment,
whatever you wanna call it on the Intercontinental Champion's face.
And again, the title
so passively hanging there with so much going on underneath it.
[Heyman] Look at Christian reaching for the title inches away.
Wham! His brother, Edge, out of nowhere
with a Spear off the top rope.
[Ross] Both men trying to fight their way up to the knees.
That's a major accomplishment at this part of the contest.
Both men having a very difficult time even standing,
much less thinking about climbing the ladder.
[Heyman] Can you imagine what this is doing to Edge and Christian's parents
watching their two sons beat each other half to death this way?
[Ross] That's a very unfortunate situation
that was perpetrated by a jealous Christian.
[Heyman] Hey, you're right. It's all Edge's fault. I'm--
-[Ross] I didn't say that. -[Heyman] Yes. I heard you say it.
[Ross] Both men now, climbing up one ladder.
And both on the same ladder are the challenger and the champion,
exchanging their right hands.
Something has got to give here and…
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] Oh, look out!
-Both men! The ladder fell! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Edge and Christian both from the top of the ladder
over the top rope to the floor.
-[fan 1] Come on, Edge! Come on! -[fan 2] Come on!
[Ross] And the participants in this ladder match
for the Intercontinental title, both are down,
but remember, neither can be counted out.
And I would assume the only other way you could end a ladder match
is if that both men were unable to continue.
[Heyman] Well, then who would be the Intercontinental Champion?
[Ross] I would assume that it would be the man that came in with the title.
[Heyman] Oh, I'd have to get some smelling salts to wake up Christian
and help him up there.
[Ross] I've never seen-- Well, that is a moot point
because Christian pulling and fighting his way
back into the ring.
[Heyman] And now, now, it's Christian's time.
[Ross] Now is the opportunity that perhaps Christian has looked for in this match
if he fully is aware of it. You don't know what's going on in his mind
if he's even thinking clearly or straightly.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] Edge on the floor on the outside.
This is the golden moment that Christian should have been waiting for.
[Heyman] Here it is. Grandma Edna's gonna be so proud.
Christian on his way climbing that stairway to heaven
to grab the Intercontinental title
and keep it in The Alliance.
I'm so proud of Christian.
[Ross] And Christian is-- he is-- you could tell now the effects
of this match from head to toe on both of these men.
And Christian trying to climb up using his arms
almost as much as his legs to climb this ladder.
[Heyman] Christian fighting back the pain.
He's a hurt puppy and he's-- Oh, no.
[Ross] Edge back in the ring.
Oh no! Edge with a low blow!
Edge with a low blow. Shades of Unforgiven.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Edge is using the chair
just as Christian did at Unforgiven.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
Edge now maneuvering those chairs, or at least the one chair.
He has another chair in his hand.
I have no idea.
I know the one thing that Christian has had two severe blows
below the belt in this matchup, and that second one maybe has cost him
the Intercontinental title or maybe not.
And man, what a danger-- look at-- look at Christian.
[Heyman] Oh, no. What-- J.R.…
-[Ross] Christian hanging. -[Heyman] You don't think…
[Ross] He has balanced on the top of that ladder. Oh, wait a minute.
[Heyman] There's no way that--
No, no!
Not a one-man Con-Chair-To!
-No! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Oh my God! The Con-Chair-To!
Steel on steel, a skull sandwich!
And Christian falling limply from the top of the ladder!
-Edge is there! And Edge has done it! -[bell ringing]
[Ross] Edge is the Intercontinental Champion!
[Howard] The winner of this bout, and new
World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Champion, Edge.
[Ross] A tremendous ovation from this sold-out crowd!
And these guys went through hardware hell!
But it's Edge retaining and--
or regaining, I should say,
the Intercontinental Championship!
♪ Never gonna stop ♪
♪ Never gonna stop me ♪
[Ross] Man, that was a piece of work! Let me tell you!
♪ Scream if you want it ♪
A slobberknocker in the ladder aisle at the hardware store.
And I don't know if this is gonna heal any of those family wounds, Paul,
but let me you that Edge has got to be happy
that he's once again the Intercontinental Champion.
[Heyman] Oh, man. That one-man Con-Chair-To
on top of the ladders, and that put Christian away.
Look at the length that Edge had to go to,
look at the depth that Edge has to sink to.
to become the Intercontinental Champion again.
[Ross] Man, this was a hell of a match.
These two guys are gonna be sore for weeks.
["Click Click Boom" playing]
[Heyman] My hometown of New York City.
[Ross] Scarsdale. And there you see Spike Dudley.
Certainly, Spike-- Well, Spike drowning his troubles here.
And Spike certainly had a very precarious situation just weeks ago.
[Heyman] Look at this. Bubba Ray and D-Von top rope, wham!
Catapulting their own little brother,
150-pound Spike, over the top rope
and driving Spike right through the table
two weeks ago on SmackDown.
[Ross] Well, I'll tell you what, Spike. I hope you could hear us tonight.
I just got to know after what happened there,
you're sitting there at the bar at the WWE New York.
-How are you feeling? -[crowd chanting]
[Ross] Question, how are you feeling, Spike?
I feel like 100 bucks.
You know, I just came down to WWE New York
to enjoy the show and to watch Tajiri and Big Show
lay a beating down on Bubba and D-Von.
[Heyman] Oh, hold on, hold on, Spike.
It's only been a couple of weeks ago since you went through that table,
but it's almost been a month since you got dumped by Molly.
-[crowd cheering] -Hi, Spike.
[Heyman] I'm talking to you.
[bar patrons chattering]
[Heyman] Hello?
I'm sorry, Paul. Did you ask me something? Molly who?
[Ross] Yeah, that's it. Molly who.
I think Spike's doing quite well for himself.
You're a Sagittarius, aren't you?
[Heyman] I was asking him a question.
["We're Coming Down" playing]
[Ross] And speaking of Dudleys.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following tag team contest scheduled for one fall
is for the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Championship.
Representing The Alliance, at a combined weight of 556 pounds,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team champions,
D-Von, Bubba Ray, the Dudley Boyz.
[Ross] The Dudleys are evil, they're nasty,
but they are the best tag team in the WWE
and the best tag team in The Alliance according to…
[Heyman] They're the best tag team in the world, J.R.
Multi-time ECW tag team champions,
multi-time WWE tag team champions.
The masters of the woods.
♪ Well ♪
♪ Well, it's the Big Show ♪
♪ Yes, it's a big bad show tonight ♪
♪ Yeah, it's the Big Show ♪
[Howard] The challengers at a combined weight of 706 pounds,
Tajiri and the Big Show.
[Ross] And the Dudleys saying, "Come get it."
And I don't think the Big Show, seven-two, 500 pounds,
needs a heck of a lot of motivation
for what the Dudleys have done to their little brother, Spike.
♪ But I promise you'll know ♪
♪ The Big Show ♪
-[Ross] That was good. -[Heyman] Thank you.
[Ross] Tajiri, Torrie Wilson's boyfriend…
had to sit there and watch Torrie get driven
through the table a couple of weeks ago.
She has gained some major retribution earlier tonight against
-fellow Alliance member, Stacy Keibler. -[bell ringing]
[Ross] And it will be somewhat surprising here
that Tajiri is starting out for the challengers
against the 325-pound Bubba Ray Dudley.
And as D-Von does a distraction,
you know, Tajiri has got to wrestle with his head
and not his heart here.
[Heyman] Well, I think it's a distinct disadvantage
for the Dudleys here
because the Duchess of Dudleyville, the mastermind herself, Stacy,
is not in the Dudleys' corner right now.
[Ross] Are you saying the Dudleys are too stupid to think for themselves?
[Heyman] No, sir. I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.
[Ross] Bubba Ray going downstairs on Tajiri.
[Heyman] How do you come up with stuff like this?
[Ross] You gotta think that the game plan here would be rather obvious.
Don't let The Big Show get the tag.
Keep Tajiri in this match from start to finish.
If you're the Dudleys, you tag in and out.
Use their Tag Team skills that they have an abundance of,
and you eliminate Tajiri.
[Heyman] Hey, but don't sell Tajiri short.
The Japanese Buzzsaw comes at you with those kicks from all directions.
[Ross] I got a lot of respect for Tajiri, but he's not seven-two, 500 pounds.
And what a shot that was. Nice move by Tajiri.
And Tajiri now looking for three and got a near fall.
Tajiri front facelocking D-Von Dudley.
[crowd cheering]
And I don't think he has to get approval from this crowd to make the tag.
Just go do it.
The Big Show getting right over the top rope very easily.
-How big is he? -[Heyman] Jeez. Look at this.
Why doesn't he pick a fight with someone his own size?
[Ross] As we have mentioned, there ain't nobody his own size.
If you find one, I'd like to see him.
Look at Big Show using that Heyman.
-I mean his backside… -[Heyman] Hey!
-[Ross]…effectively on D-Von Dudley. -[crowd cheering]
[Heyman] That's a whole lot of ass coming at you.
[Ross] That's a bunch of cheeks galore from a 500-pound man.
And a little thumb to the eye.
Certainly gonna slow down the Big Show.
Look at D-Von and Bubba Ray quick to capitalize in the double team.
It didn't work on that exchange. The double team, the clothesline.
And look at how easy the Big Show gets up, the 325-pound, Bubba Ray,
even easier for D-Von.
[Heyman] Now that's scares me when one-- Oh, no.
Tajiri on the move!
-[Ross] And Tajiri… -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] That cannonball over the top!
And did Tajiri take a chance.
Both the Dudleys go down as a result of that high-risk maneuver
by The Japanese Buzzsaw, the young man,
very intelligent by the way, has a degree in economics.
[Heyman] Yeah. But is that in the dollar or the yen?
[Ross] Well, I think it might be yen-oriented.
Sidewalk slam. Leg is hooked. Could be all-- And D-Von…
It looked like D-Von's right shoulder a little bit uncovered.
He got that off the canvas just inches and stopped the count.
And there's the tag. And a hard kick right to the ribs.
And if you think those kicks won't break your ribs, folks,
you got to think again.
[Heyman] It hurts so bad when the point of Tajiri's boot
comes right into your body.
[Ross] WWE Tag Team titles on the line.
Full nelson into the Bubba Bomb.
The Dudleys, five-time WWE Tag Team champions.
[Big Show] Get up, Tajiri.
-[Ross] And they didn't beat-- -Look at him now!
[Ross] They didn't beat a bad team, The Undertaker and Kane
on September the 17th to become the WWE Tag Team champions.
[Heyman] And the Dudleys have defended those titles on behalf of The Alliance
with nothing but honor…
-[Ross] There's a tag. -[Heyman] …and dignity.
[Ross] Well, let's don't get too carried away here.
I will let the honor slide by.
But get in the dignity area of the Dudleys that's kind of an oxymoron.
And look at D-Von, all right hands on the isolated Tajiri
right in the middle of Dudleyville.
Right next to the town square in the Dudley corner.
[Heyman] And here comes the nightmare of Dudleyville, Bubba Ray Dudley.
And a double team by the Dudley Boyz.
[Ross] Flapjack. Shades of The Midnight Express there
by the Dudleys taking down Tajiri face first.
And Tajiri's face just bounced off that canvas.
[Heyman] But The Midnight Express were never as vicious, never as brutal,
never as aggressive, never as heartless,
never as merciless as the Dudley Boyz.
[Ross] And the cover. And never a three count on that…
situation by D-Von Dudley.
And suddenly, Tajiri is fighting with everything he has.
Maybe a little undersized in this environment
with these participants, but Tajiri, he knows no limits
as far as his competitive spirit is concerned.
Snapmare take over.
[Heyman] Quick tags in and out by Bubba Ray and D-Von.
D-Von now cutting off the ring, keeping Tajiri at bay,
not allowing the tag to the seven-two, 500-pound Big Show.
[Ross] Certainly a wise strategy. There you see the Big Show looking on.
And the Dudleys have allowed one tag by Tajiri.
I'm sure they would like to prevent any more.
You just don't need that powerhouse, that 500-pound man
who really can… The most elementary maneuvers
become extraordinary when you're that big and that powerful
as the Big Show is.
[Heyman] Do you think the Dudleys are stupid enough
to want to fight The Big Show?
[Ross] Well, I would hope not.
I don't think they are.
Even though they've got a lot of moxie, do the Dudleys.
And Tajiri!
And Tajiri saw that one coming, got the kick up out of desperation.
At least caused some seper-- caused some separation.
And the Big Show would love a tag.
[Heyman] That's just what we need, a restless giant looking to tag in.
Big Show tapping his hands, looking forward to the tag
like he would an all-you-can-eat buffet.
And there is a tag. And the big man looking to come
over the top-- Wait a minute.
There was a tag there.
[Heyman] The masters of the distraction,
-the Dudley Boyz. -[Ross] Wait a minute!
-[Heyman] Hey, J.R. -[Ross] Wait a minute!
-[Heyman] Watch out! -[Ross] Big Show made the tag obviously.
The referee didn't see it!
I guess you can't allow what you don't see,
but, man, that was horrific break
for the challengers
for the Dudleys' WWE Tag Team title.
[Heyman] And even without the guidance of the brilliant Stacy Keibler--
-look at this. -[Ross] And look at Tajiri.
[crowd gasping]
[Ross] Tajiri somehow got into position to deliver the DDT.
And maybe there is…
life back to the double team of Tajiri and The Big Show.
[Big Show] Come on, tag!
[Heyman] And does the Big Show want to tag in or what?
The Dudleys need to prevent that tag.
[Ross] Tajiri crawling with everything he can muster to make the tag.
D-Von got the tag and so did Big Show.
And the referee, he saw it, he called it.
And here we go. This is not what the Dudleys wanted.
[Heyman] It's not what I wanted either! This is bad news for the Dudley Boyz!
[Ross] The size 22, triple E
right to the face of D-Von a couple of times.
-[shouting] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Big Show with that adrenaline rush
and a chop block by D-Von.
And, uh-oh, Tajiri made a tag.
Tajiri made a blind tag.
And I'm--
You got to wonder if that's going to be a fruitful tag for Tajiri.
But all due respect, the Big Show is hurt there.
And look at Tajiri with those explosive educated feet.
Tajiri getting reversed.
-And… -[Heyman] Tarantula!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Impressive move.
Tajiri can't win the tag team title utilizing the tarantula.
[Heyman] Well, because the man is in the rope,
-you can get counted out that way. -[Ross] Bingo.
And Tajiri, we saw his girlfriend, Torrie Wilson, use that move earlier.
Handspring off the-- off the ropes.
The Dudleys, D-Von, and Bubba Ray, the tag team champions of the WWE.
-And-- Oh. [Heyman] Mist! The mist missed!
[Ross] Tajiri looking for the mist for Bubba Ray,
caught the referee in the eyes inadvertently!
And the Big Show back in!
-The referee… -[Heyman] By the throat, by the throat!
[Ross] Good grief! Man, that is some power.
The Big Show, the Chokeslam, the cover.
One, two, three, four.
But the referee trying to get his vision back.
[Heyman] It's Rhyno! It's Rhyno!
[Ross] What the hell is this?
-Oh! -[Heyman] Gore! Gore! Gore!
[Ross] Rhyno goring the Big Show!
And obviously, the referee didn't see that…
because of the mist in his eyes.
The Big Show taken out of picture at least for a moment.
Tajiri avoiding the contact.
Oh, and the enzuigiri, and down goes D-Von Dudley.
Man, what an upset this would be with the Big Show-- Oh, man.
Right to the temple. The knock out shot.
It's going to be over. Here we go.
It's going to be… And, no, it's not.
[Heyman] How close… how close could that be
for the Dudley Boyz?
[Ross] And Bubba Ray finally back up.
Tajiri landing on his feet…
-[Bubba Ray] Son of a… -[Ross] like an oriental cat.
-[crowd] 3D!
-[Heyman] 3D! -[Ross] Boom!
-The 3D by the Dudleys! -[Heyman] One… two… it's over!
[bell ringing]
["We're Coming Down" playing]
[Howard] The winners of this bout
and still World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team champions,
-the Dudley Boyz! -[Heyman] You did it!
[Ross] Well, I'll tell you one thing,
Rhyno took the Big Show out of the picture.
For The Alliance! For The Alliance!
[Heyman] They did it for The Alliance, J.R.
-[Ross] I figured as much. -[Heyman] They're so generous.
[Ross] And their paycheck.
Well, the Rhyno of The Alliance
certainly proving to be a difference maker here.
The odd man, Rhyno,
able to get the Gore in on the Big Show,
and the Dudleys then able to isolate
-Tajiri… -Thou… shall not mess…
[Ross] …and execute the 3D.
…with the Dudleys.
[Ross] The Dudleys on this occasion
using the help of a third Alliance member
to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[Heyman] Well, here you see it. Rhyno, the referee's down.
Look at this. Gore!
And Rhyno Gores the Big Show right out of the ring!
[Ross] It shows the effectiveness of the Gore taking down the 500-pounder.
The Dudleys retain their gold.
Bloody good job, Rhyno.
That's that kind of initiative we need more of in The Alliance.
-You know why I did that? -Why?
Because I'm tired of people looking and treating The Alliance
like it's some kind of a joke.
I'm going to change the way people look at The Alliance,
even if I have to do it single-handedly.
Bloody good. Bravo.
[narrator] Some call these men the greatest entertainers on earth.
Flying without wings, defying physical limitations.
But the risks these men take are great.
Bodies have been battered, necks broken,
careers ended in an instant.
Yes, this is entertainment, but the hazards are real.
No matter who you are, whatever you do,
please don't try this at home.
Way to go, baby. That's what I'm talking about!
I told you I could beat Kane, baby.
-Give me some, baby! -Just like you're gonna beat Taker.
-That's what I'm going to do tonight. -Yeah.
-What's going down? -It's all about respect.
Rhyno, bam, taking out the Big Show.
-Bam! -That's what it's all about, impact.
It's all about getting respect. And Booker T, check it out.
Test took care of Kane.
-Yeah. -Oh, yeah. And now all you have to do…
all you got to do is take out the Taker. Then…
the entire Alliance will have R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Booker T.
-For you, baby. -For you, man,
because Undertaker has never been the five-time, count,
five-time, one, two, three, four, five-time WCW champ.
-Five times. -And The Undertaker definitely
does not have a move that electrifies millions.
-The Spinaroonie. The Spinaroonie. -The Spinaroonie. Yeah!
You know, tonight…
The Undertaker will be one dead sucker walking.
-Now, can you dig that? -I can dig it.
-Yes! -Yeah!
Give me some!
[Heyman] Hey, The Alliance wants to send out
big our props to our boys, Saliva,
with their song, "Click Click Boom" off of Every Six Seconds,
the theme of No Mercy.
Saliva. That's what keeps ending up on my arm every time you talk, J.R.,
every six seconds.
That's a joke. You're supposed to laugh.
♪ Can you dig it, sucka? ♪
-[Heyman] Can you dig that, sucka? -[Ross] I think there was a disconnect.
I didn't get it.
["Can You Dig It?" playing]
And this guy may get it. Or then again…
♪ Can you dig it, sucka? ♪
[bell ringing]
[Howard] Our contest is scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring, representing The Alliance,
weighing 251 pounds,
Booker T.
[Ross] Well, Booker T, a native of Houston
will meet another Houstonian
in what could be one of those Texas slobberknockers here.
Test beat Kane earlier thanks to some shady officiating.
♪ Keep rollin', Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep rollin', rollin Rollin', rollin' ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Howard] Weighing 305 pounds,
The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Ten years of destruction.
A decade of destruction if you will for old Booger Red.
A big man from Texas is here to fight.
Advertised at 305, I think he's closer to 295
if you're keeping score at home.
What that means in the big picture, he's quicker,
he has more resiliency, more flexibility.
I think that may prove a big problem for Booker T.
[Heyman] Yeah. But The Undertaker's stepping into the ring
with the five-time former W-- Here we go, Booker T on the offensive!
[Ross] Booker T made this challenge to The Undertaker.
And Booker T now, would love to end this one early.
Booker T showing that aggressive streak.
I have been very impressed, even more so
as day by day has gone by
since Booker T first debuted on our airwaves.
[Heyman] How many people do you know have ever called out The Undertaker?
[Ross] Other than his brother, not very many. A short list.
[Heyman] Right. You know why? Because Booker T is fearless,
because Booker T brings the fight to you.
[Ross] The month of October, always a significant month
for both these individuals.
Booker T began his third reign as WCW champion
in October of last year
in an event in San Francisco.
And it was five years ago, October 20th,
when The Undertaker won the first Buried Alive match
on WWE pay-per-view.
And Booker T may feel like he's buried alive
if old Booger Red gets his, uh, his prop-- his feet under him
and gets on track here.
[Heyman] What a match this is in the WWE versus Alliance rivalry.
Booker T, a five-time former WCW champion
against the legend of the WWE,
The Phenom himself, The Undertaker.
[Ross] The match officially underway now
with referee Tim White signaling for the bell.
We're underway in an official way. Pinfalls count now.
Like right here. But the face of Booker T…
Kicking out with what he's got left.
For The Alliance's sake, he better have a lot left
because I got a feeling this one is far from over.
This match much like the Test-Kane match. If you're looking for hurricanranas,
you're not going to find them in this match, I don't think.
The forearm, the lateral press, and a near-fall.
[Heyman] But Booker T keeps the pressure on The Undertaker.
Booker T is not going to give The Undertaker a moment of rest.
[Ross] Booker T a five-time WCW champion
as Paul Heyman alluded to earlier.
Certainly puts him in some very elite company
with some of the great WCW champions over the course of time
and quite frankly some not so great.
That's for another conversation as Booker T goes downstairs
isolating The Undertaker.
You know, I'll tell you what, for Booker T to be really effective here,
somehow along the way, you just got to destroy that vertical base
of the-- of The American Badass.
[Heyman] I mean, you know, Undertaker's 6'10.
He's over 300 pounds.
He is a towering, towering, impressive physical figure.
But Booker T is a fighter.
Booker T brings the fight to you.
And I think, in my opinion,
The Undertaker has an uphill battle
against Booker T tonight.
[Ross] Undertaker now focusing on that arm,
wringing that bicep and tricep,
trying to charley horse the arm up, to knot it up
and certainly weaken the arm. Booker T is a right-handed competitor.
Therefore one would assume his left arm
is not as strong as the right, perhaps more vulnerable.
[Heyman] This, I hate. I hate-- Ooh, man, I hate it when he does this to people!
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Look at the strength of this. Unbelievable strength by The Undertaker,
taking down Booker T, dropping the leg.
Almost as trying to work into a short-armed scissors here
as The Undertaker trying to rip that insertion point at the elbow.
And a-- Watch those shoulders.
[Heyman] Do you know what that could do to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles?
[Ross] And Booker T rolling through.
Undertaker holding on to that arm and lets Booker T back down.
[Heyman] Booker T is not just a very tough street fighter,
Booker T is an accomplished grappler.
The man knows what he's doing.
[Ross] Undertaker, a multi-time WWE champion.
And taking down…
Uh oh, look at that-- The armbar that cross-- that armbreaker.
The arm focuses on the elbow, folks, on that move.
You take it against the grain for the lack of a better term,
hyperextension is what happens.
And now, it may be time for the Old School board session.
[Heyman] This should be so illegal. The velocity
that The Undertaker comes down
on a man's arm with!
[Ross] Undertaker focusing on that arm and elbow,
attacking the joints of the left arm, the elbow, and the shoulder.
[crowd chattering]
[Ross] Hard knockdown.
Booker T knocked down, knocked near the ropes.
And Booker T trying to kick out.
I think Booker T, and he does, was looking to get out of the ring.
He's brought himself a little bit of time,
able to distance himself from The Undertaker.
And The Undertaker now looking to bring Booker T perhaps
right back in the ring, but he's met with a kick.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] And Booker T is kind of muscling The Undertaker
into those steel steps.
[Heyman] As big and as tough and as strong as The Undertaker may be,
I think actually Booker has the advantage when it comes to strength.
[Ross] Well, I wouldn't know about that, but certainly an effective maneuver,
using leverage, if nothing else.
And The Undertaker somewhat being slowed in that offense of an onslaught
that he was utilizing on that arm of Booker T.
You notice, Booker T, again, right handed.
And that left arm get-- Finding his way back into the game.
And now, just like Test did earlier, now Booker T's got the ring bell.
But unlike Nick Patrick, referee Tim White's doing the right thing.
And The Undertaker coming with a right hand.
That may not be the right thing for The Alliance,
but it's effective for The Undertaker taking Booker T to the concrete.
[Heyman] Now, should the referee get involved here as well?
[Ross] I would suggest, yes.
[Heyman] Well, please implement this knowledge of yours, J.R.
Tell the referee.
[Ross] I'll send him a fax.
Oh, wait. We don't have a fax machine.
It's not here tonight. Darn it.
Undertaker measuring Booker T.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Native Texan versus native Texan here.
-[man] Kick him out of here. -[Ross] As Booker T…
And I tell you what, this,
when you get into a toe-to-toe, face-to-face thing with The Undertaker,
it just doesn't usually pay off for you.
[Heyman] Well, give Booker T time. It's still early in the match.
[Ross] I'm not counting Booker T out, but I'm just saying that
the guys that have been able to score the occasional victory on The Undertaker
normally do it by trying to break him down and get the big guy off his feet.
[Heyman] And Booker T has scored a win over The Undertaker not once,
but to my knowledge twice,
which means Booker T knows how to win.
[Ross] Booker T catching The Undertaker coming in and then using that ring post
as Booker T's friend driving The Undertaker into it.
The ring moved. The ropes were shaking
from The Undertaker's impact on the ring post.
[Tim] I'm ringing the bell, damn it.
[Ross] And now, The Undertaker… Boy, he got a faraway look on his eye.
Booker T needs to hit a home run here.
And he's standing at the plate.
[Heyman] And here comes the Barry Bonds of WCW.
-Wham! Home run! -[Ross] Missile dropkick…
-[Heyman] Count him out! One, two, three! -[Ross] …to the jaw.
[Ross] And Booker-- Oh, Booker T, sorry to say, scored a victory here,
but The Undertaker able to kick out.
I don't know if there's anybody
in the entire world of sports entertainment
more physically or mentally tough than The Undertaker.
[Heyman] Oh, I do, and his name is Booker T.
[Ross] Nice heel kick by Booker T. Well, that remains to be seen.
Let me know your opinion in ten years
if he could put together a decade of destruction like The Undertaker.
Booker T makes cover, although belatedly.
And maybe too belatedly as The Undertaker able to kick out.
And quick is the veteran rolling off his back into a--
well, back to that vertical base, but not for long here.
Sidewalk slam, leg hooked and another near-fall.
It's certainly interesting that the game plan of Test versus Kane
is really mirroring the game plan of Booker T and The Undertaker.
[Heyman] And now, Booker T takes a-- Here we go!
-This is it, J.R. -[crow roaring]
[Heyman] the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!
-[Ross] You don't mean that. -[Heyman] Oh, yes, I do.
[Ross] You can't mean that.
-[Heyman] I can, and I do. -[Ross] The emissary of hardcore
calling the Spinaroonie the most electrifying move
in sports entertainment. I do not believe that.
[Heyman] And I'm paid very well by Shane and Stephanie to say it,
-I might add. -[Ross] Hard right hand.
The Undertaker now fighting back on Booker T.
This is not what Booker T wanted. The Undertaker up and vertical.
-And Booker T-- Uh-oh. -[Heyman] Oh, no.
[Ross] And look how easy The Undertaker got Booker T on his shoulders
but not for long, and the neckbreaker.
[Heyman] Nice move by Booker T, great counter, hooks the far leg,
body-on-body, and another near-fall.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Heyman] Good counter by Booker T,
giving The Alliance member his due here.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Heyman] And now Booker T measuring The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And giving The Undertaker enough time
to measure Booker T right back.
Booker may have postured a little too long there.
He'll be thinking about Spinaroonie in his sleep.
Both men exchanging right hands.
And Booker T going downstairs. He just got knocked down.
The Undertaker now looking with a cover.
Neutralizes the arm, but Booker T is still able to kick out.
[Heyman] Booker T will fight and keep on fighting.
Booker T wants to score this huge victory
over The Undertaker here at No Mercy.
[Ross] Undertaker went for the ropes for leverage and paid for it.
[Heyman] Spinning heel kick by Booker T.
Now, Booker T again, looking for three,
and you see The Undertaker.
He just barely got his right shoulder from that-- on that time.
And Booker T's got a great opportunity here.
Building the momentum and lowered the head.
Booker T lowered his head
and the veteran Undertaker scored with a…
at least a close to a 300-pound DDT.
Crawling on top is The Undertaker.
And the president of Deadman Inc.
Looking for three but didn't get it.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] This is The Undertaker's yard or so he says.
Undertaker, the body shots, going upstairs as well.
Booker T shot to the far side. Undertaker follows him in.
We've seen this before with The Undertaker.
He's not gonna surprise you a lot. You know what he does.
You know what he does best, and that's what he comes with.
You're gonna beat him. You're gonna beat him with his best.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] Down this time on the left side.
And The Undertaker with a leg drop on Booker T.
And, good-- Oh.
[Ross] Referee Tim White, I don't think Tim White can believe that.
[Heyman] Booker T is not going to lay down for The Undertaker.
[Ross] Booker T's tough.
[Heyman] You're damn right, Booker T is tough, amongst the toughest,
if not the toughest.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Undertaker measuring his adversary.
And Booker T saw that one coming.
Undertaker had the momentum. It was used against him.
And the spinning heel kick by Booker T knocks down The Undertaker.
And Booker T, this match has had a tremendous ebb and flow.
Both men gaining at times the…
[Heyman] And now, now, J.R.,
it's time for the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Spinaroonie.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] What is so electrifying about that?
[Heyman] It's just-- it just brings a whole new dimension
to sports entertainment.
[Ross] How about pathetic, embarrassing? Spinaroonie.
Now, that scissors kick is impressive.
And that may be it right there. Booker T with a scissors kick,
and The Undertaker, what you don't see too often,
used the bottom rope to stop the count.
[Heyman] Now, that's a testament to the scissors kick
that The Undertaker felt it necessary
to use the ropes to save himself.
[Ross] Booker T connecting with a hard right hand.
Undertaker for the ride, far side, avoids a contact.
-Oh. Wait a minute. -[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Booker T loaded up,
and as the referee was rounding the bend,
Booker T shot his eyes there
and then went downstairs on The Undertaker.
So an undetected low blow
has put Booker T right back on the advantage.
[Heyman] And Booker T capitalizes on the advantage, laying,
drilling those right hands into the jaw of The Undertaker.
-[Tim] Three. -[crowd cheering]
[Heyman] Now, can you dig that, sucka?
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] And-- Uh-oh. Can you dig this?
Underta-- Oh my God, Last Ride!
The Undertaker came out of that corner, overpowered Booker T!
[bell ringing]
-[Ross] And Booger Red wins it! -♪ Keep rollin', rollin, rollin' ♪
[Howard] Here is your winner, The Undertaker.
[Ross] A Texan beat up another Texan! I can't say if that's all bad,
but The Undertaker, when you get him upright,
you got hell to pay!
But you got to hand it to Booker T!
The Undertaker knows by the look on his face
he was just in a hell of a fight!
♪ Keep rollin', Rollin', rollin', rollin'… ♪
[Ross] Booker T had thought he had things firmly under control,
but The Undertaker was vertical.
Booker T, unbeknownst to him, in the perfect position
on that second rope for the bottom to fall out.
Let's take another look.
[Heyman] Well, here you go, Booker T, whamming away at The Undertaker.
And The Undertaker, I'll give him credit,
took advantage of the moment, Last Ride.
Last Ride by The Phenom.
[Ross] Undertaker had a hell of a fight on his hands,
but he prevailed.
The American Badass
executing the Last Ride
to Booker T.
Excuse me, Chris. We're just moments away.
It's all on the line tonight, you and The Rock, WCW--
No. Excuse me.
Right now, it's time to put up
or shut the hell up.
And as much as I'd love to stick around and chat with you, Coach,
if you would excuse me, I got to go win the big one.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Well, that is the rap on Chris Jericho.
Can he win the big one?
His opportunity is here now.
[Heyman] It sure is. Y2J, The Rock
for the WCW title.
This is going to be, in my opinion,
a very interesting matchup.
[Ross] Here's how these two got together.
[Rock] What's going on with The Rock and Chris Jericho?
What happened with The Rock and Y2J?
[Heyman] Jericho is busted open.
[Ross] And Jeric-- Ooh! Jericho aiming for Shane McMahon,
just hit The Rock right between the eyes!
-Jericho was aiming for Shane! -[Heyman] Cover!
-[Ross] …but he got The Rock. No! -[Heyman] One, two, three!
[Ross] My God, I don't believe this!
[Heyman] Van Dam has beat The Rock!
Are you and Y2J cool?
What were you thinking out there?
What the hell does he want from me? I was trying to win the match.
-What did you just say? -You heard what I said.
I said, what the hell do you want from me?
I was trying to win the match.
That's what I said.
Well, The Rock could tell you exactly what he wants from you.
The Rock made mistakes before, but he owned up, took responsibility.
So The Rock just wants you to be a man
and live up and own up to your responsibilities.
Okay. Be a man and live up? You know what, Rock?
Maybe I should've taken that chair and wound up
and knocked the People's Eyebrow right off your People's face.
Well, why don't you knock it off right now?
[Rock] What's going on with The Rock and Chris Jericho?
What happened with The Rock and Y2J?
[commentator 1] A tremendous opportunity for Chris Jericho,
the winner of Jericho-RVD to meet The Rock at No Mercy
for the WCW title.
[commentator 1] Jericho into the cover, the hook of the leg!
-He could have him! He does! -[commentator 2] No! No!
-[commentator 1] He's going to No Mercy! -[commentator 2] No! Damn!
[commentator 1] Jericho faces The Rock!
[Rock] So now, the match is set.
No Mercy, The Rock Y2J for the WCW title.
The general consensus is that Y2J can't win the big match.
He can't win the big one.
But the way I see it in order to win the big one
I have to defeat the great one.
The reason you can't win The big one, simply you are not that good.
[Rock] What's happened with The Rock and Y2J?
[Jericho] This is going to be huge.
He has no idea.
No idea.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Come on, you know I got ya Yeah ♪
♪ One, break the walls down ♪
♪ For those about to rock I'm what ya want ♪
♪ Baby, you know you're Judas And I'm your priest ♪
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WCW Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing 227 pounds,
Chris Jericho.
[Ross] As you can hear, ladies and gentlemen,
a great ovation for Chris Jericho,
one of the most popular competitors in the WWE
in his first opportunity to wrestle for the WCW title
even though he was in WCW
from 1996 to 1999.
I don't know what that says of the matchmaking in Atlanta
but in any event, is Chris Jericho a Bill Buckner?
Is he a choke artist?
Quite frankly, I don't think so.
[Heyman] Well, we're gonna find out tonight, aren't we?
Because to be the WCW champion…
♪ If you smell What The Rock is cooking ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[Heyman] …Jericho has to beat this man,
The Rock, the WCW champion.
[Howard] Weighing in at 235 pounds,
the WCW champion,
The Rock.
[Ross] The Rock
has certainly had his moments in No Mercys.
And what an ovation. The flashbulbs going off
for the electrifying WCW champion.
The Rock lost the WWE title last year at No Mercy.
Could it be two years in a row?
Chris Jericho has never won a major championship here.
If you look at the WWE title,
he got that decision overturned in a controversial manner.
That's water under the bridge, it's here now
to dispel all the whispering.
And look at the-- these two men locking eyes.
You hit it right on the head earlier,
these guys have really developed a keen rivalry.
[Heyman] Well, that's what the WCW title will do to men.
This match is very simple.
It's all about the WCW championship.
All the heritage, all the glory, all the fame,
and to win to defend the WCW title
in St. Louis, Missouri
carries a lot of weight.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] St. Louis, Missouri, the site of some great championship matchups
over the years.
I think of WCW title matchups,
I think of the Black Scorpion situation, I think of Ric Flair,
I think of all the greats that preceded him,
the Jack Briscos of the world, and the NWA.
And here we are here and now in this beautiful new Savvis Center
completely sold out.
Two very popular men, The Rock, the incomparable Brahma Bull
against Chris Jericho,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada's contribution to the WWE.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Nice exchange. Good go-behind for the hammerlock by Y2J.
Both these men, Paul, at least in my estimation,
are very high-spirited.
They are very competitive no matter what they're doing.
And you got to wonder how long this match-- What a great takedown.
Shades of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat on the NWA title.
It's amazing to me or will be amazing
how long these two men are able to maintain this degree of decorum.
[Heyman] I think that they're both tremendous professionals
who are in pursuit of the WCW title.
Two men grappling in the center of the ring
in St. Louis, Missouri,
for a championship that traces back further
than any other title in our sport.
[Ross] Rock, a third generation star here in the World Wresting Entertainment.
His grandfather, Peter Maivia, the high chief.
Nice arm drag takedown by Chris Jericho.
And Jericho quickly getting in deeply on The Rock's arm now
trying to-- Again that short arm scissors, and into the knee,
that knee right on the bicep.
There's a great camera shot.
Our cameras taking you right inside the ring.
Nobody does it better than the WWE.
And those knees right on the bicep knotting up that arm,
at least that's the intent of Y2J.
The Rock's father, Rocky Johnson competing here
on many occasions in St. Louis.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And the great Canadians, all the way back to "Whipper" Billy Watson
that Chris Jericho idolized and heard about as a kid
and saw in the old tapes.
-He didn't see him live. Oh, the slap!
And Jericho got the first blow in there.
Kind of took off the gloves from the former hockey player
and hammering away at The Rock with those right hands
as referee Charles Robinson looks on.
[Heyman] And you realize as a kid,
Jericho grew up hearing stories of Gene Kiniski,
another legendary Canadian, a great champion,
his NWA title reign,
preceded the formation of the WCW championship?
I'll answer that question for you, J.R. "Good point, Paul." Thank you, J.R.
[Ross] Hard knife Edge chop. Good point, Paul.
Hard knife Edge chop by Y2J,
laying them in on that massive chest of The Rock.
The Rock, the WCW champion,
perhaps the most charismatic champion of all time
in sports entertainment.
And The Rock-- Ooh. The Rock held on and made a U-turn.
And now The Rock in the mount position with those short right hands
right to the face of Y2J just as The Rock received earlier
from Jericho the challenger.
And Rock looking for The Rock Bottom.
The Rock with his Rock Bottom, Jericho with his Walls of Jericho.
And The Rock feeling it, knowing it full well,
got to the ropes in record time.
[Heyman] Jericho on the move.
[Ross] Springboard dropkick, down goes The Rock.
And Jericho, you got to believe Jericho is going to pull out
every single stop that he has in his arsenal
that he's ever thought about putting into his offense
that he's ever seen to walk away from St. Louis in No Mercy
and this worldwide audience with the WCW Championship.
[Heyman] Jericho trying to wear down The Rock,
but you cannot win the title on the outside of the ring.
[Ross] That's why Jericho's emotion,
his competitive sprit cannot get the better of him.
And Jericho rolling back in the ring just broke the referee's ten count.
No count-out with Jericho breaking the count.
Now, climbing to the top ropes. Smart move by Jericho a heartbeat ago.
The match continues.
And Jericho, reverse elbow off the top, looking for the cover here, reaches back.
Couldn't secure the leg,
and that gave The Rock the opportunity it would seem, Paul, to kick out.
[Heyman] And look at the way The Rock shoots his shoulder up.
Watch how Rocky just takes that arm
and makes sure that the referee sees it before the three count.
[Ross] Certainly a situation here that The Alliance
I'm sure looking at but very interestingly,
my colleague certainly is.
The Alliance, they're footprints as the WCW title,
and the WCW champion and WWE guy firing back up,
but Jericho got the forearm, a flying forearm.
And The Rock, The Rock shot that near shoulder up,
which tells me The Rock is a little groggy
because that other shoulder would've been easier to get off the canvas.
It was the near shoulder that came up.
And The Rock having to put his hand on his knee to pick himself up.
The Rock is in bad shape here.
Just in boxing, might be a standing eight count.
[Heyman] And now Jericho throwing those chops,
which is not just an excuse for the fans to go, "Whoo."
That takes away your breath.
He chops you right in the striker.
That hurts.
[Ross] And The Rock…
The Rock with those Nature-Boy-like like knife edges of his own,
three or four in a row.
And again, Jericho, with great quickness and resiliency.
Jericho thinking right on his feet there and used his feet.
There's a cover. And The Rock, again, able to roll out.
And Jericho giving some pounds away and some size away in this matchup
and that was a-- certainly a--
I think a very-- very evident in that kick-out.
[Heyman] Here you go, Jericho. What a move.
Lion beats Rocky to the punch.
Jericho now with the advantage.
This is, without question, the greatest opportunity
of Chris Jericho's career.
[Ross] Backbreaker by Jericho. And The Rock…
he's hurting there.
And Jericho taking all his weight straight south.
Destination, Rock's chest.
And now Jericho reaching back.
Can't get the leg. Rock countered! Rock's gonna counter!
[Heyman] And a near-fall here.
[Ross] And Jericho quickly again, using his feet.
He's used his hands, his head, his feet.
Everything is a weapon in Jericho's quest
to wrestle the WCW title from The Rock.
[Heyman] Chris Jericho has competed in Canada,
in Mexico, in Germany,
in ECW, in WCW, in Japan, and in the WWE.
But never, never before in Jericho's career
has he received an opportunity quite like this,
a WCW title against The Rock
in St. Louis at No Mercy.
[Ross] The Rock leaving his feet and popped right back up
with the greater agility of The Rock.
And Jericho sidesteps The Rock.
Sidestepped The Rock, elevated the WCW champion
and The Rock hung out to dry on that top rope.
And now Jericho using the flat of the foot which is as legal as a headlock.
Those fists are not. But Jericho with a high-stakes matchup.
Certainly these two men will be a huge part
of our next tour of the United Kingdom. We're gonna be in Manchester.
[Ross] Fans in the UK,
we're looking forward to that event sold out in Manchester.
[Ross] Rock will be there as will Y2J.
And The Rock…
Certainly, Jericho did not want to land in that particular manner
that is unless he's wearing a cup.
And I'll never know the answer to that.
[Heyman] You're going to check the man.
[Ross] I said, I'll never know the answer to that one.
And The Rock, Jericho teetering on that top rope.
Now, facelocking Jericho is the WCW champion.
And the superplex!
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] And The Rock taking Jericho down
as referee Charles Robinson utilizing that ten count.
And remember The Rock will retain the WCW title
if this match ends in a count-out or a disqualification.
Unlike the Triple Threat match coming up tonight,
that has no disqualification.
-Seven. -[Heyman] We're up to seven.
-[Charles] Eight. -[Heyman] Eight.
-Nine. -[Ross] Both men up.
Count stops.
Rock blocked the right hand and scored with one of his own.
And another right, and Rock, the champion
beating the challenger to the punch on this spiriting matchup
for the WCW title.
The fans cheering on both men, the Samoan Drop.
-[Charles] One, two-- -[Ross] And, ooh!
Well, how poetic would that be to win the-- retain the title
using that Samoan Drop made famous by Rock's grandfather,
Peter Maivia.
Clothesline by Jericho, and The Rock getting right up.
What an athlete.
The Rock with a high threshold of pain gets another burst of adrenaline
and just clubs Jericho over the top rope
right into our announce table.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] The Rock, and I don't know how-- This may be an ill-advised move.
-[Heyman] Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey! -[Ross] Look out!
[Heyman] I hate it when they come over here!
[Ross] The Rock punishing Jericho in this physical matchup.
And this match getting completely out of hand.
And the referee's at-- he's about to count both men out here,
or there could be a disqualification.
And you got-- Where did you go?
-[Heyman] I got the hell out of here. -[Ross] I couldn't leave.
And The Rock with a sharp kick.
[Heyman] You need to try some back foot too or something.
-You need to be light on your feet. -[Ross] I guess.
Into the ribs, and a shot to the head by The Rock.
I'll tell you. You could feel it. That whole sequence was really indicative
of the competitive nature of this matchup
and how bad The Rock wants to retain his title.
And the rivalry that exists between these two,
both are popular men.
Caught Jericho walking right in, running in.
And a-- I don't know if that cover will get it.
Again, The Rock with more weight on the abdomen than the shoulders
and certainly the punishment,
the fatigue that must be setting in on both of these men
will affect their technique.
There's no doubt about that.
[Ross] Jericho being loaded up and taken down in a suplex.
And The Rock reaching back, unorthodox cover.
And Jericho able, again, left shoulder this time
coming off the canvas.
Quite frankly, the referee was in excellent position
to look at those shoulders.
[Heyman] Well, he's an excellent referee. You don't think The Alliance
would have a slouch as one of our officials, do you?
[Ross] Like, Nick Patrick who got--
paid for his sins tonight.
And over the top goes Jericho.
Jericho used that quickness and speed, got up a head of steam,
and then The Rock used it against the challenger.
That's one time where Jericho was too fast, too quick.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] Jericho tossed back in the ring.
And this has been a very physical matchup.
There's another cover, and another near-fall.
Rock looking for covers in the somewhat uncharacteristic places
that we have normally seen The Rock look at, Paul.
[Heyman] Well, The Rock has certainly changed his game plan here.
The Rock now applying the pressure onto Y2J,
trying to slow the momentum of the challenger.
I have to admit, so far, solid game plan by both men.
[Ross] Absolutely. And one great advantage I think Jericho has over The Rock
in all due respect is that speed and quickness.
And this is one way where that whole advantage
is completely negated.
The Rock, the bigger, the stronger of the two.
Obviously the favorite, at least in most people's estimation,
going into this matchup.
[Heyman] I mean, for neither man to be advised by The Alliance,
and wrestles like a smart match,
I have to be impressed.
[Ross] The Rock using that reverse chinlock.
We are live in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Savvis Center completely sold out. This is No Mercy.
Jim Ross and Paul Heyman here at ringside.
The Rock and Chris Jericho competing for the WCW title.
And still to come, yet another main event.
Stone Cold, RVD, Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match
for the WWE title, and it will be no disqualifications.
And you just got to wonder what Mr. McMahon meant when he said
when he got here earlier, "I'm here to make an impact."
[Heyman] I don't like Vince McMahon, I don't trust Vince McMahon,
and quite frankly, I'm worried about what Vince McMahon
may have in mind tonight.
[Ross] Jericho fighting back up. He's trying to relive that pressure.
Got back to his vertical base, going downstairs,
and then caught Rock with a forearm into the jaw.
Jericho-- Oh, Jericho took a chance.
And Rock now…
catapulting Jericho nose first into the top turnbuckle
then almost beheading the challenger with a big time clothesline.
The 6'5 WCW champion, The Rock,
slowly beginning or at least it would seem, Paul,
to distance himself offensively from the challenger.
[Heyman] Well, this is the time to wear down Jericho.
The Rock needs now to take Jericho apart
and go for the pin.
[Ross] Rock has weakened Jericho,
perhaps setting him up for The Rock Bottom.
A hard right hand.
There has been some spirited dialogue,
some unusual and unique physicality
between these two men leading into this matchup.
And again, The Rock looking for that superplex,
but Jericho trying to fight out of it, and he better.
He shoved him off the turnbuckle.
And now Jericho,
Jericho up on top.
And Jericho scores with the missile dropkick.
The challenger scores.
Unfortunate for him he landed on his gut,
unable to capitalize in any kind of pinning predicament.
-Three. -[Ross] If nothing else,
the arm's not even draped over the champion.
And again, the referee utilizing the ten count.
-Six. -[Heyman] Charles Robinson up to six.
-Seven. -[Ross] Had a nine count earlier.
The Rock is up. That breaks the count.
He'll start over, will the referee.
And now Jericho is up.
Rock, got a right hand block.
Another right hand of Jericho.
The challenger now beating the champion first to the punch.
Reverse elbow again by Jericho.
He's got that little half step
of quickness advantage on the champion it would seem.
And a swinging neckbreaker.
The Rock tried to get out of it, but Jericho got enough of it.
And then hurricanrana.
Reaching for-- It could be-- Oh, man. That was close.
[Heyman] Chris Jericho, a half second away from realizing his dreams,
from shutting up the critics,
to proving to everyone that he's not a choke artist.
Chris Jericho, a half second away from being the WCW champion.
[Ross] I don't know how anyone in their right mind
like to start an argument with you to call Chris Jericho a choke artist.
As talented, as courageous as he has been,
fighting through all the adversities since coming from WCW into the WWE,
he wasn't welcome here with open arms, yet he persevered,
and he is here tonight for the opportunity of a lifetime.
And The Rock looking for that clothesline. Wait a minute!
Jericho with a Rock Bottom!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Man, what-- Does Jericho wanna beat The Rock
with a Rock Bottom?
Jericho, Lionsault, he hit the Lionsault.
Jericho's got the leg hooked! And-- but, no!
-My God! -[crowd roaring]
[Heyman] Okay. I'll call it now, and I'm in my right mind!
Jericho is choke artist! He couldn't put The Rock away!
This was Jericho's moment, this was Jericho's chance,
This was Jericho's time,
and Jericho could not put The Rock away!
And I'm not trying to start an argument, J.R.
I'm just calling it like I see it.
[Ross] Jericho picking himself back up.
But The Rock, damaged goods from his own Rock Bottom,
from the Lionsault.
And Jericho, what's he gonna do now?
Seemingly, like almost measuring The Rock.
And that modified bulldog down.
And The Rock, the WCW champion,
the incomparable Rock on his back and…
[Heyman] Oh. You don't think?
[Ross] And now, it is starting to get personal here.
Jericho…
throwing his elbow pad in The Rock's face.
This is the People's Elbow.
And the Jericho Elbow did not prove fruitful.
The frustration all over the face of Y2J.
[Heyman] Oh, Lord. A leverage takedown.
Jericho got that knee wrench. That is a dangerous takedown.
And The Rock now looking for the Sharpshooter and finds it.
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] The Sharpshooter made famous by one Canadian
now applied to another.
The Rock reaching in.
Jericho, look at his face!
That tells the story better than we can.
The Rock reaching down.
[Heyman] Jericho reaching for the rope.
Jericho is a long, long ways away.
Jericho's dream is slipping through his fingers.
[Ross] The Rock with a Sharpshooter.
And Jericho, he can't be long.
He can't be long for this matchup.
Jericho still too far.
He's inches but now Jericho into the ropes.
And it's interesting,
we got some of our fans booing,
some of our fans are cheering.
This crowd really divided between these two men it would seem.
[Heyman] Boy, Chris Jericho's dreams are fading fast.
Chris Jericho so desperately, desperately
wants to be…
[Ross] I find this most interesting here.
The Rock-- I mean, there's no mystery.
The Spanish announce table is--
seems to got a bullseye on it night in and night out.
This match has been pretty scientific, pretty clean,
up until those-- just moments ago.
And now, it's starting to degenerate here.
[Heyman] Oh, man.
Oh, man, J.R., this does not look good to me.
[Ross] And Jericho's getting a break
that this match is not being counted out or maybe not.
[Heyman] I don't know!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] God Almighty. God Almighty the impact.
[Ross] You can sit here and you see two human beings
put their body through this.
Jericho…
I mean, I have seen some impact on the announce tables,
but that ranks right up there with any I've ever seen.
And Paul and I just six feet away from this,
and this is-- this is some sick carnage.
[Heyman] The Rock just drilled Y2J
right through the Spanish announce table.
[Ross] The Rock back in the ring breaking the count.
And quite frankly, referee Charles Robinson
very liberal with his count.
And listen to this impact.
[audience cheering]
Lots of fans in the background.
Flashbulbs going off.
That was some serious career-shortening impact.
[Heyman] Man, this war for the WCW title has gotten so
very, very personal.
[Ross] And The Rock
measuring a helpless Y2J with that right hand.
Jericho forced right back into the ring,
and now you got to think or assume that The Rock sees the remnants
of the People's Elbow used against him.
You got to think, Paul, perhaps this is academic here.
The Rock poised and ready to unleash
what we would assume to be the Rock Bottom.
And read-- read The Rock's lips, "Come on, get up."
And Jericho walking right into it,
but Jericho
got that first elbow right on the temple I think,
came back with two more, but too little, too late!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] Too little, too late for Y2J!
And now The Rock,
the innovator of the
most electrifying move in sports entertainment,
the People's Elbow!
[Heyman] Oh, no, Jericho, with the reverse!
Walls of Jericho!
[Ross] Jericho lying in wait,
and there's the walls, The Walls of--
How? How long can The Rock sustain this?
[Heyman] Out of nowhere, and Y2J is a tap away
from achieving his life-long dream!
[Ross] Jericho can't lock his hands but he--
The Rock's trying to roll on one shoulder,
but the pain is there, the punishment is there!
Will the title be there for Y2J?!
The Rock is… a gut check.
[Heyman] The Rock can't reach the ropes!
[crowd roaring]
[Ross] And Jericho pulling The Rock to the center of the ring,
and that might spell the end
for The Rock's reign as WCW champion.
[Heyman] Y2J is moments away.
-[Ross] Hey, wait a minute. -[Heyman] It's Stephanie!
[Ross] Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley just threw a chair in the ring.
Oh, Jericho going for Stephanie.
I think she avoided it.
I'm not so sure, but
a DDT by The Rock.
Stephanie doesn't like either one of these people.
Both these men humiliated her last week on SmackDown.
And now we see that Stephanie is cheering for The Rock.
Rocky! Rocky!
I don't get it. Wait a minute! Stephanie got it!
The Rock bringing in the princess!
[Heyman] No, no, no!
It's The Billion Dollar Princess!
[Ross] The Rock Bottom on Stephanie!
Oh, wait a minute, from Jericho,
full nelson face first onto the chair!
Rock's face bounced off that steel chair!
Jericho shoving the chair out of the ring!
Jericho's got the leg hook!
-Stephanie is down! -[Heyman] One… two… three!
-[bell ringing] -[crowd roaring]
[Ross] I can't believe it! I can't believe it!
[Howard] The winner of this match and new
WCW champion,
Chris Jericho.
[Ross] Chris Jericho is the WCW champion!
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
Chris Jericho has damn sure
won the big one.
And Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley,
I have no idea what
she had on her mind when she came down here.
We know that she hates Jericho,
but there's no love lost with Stephanie and The Rock either.
[Heyman] This is Stephanie's worst nightmare come true.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley is directly responsible
for Y2J winning the WCW title!
[Ross] Can you believe the irony of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
who despises Y2J,
inadvertently, indirectly helping Jericho
win the WCW title?
If Stephanie had not been here--
Uh-oh, The Rock got that chair.
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
Yeah, we don't know how this would have ended
without Stephanie's involvement,
but I think I know how this is going to end.
[Heyman] Let him have it, Rock!
Smash Jericho
right across the head with that chair!
This is the side of The Rock
I have been waiting to see
for a long, long time.
Here it comes!
[Ross] This one could-- it's gonna be a rough ride here.
-[music fades out] -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Rock, Jericho… eyes locked.
Crowd silent, anticipating The Rock's next move.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd chattering and shouting]
[Ross] The Rock presenting Jericho,
with, I hate to say, the smoking gun
that The Rock got slammed on
that Stephanie brought into the ring.
That's a hell of a lot of class and professionalism by The Rock.
Like him or not, Paul, that's a lot of class,
but the bottom line here
is that Chris Jericho has finally won the big match.
Chris Jericho is the WCW champion.
[Heyman] This is the worst day
in the life of The Billion Dollar Princess.
[Ross] Can you imagine how Stephanie's going to react
when she realizes that she and she alone
has helped Y2J become the WCW champion?
And there may be a bigger issue in the long haul
because The Rock is not gonna be too pleased
when he goes back to look at this video tape as well.
[Heyman] I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.
[Ross] There's a shot of Mr. McMahon's dressing room.
He is in there. What…
What impact will he make
tonight.
I can't believe your Billion Dollar Princess
really stepped in it and tracked it right into the house.
["Click Click Boom" playing]
[Ross] Well, folks, the time is here.
No disqualification. What impact will Mr. McMahon make?
Can Stone Cold retain his title?
Is RVD on his own? I think so.
[Stone Cold] RVD, you know, when I was gone, I watched you.
I watched you give advice to members of The Alliance.
You tried to take them under your wing like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin did.
You tried to be a leader…
[WCW Superstars] RVD! RVD! RVD!
RVD! RVD!
'Cause Stone Cold Steve Austin is back.
[Heyman] Stone Cold Steve Austin
has regained the WWE title!
[Stone Cold] I'm back to take these men and women under my wing.
I got a piece of advice for you, RVD.
I want you to keep your feet on the ground
and keep reaching for the stars. You got a lot of future.
You got a lot of potential.
[Michael] Mick Foley's back on SmackDown!
[Mick] You see it turns out that Linda McMahon thought that I…
I would make a pretty good choice
as your new WWE commissioner.
[crowd cheering]
[Mick] But I'll tell you what.
The fact is that I like to give the fans the best damn main events
that I possibly can.
What I'm talking about in No Mercy is a Triple Threat,
Kurt Angle, Stone Cold, and RVD.
So I guess, RVD, it's all up to you.
What's it going to be, boy?
Yes or no?
[Rob] Far be it for me to ignore the advice of our leader,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
I know when you're talking about me,
you do not want me to pass up this opportunity.
I'm in.
[Stone Cold] RVD you are either with me
or you are against me.
[Ross] Both men are down. Austin and Angle were in.
Hey, wait a minute. There's Rob Van Dam.
Van Dam going up. Who's he going after?
[Heyman] Whoa!
It wasn't Austin RVD hit, it was Kurt Angle.
[Heyman] Rob Van Dam has won this match
for Stone Cold Steve Austin.
-We're here to celebrate RVD. -[cheering]
When he hit Kurt Angle with the five-star frog splash,
Wham, he proved to Stone Cold Steve Austin
without a shadow of a doubt, he's on my side,
and when that man walks through that door,
we're gonna celebrate that little bastard right here tonight.
[WCW Superstars] Yeah!
-I enjoyed meeting with you, dude. -[man] Yeah.
I felt it was surprisingly well.
Hey, you're all right.
[Michael] Who was in the limo?
Kurt Angle, Triple Threat, you and me, put it up.
The WWE title stays right with us.
Man, I'm so proud of you. You mean the world to me.
[Michael] That limo that RVD was in is still here.
[Heyman] Oh my God.
Not him.
[Stone Cold] RVD, you are either with me,
or you are against me.
[Michael] He's setting him up. The Ankle Lock is in!
-The Ankle Lock is in! -[Heyman] He's gonna break Van Dam's leg!
[Michael] It's Austin! Stone Cold attacking Kurt Angle!
-The paranoid WWE champion. -[Heyman] Stunner.
[Michael] The Stunner to Kurt Angle.
Wait a minute, Stone Cold tossing RVD out of the ring.
[Heyman] It is on now! Van Dam thrown from the ring!
[Michael] Angle countered, Angle Slam to Austin!
-Angle Slam! -[Heyman] Austin down, Angle down!
[Michael] But Rob Van Dam is going up!
[Heyman] Who's he gonna hit?
-[Heyman] No! -[Michael] He hit Austin!
Rob Van Dam frog splashed Austin!
Hey, it's Mr. McMahon!
[Heyman] What did Vince McMahon say to RVD in that limo?
[Michael] What role is Mr. McMahon gonna play Sunday at No Mercy?
["Medal" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Fans on their feet for the Olympian,
for Kurt Angle.
[bell ringing]
[Howard] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is the Triple Threat match
for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.
In this contest there is no disqualification.
In the ring from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
weighing 237 pounds,
Kurt Angle.
[Ross] A lot of unanswered questions going in this matchup.
What will the no disqualification stipulation mean?
What impact will Mr. McMahon have?
Will RVD just be in business for himself?
The one thing we do know, Kurt Angle is here to regain
what he got screwed out of two weeks ago.
["Dam-Nation" playing]
[Howard] Representing The Alliance,
weighing 230 pounds,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Champion,
-Rob Van Dam. -[crowd] Rob Van Dam.
[Heyman] In ECW, we call Rob Van Dam Mr. Pay-Per-View,
a clutch player,
a man that comes through in the big event.
The WWE Hardcore champion.
And this match is for all the marbles.
[Ross] No disqualifications in this matchup.
Senior WWE referee Earl Hebner assigned to this match,
Van Dam, Angle in the ring as we wait perhaps
for arguably the greatest WWE champion of all time.
["Venomous" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Howard] Representing The Alliance,
weighing 252 pounds,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] You can almost see the wheels turning in Austin's
demented, psychotic mind.
How is this one going to play out?
Will RVD be there to help me
as Austin just saluted one of our fans.
Kurt Angle loves to compete.
Angle has been battered and bruised,
screwed out of the WWE title, as Austin intimidating the cameraman,
but Austin's not going to intimidate Kurt Angle,
and I don't think he's gonna intimidate RVD.
It's gonna be interesting to see what side of the room RVD hangs his hat.
[Heyman] Sunday Night, October 21st, 2001,
a No Mercy pay-per-view
live from St. Louis, Missouri.
Three men will compete for one championship,
but only one man can emerge as the WWE champion.
Will it be Austin, RVD, or Kurt Angle?
[Ross] Austin told RVD Thursday Night on UPN SmackDown,
"You're either with me or you're against me."
And Kurt Angle…
Look out! Oh, Angle, with a German suplex…
[bell ringing]
[Ross] …on Austin. The German on RVD and Kurt Angle.
Oh, man, another shot on Austin, taking Austin down.
The belly-to-belly overhead on Kurt Angle.
[Heyman] There is no doubt in anyone's mind
that the best technical wrestler in this contest is Kurt Angle,
and the best brawler is Stone Cold Steve Austin.
No doubt. Austin and Van Dam working together on Kurt Angle.
[Ross] And Van Dam has the most unorthodox unique style
in all of sports entertainment.
And now Austin after-- Austin and Van Dam double-teamed Kurt Angle.
Now Austin turns his venom,
his rattlesnake-like venom on RVD.
[Heyman] Now the most high-flying competitor is Van Dam.
Van Dam and Austin again working with each other
against Angle.
[Ross] Austin talking the trash
to the sometimes laid-back RVD.
[Heyman] Laid-back but hardcore as they come.
[Ross] And Austin just shooting his double finger to RVD,
who returns it in kind.
[crowd] RVD!
[Ross] And this crowd's chanting "RVD," and Angle with a side Russian leg sweep
taking down RVD and Austin quick…
As Angle took himself down in a hole, stomping the mudhole
in Angle. And now turning his attention, is Austin on RVD.
Every man for himself, at least that's how it's supposed to be.
The first person to score pinfall or submission wins the match.
The winner of the match will become the WWE champion.
Austin, who is the champion, does not have to be involved in the decision…
for the WWE title to change hands.
[Heyman] What a precarious situation for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
If Angle pins Van Dam, Austin loses the title.
If Van Dam pins Angle, Austin loses the title.
Austin clearly needs to score the pinfall or the submission
to retain the championship.
[Ross] Austin, first weaning down Kurt Angle then RVD.
A thumb to the eye by the Rattlesnake, the Texas Rattlesnake.
[Stone Cold] Shit!
[Ross] Certainly-- Oh, look out! Here it is! The Ankle Lock!
The Ankle Lock! It'll be over!
And-- Oh, RVD made sure it was not over.
RVD looking to-- Now, he's assaulting Kurt Angle.
Remember, if RVD pins Angle or vice versa,
the winner of that situation is the WWE champion.
Austin isn't a-- does not have that championship advantage
where he retains by disqualification or count out. Forget that one.
RVD…
springboarding, and then hitting Austin with that kick.
Austin quickly tries to roll on his-- on his gut in that corner,
but here comes Kurt Angle.
The uniqueness,
the rather perverse charm of the Triple Threat Match
is that you never know where it's coming from.
[Heyman] Rolling Thunder!
[Ross] RVD landing right on Kurt Angle's face.
His Leg is hooked and Austin with a double axe handle.
Austin knows he would've lost the WWE title
if Van Dam had gotten the pin.
Outside goes Kurt Angle.
Austin now, isolated once again with RVD.
-Big RVD chant going up here in St. Louis. -[crowd] RVD! RVD!
The first time that RVD has ever competed in the Savvis Center.
[yells]
Spinebuster slam by the reigning WWE Champion,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
We say reigning, but for how much longer as Austin hooks the leg
and Van Dam able to kick out.
You got a feeling this match is not gonna end early.
[Heyman] No. No way. And Austin has to make sure
that neither Van Dam nor Angle get either one or each other
in a pinning predicament or a submission hold.
[Ross] Austin with that knee using that knee brace
right to the quadricep, that thigh muscle
trying to knot it up,
and RVD being incapacitated.
At least for high-flying style, momentarily.
Angle getting hangman the top rope.
And Austin again so focused here tonight.
Going downstairs is the paranoid,
psychotic champion of the WWE.
Now working on that leg
and now the half Boston crab by Stone Cold
looking for the submission,
but here comes Kurt Angle, yet another challenger.
[Heyman] And if not looking for the submission,
certainly trying to take away the aerial assault
by Rob Van Dam.
[Ross] Great right hand by Kurt Angle
who won a gold medal for the United States
in the '96 Olympic games,
who won the WWE title in his hometown of Pittsburgh last month at Unforgiven,
and who was unceremoniously screwed out of it by Austin and William Regal.
And there's the STF, the stepover and crossface submission move.
And Austin again seemingly wants RVD to tap out.
[Heyman] Or trying to take away the aerial assault by Van Dam.
Austin's a brawler, Angle, the Olympian,
Van Dam, comes from the air.
[Ross] Austin got the chop, but went back to that thumb to the eye.
That has been Austin's most effective offense here tonight, a thumb to the eye.
And look out here, Angle catapulted,
measured, and taken face first,
certainly sternum first into the ring post.
And here comes RVD and Austin,
the cagey rattlesnake taking down the legs
and really focusing on the legs of RVD, Paul. Great point.
The aerial artistry of RVD,
may be restricted to a ground attack here.
[Heyman] And that's really to Austin's advantage,
a no disqualification match.
Angle, to my surprise, brawling with Austin outside the ring
is to Angle's advantage to get Austin back into the ring
and apply a submission hold.
[Ross] Angle manhandling Austin. Taking it to the WWE champion.
Showing no fear, no intimidation.
You never expect anything less from Kurt Angle
who in virtually no time at all, has asserted himself
as one of the greatest WWE competitors that we have seen in recent memory.
-[Heyman] Van Dam goes up! -[Ross] Oh my God.
Van Dam, I don't know how much he got of who,
I don't know how much Van Dam got of the Spanish announce table,
but there are three men here down
from that cannonball-like maneuver of RVD.
You talk about hanging your manhood out there for the world to see.
Austin and Angle both go down.
[Heyman] And Stone Cold's down on the outside.
Van Dam now…
[Ross] Oh, Van Dam is on Austin, and Van Dam leaping up on our table
dropping off with a leg drop.
Van Dam has uncanny flexibility and agility,
and now it's down to Kurt Angle here and RV--
Oh my God, Angle blocked it.
And RVD couldn't break the fall, couldn't get both feet down.
Put down on the lower part of his back.
That's what hit first.
[Heyman] Angle going up, and Angle has a beautiful moonsault.
[Ross] Angle laid out a moonsault, but he hurt himself!
Both men, Angle and RVD are hurt!
Can Austin capitalize?
The Rattlesnake in there to pick the bones!
The leg is hooked, it's over! No, it's not over.
And, man, Kurt Angle got a shot in on Austin's ribs.
Angle hit the only open part of Austin's anatomy
that he could find for short notice,
and that was the ribs, and now Angle has the advantage.
Angle, the sleeper hold.
Angle trying to weaken Austin in that sleeper hold.
Surprised he didn't go for the Ankle Lock.
And,, RVD knocked off the apron.
Austin looking for the Stone Cold Stunner
and, oh, Angle looking for the Stunner.
And both men with the same idea.
They thought about their stunners. They thought about the clothesline.
[Ross] Look at this athleticism here. This is unbelievable.
The greatest mat wrestler in the game.
[Heyman] Van Dam's up. Here we go!
[Ross] Who was RVD gonna-- who was RVD aiming for?
We'll never know because both Angle and Austin
moved out of the way!
Angle, German suplex, the bridge.
It could be. And it is-- No.
And Austin quickly, quickly interrupted that situation.
I don't think RVD would have kicked out of that.
-[Heyman] Stunner! -[Ross] A Stunner.
Austin got the Stunner on Kurt Angle,
and that damn sure gonna be enough.
There's a cover and-- Ooh. Van Dam just kicked Austin
right in the back of the head, and this match continues.
[Heyman] Split-legged moonsault coming up.
RVD hits it.
And now Angle--
Man, they've all hit some of their best offensive moves.
That wildcard element of the third man interrupting the counts.
The Angle Slam. The Angle Slam.
One, two, and Austin…
Austin with that collision on both men.
And Angle is addled.
And a hard knee right to the kidneys.
Kurt Angle forced to the outside,
now leaving two Alliance members.
And Austin… Austin…
[Heyman] Austin turns his attention to the Olympian, Kurt Angle.
[Ross] I'm surprised at this--
I'm surprised at this that…
-Austin with that hard knife edge. -[Heyman] Man.
[Ross] And another. And they're getting dangerously close to us here.
And Angle-- Oh my! You feel that flesh on flesh
hammering each other!
Both men are trying to beat the blood out of the other's chest.
Angle's head bouncing off, and again off this--
off our announce table.
But someone don't-- don't give here tonight.
Stone Cold's in a psychotic trance.
[Heyman] Oh, man, J.R., here we go!
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin in his own element,
a no disqualification match,
the WWE champion, The Rattlesnake,
the leader of The Alliance
and now, now Stone Cold has Kurt Angle
just where he wants him!
[Ross] Austin looking on gleefully at what he plans to do. Oh my God.
Not a-- not a-- not a piledriver.
Austin backdropped out of it,
and the table did not break,
but maybe Austin's lower back did!
Oh my God.
[crowd chattering and shouting]
I've been at the scene of major accidents that looked better than this.
[crowd gasps]
[Ross] And RVD scoring on Kurt Angle.
And Austin lying here motionless on the-- on the concrete floor.
[Earl] Come on, get in the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Oh, wait. Well, there he is!
Vince McMahon said he was gonna make an impact,
but look at this carnage!
The WWE champion is down, The two challengers are down,
and Mr. McMahon is coming down!
[Heyman] Vince McMahon has no business being here.
[Ross] Well, you tell him that.
[Heyman] I'd be happy to if he'd come over here by me.
[Ross] Mr. McMahon is surveying the carnage.
Surveying this scene of destruction,
this chaotic ringside area.
And Angle now chopping RVD.
Another hard chop and Kurt Angle representing the WWE,
the only WWE representative in this match,
but let's not forget that Mr. McMahon gave RVD a mysterious ride
on SmackDown Thursday night.
[Heyman] This is such a bad situation for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
because the title could change hands between Angle and Van Dam
with Austin down. Down out here outside of the ring.
[Ross] I bet you can pretty well count Austin out of this one.
A reverse heel kick.
A heel kick by RVD scored on Kurt Angle.
And now Van Dam maybe a frog splash away
from winning the big one here.
And Kurt-- Oh my God. Kurt Angle…
he exploded…
and caught the end of the building.
with Van Dam on the top turnbuckle.
[Heyman] Van Dam and Angle are fighting for the WWE title,
a title held by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who is down,
who is down out here tonight by the announce table!
Vince McMahon at ringside!
The title is in great, great jeopardy!
[Ross] Austin crawling on his hands and knees in a--
in a state of desperation with both Van Dam and Angle down,
Austin-- Austin back in the ring, but what's he got left?
Austin with a Stunner!
Austin got the Stunner!
Oh my God, what a bad break for Austin. Great break for Angle,
if you wanna look at that way because Angle bounced outside.
Austin can't win it inside. Uh-oh, the--
Austin now turns his attention on the injured RVD.
With Kurt Angle's-- the Stunner on the outside, Paul,
look at Austin with that evil look on his fellow Alliance member.
As if Austin gave a damn about The Alliance or anyone.
Mr. McMahon with a chair!
And there's no disqualification!
Mr. McMahon with that steel chair!
No disqualification!
And now McMahon trying to--
Get back in there!
[Heyman] Rob Van Dam going up!
Five-Star Frog Splash!
-[Ross] Is this the plan?! -[Heyman] It's over!
My God! If Van Dam can capitalize,
we'll have a new WWE champion!
[Ross] Austin's head has been busted open by that chair shot!
-[Heyman] One! Two! -[Ross] And it's over--
And Kurt Angle stopped it!
Some cheering, some booing,
some wanting the RVD to win it…
some not.
And there's another suplex.
How many suplexes can RVD take?
Austin has been busted open at the hands of Mr. McMahon
and that steel chair.
And my God, this is a suplex fest.
RVD is gonna be--
is gonna be drunk from German suplexes,
not German beverages!
[Heyman] Besides the suplex off the top rope,
four German suplexes on top of Van Dam's head.
-[Ross] Angle Slam. -[Heyman] And an Angle Slam.
[Ross] I don't think Mr. McMahon gives a damn who wins it
as long as it's not Stone Cold.
And there's Shane O'Mac! Shane O'Mac entering!
Kurt Angle had it won there, and Shane McMahon,
but no disqualifications.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Shane McMahon posting--
[crowd roaring]
-[Ross] God almighty! -[Heyman] What the hell!
[Ross] For the love of God!
Vince McMahon, look at what he's doing to his son!
[Heyman] How could you treat your own son this way?
[Ross] McMahon beating the holy hell out of his ungrateful son!
My God, Angle's been taken out!
Vince is kicking the hell--
Once he had an ass kicking…
And Austin with the Stunner!
Austin caught the Stunner!
-[Heyman] One… two… three! -[Ross] Wait a minute!
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] Austin beat RVD!
["Venomous" playing]
And Vince McMahon was beating the hell out of his kid!
[Howard] And still World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] This is not what Vince McMahon wanted!
And Austin getting the hell out of the ring!
Austin wins the match!
Austin busted open with a McMahon chair shot!
Angle bleeding from the arm!
RVD may never be the same!
But Stone Cold, the psychotic champion retains his title!
[Heyman] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin leaves No Mercy
the WWE champion!
[Ross] But will Stone Cold survive a Mr. McMahon-led onset?!
Oh my God! will Stone Cold survive a Mr. McMahon-led onset?!