-[dramatic music playing] -[narrator] Can you imagine the feeling
of getting slammed through a table?
[woman] Splintered wood and twisted metal.
[narrator] Smashed with a steel chair.
[woman] The jolt of solid steel.
[narrator] And free falling off a ladder.
[woman] The excruciating pain that awaits.
[suspenseful music playing]
[narrator] Tonight, it's a revolutionary event,
entirely dedicated to tables…
Tonight, we go to war!
-…ladders… -I wanna steal the show.
…and chairs.
[Mathews] Destruction is about to happen.
[narrator] TLC.
[Shawn] D-Generation X is gonna make history.
-["Bullet Soul" playing] -♪ Are you ready to go? ♪
[Michael] John Cena versus Sheamus in a Tables match.
[Sheamus] I'm gonna put you through a table.
You're gonna lose everything.
[narrator] Ladders.
[Mathews] Christian versus Shelton Benjamin in a Ladder match.
Who will leave ECW Champion?
[narrator] Chairs.
[Mathews] The World Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker,
faces Batista in a Chairs Match.
[Batista] The Undertaker is mine.
The World Heavyweight title is mine.
[narrator] TLC.
[Mathews] D-Generation X faces off against Jeri-Show
in a TLC match for the tag team title.
[Jericho] We guarantee the end of DX.
[intense music playing]
-["Bullet Soul" playing] -♪ Are you ready to go? ♪
[narrator] And now, SmackDown versus Raw 2010 presents
WWE TLC,
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs.
-[explosions] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Are you ready to go? ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
[Michael] You are looking live
at the sold-out AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
History in the making tonight,
as we welcome you to the first-ever,
the revolutionary Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view.
This exciting, career-friendly pay-per-view will begin
when the ECW Championship hanging high above the ring
in what will be a Ladder Match.
[bell ringing]
The following contest is a Ladder Match
and it is for the ECW Championship.
Now in this match, the first superstar to climb the ladder
and retrieve the championship
will be the ECW Champion.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Ain't no stoppin' me now ♪
["Ain't No Stoppin' Me" playing]
♪ You can't rock with me ♪
[Justin] Introducing the challenger from Orangeburg, South Carolina,
weighing in at 248 pounds,
"The Gold Standard"
Shelton Benjamin.
[Michael] Now, ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves
for what should be an unpredictable evening.
As the number one contender for the ECW Championship
surveys the scene,
we would like to welcome everybody to this,
as I mentioned before, revolutionary pay-per-view.
Hi, everybody. I'm Michael Cole, joined by the Hall of Famer from Raw,
Jerry "the King" Lawler, SmackDown's Matt Striker.
And, Matt, are you excited and ready to go for tonight?
Well, you have to believe that Shelton Benjamin is far and away
the best pure athlete in the WWE.
I'm excited to see what Shelton Benjamin is gonna do
to kick off this revolutionary concept known as TLC.
[Michael] And we kick it off in a Ladder Match.
[Jerry] Now, wait a minute, Matt Striker already hit them
the nail right on the thumb.
-[laughter] -["Just Close Your Eyes" playing]
[Michael] I cannot wait to hear this explanation.
[Justin] And from Toronto, Canada,
weighing in at 227 pounds,
he is the ECW Champion,
Christian.
[Jerry] Well, I've gotta say that Matt Striker
just referred to Shelton Benjamin, "The Gold Standard"
as the best pure athlete in the entire WWE?
[Striker] It is arguable. What's your case?
[Jerry] Let's argue, baby. Let's argue right now.
I'm a "Peep" fan myself
to the ECW Champ, Christian, that's my man.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, both of these athletes,
Christian and Shelton Benjamin, have used ladders over their careers.
Well, have used those ladders to make their own personal highlight reels.
Both these men have been involved
in numerous Money in the Bank ladder matches at WrestleMania
and of course, Matt, Christian,
the innovator of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
back at SummerSlam 2000.
[Striker] Well, many people agree that Christian has revolutionized
the genre of the Ladder Match,
but take nothing away from the challenger,
the number one contender, Shelton Benjamin.
[Michael] And again, the rules of this match are, I say, simple.
They are, in theory.
When you climb the ladder and pull down the ECW Championship,
you are the champion.
As Christian looks out
around this vast crowd of 15,226
-in San Antonio tonight. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Let's start with strategy, gentlemen, for the Ladder Match.
First, you, King, what you gotta do in this type of thing?
[Jerry] Well, I think we established that already.
You climb the ladder, you retrieve the championship, and you win.
[Michael] But you could use the ladders as weapons as well.
[Jerry] Well, you can, you're right. I mean, it's much easier said than done.
First of all, you gotta basically incapacitate your opponent long enough
to get the ladder in the ring.
And then it all goes downhill from there usually.
[Michael] Christian and Shelton started things off.
Shelton defeated Zack Ryder a number of weeks ago on ECW,
to become the number one contender.
It was Christian who made the challenge for this matchup,
inviting Shelton Benjamin to help him
"steal" the show here tonight.
[Striker] And that's what's very interesting.
It's the ego and the pride of these competitors,
factor in the coveted ECW Championship
and we are in for an ignition for TLC.
-[Jerry] Ignition? -[Striker] Ignite, ignition, set ablaze.
[Michael] I like the standard start to this match,
Ladders Match for the champion and challenger,
now have a tie up, follow by the headlock.
And here's Shelton Benjamin.
Christian, nice dropkick up underneath the chin.
[Striker] It's important to mention, gentlemen,
the ECW Championship has never changed hands
in the great State of Texas.
[Michael] Shelton has a great opportunity for that to happen here tonight.
[Striker] There have been over three dozen ladder matches in WWE history.
-This is Christian's seventh. -[Jerry] Whoa. Ooh.
[Striker] Shelton Benjamin's fourth, excluding Money in the Bank.
[Michael] There's an example of the tremendous athleticism
of Shelton Benjamin.
[Jerry] I'm gonna let you and Matt just go and sing the praises
of Shelton Benjamin here.
I'm gonna remain to "Peep."
[Striker] Well, listen, Christian is the longest reigning singles champion
-currently in the WWE, as you see… -[Jerry] Thank you.
-…very smart there… -[Jerry] Thank you.
…trying to ward off Shelton Benjamin from grabbing a ladder, Michael.
[Michael] I do need to correct you there
because the longest reigning singles champion in the WWE
has to be Michelle McCool.
[Striker] Male singles champion. Okay.
A broken clock is right twice a day, Michael.
-[Jerry laughs] -[Michael] Yeah, look at this.
-Ooh! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Shelton Benjamin quickly taking control
of this juncture against Christian,
and this is now where strategy comes into play.
[Striker] Well, King, you made this point here,
incapacitate your opponent enough
to not only climb the ladder, get that ladder in the ring.
[Jerry] Yeah, that's first things first but what's Shelton doing,
walked right past the ladder?
[Striker] Well, Shelton was looking to go for a smaller ladder there,
probably easier to get that in the ring.
[man] Sir, you look like you've been stung by a bee.
[Michael] Well, literally both of these men masters of a Ladder Match.
-And Shelton… -[Jerry] Watch out. Ooh.
…realizing the…
[Jerry] What is that, it’s gotta be like a 20-foot ladder if there's-- Oh!
[Michael] Oh.
[Striker] As ECW went off the air this past Tuesday night on Syfy,
Josh Mathews called the image of Shelton Benjamin and Christian
perched atop the ladder "symbolic".
What it symbolizes remains to be seen.
[Jerry] And they say, you know, sometimes a picture's worth a thousand words
and that was quite a picture.
Those two guys staring each other eyeball to eyeball on top of that ladder.
Scary sight in a sense, and we've probably seen--
[Michael] Look at-- Look at-- Look at Christian,
again realizing Shelton could do damage with the ladder,
took matters into his own hands.
[Jerry] Get that ladder in the ring.
[Striker] It's almost a two-pronged attack.
Get the ladder in the ring, correct, King,
and then climb the ladder,
not only that, unhook the ECW Championship,
which is snapped on the ring about 20 feet above the ring.
[Jerry] Christian, things are looking good.
-[Michael] The way you see it. -[Jerry] Look at that.
[Michael] And Christian could be closing in…
-…on obtaining the ECW Championship… -[Jerry] Hurry.
…here at the TLC pay-per-view.
-Christian gonna climb the ladder. -[Jerry] Man, this was easy.
-[Michael] He's close already. -[Jerry] This was easy.
[Michael] But Shelton Benjamin from behind.
[Striker] Notice that both competitors about equal in height,
that six-foot two, six-foot one frame of these competitors will come into play.
[Michael] Yeah, but will the 20-pound weight advantage
for Benjamin come into play?
[Striker] Ooh. Look at the athleticism of Shelton Benjamin.
[Michael] Hey, hey, hey, Benjamin Shelton, quick as a cat.
-[Jerry] Look out! -[Michael] Off the ladder,
trying to win the ECW title, and Christian plays defense this time.
[Striker] There will be crash landings and mid-air collisions.
This has never been done before.
One night only, TLC.
[Michael] Watch it. And Christian's opportunity now.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] Oh, Christian seemed to shake something off.
[Jerry] Well, I think he realizes that Shelton is gonna be able
to get in there and stop his climb.
He wants to make sure Shelton is down for the count
and has plenty of time to climb the ladder.
-[Michael] Oh! Backfire. -[Jerry] No.
Oh, no.
[Michael] Preemptive strike that time from Benjamin.
[Striker] Oh, Christian, we can get a shot-- Yeah,
-Christian is wearing the wounds of war. -[Jerry] Man, you're not kidding.
[Striker] This is where the championship caliber will come into play.
[Michael] And Benjamin, as we take another look at what happened here.
[Jerry] Watch this ladder hitting right in the face.
Whoa.
[Striker] Christian did that to himself essentially.
Imagine what Shelton's gonna do.
[crowd clamoring]
[Michael] And the injury to Christian allows Shelton really to take his time.
[Jerry] Actually, the ladder did it to Christian.
That's what we talked-- you know, we met beforehand.
We talked about the danger in these matches.
The-- You know, the damage that could be done by these big steel ladders.
We saw it right off the bat there.
[Striker] King, you know as well as I do, depending on where the injury is,
as you see, the physician's tending to Christian,
that could compromise Christian's vision as well as his equilibrium.
[Jerry laughs] Well, we got somebody trying to administer some help
to Christian, and we got Shelton Benjamin trying to open him up further.
[crowd booing]
[Striker] These are trained professionals.
They've given their lives to sacrifice for our entertainment.
[crowd clamoring]
[Michael] We see, uh…
Christian being bandaged.
[Striker] And the official informing Shelton of the rules.
[Jerry] Well, I think that's good. I think that's good.
[Striker] Yup. In the State of Texas, the Texas State Athletic Commission,
you must administer care to a wound to a competitor.
-[Michael] Shelton has protested it but… -[Jerry] It's not just the State of Texas.
We're talking about the WWE, that's a WWE rule.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Benjamin, Shelton Benjamin gonna climb.
Look at him, climbing the ladder.
[Jerry] He's just getting in a little practice.
[Michael] Well, Christian and Shelton,
the doctor out of the way and right back on the offense.
[Striker] It's gonna take more than this to shut Christian down.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Striker] Uh-oh. Watch it, Santa.
[Michael] And these two guys are supposed to be friends.
[Striker] Well, it's pride for its purpose.
[Jerry] I think you are right, Matt.
[Striker] I always am-- Well, wait.
-That was-- -[Michael] Look at this.
Shelton heading to the top of the ladder again and again.
Christian realizing the damage that Shelton Benjamin can do
from up of that height.
[Jerry] Oh, apparently our medical staff and doctor at ringside there
is determined to stop the bleeding for the time being.
-[Michael] Look at Benjamin. -[Jerry] Oh, look out.
[Striker] Oh, TLC moment for Shelton Benjamin.
[Michael] From the top of the ladder.
[crowd cheering]
-[fan 1] Come on, Benjamin! -[fan 2] Come on!
[Jerry] Looks like the doctor may be getting into action again,
but maybe this time on Shelton.
[Striker] To what length will these Superstars go?
Take a look, Shelton Benjamin sacrificing it all
to become ECW Champion.
[Jerry] Man, Shelton landed almost full force right on his back.
[Michael] I asked both these athletes earlier today
if fear ever creeps into their mind
when they're involved in this type of match and they said,
"We can't-- We don't have time to feel fear."
[Striker] The ultimate adrenaline rush.
[Jerry] The only thing Christian is feeling right now
is that wound to his head.
I think what I was gonna say earlier, Matt, you're right.
That could really impair the vision
which is tantamount in a match like this, guys--
[Michael] Come on, guys.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] Shelton seems to be frustrated,
looking for ways to inflict damage.
[Jerry] Watch it. That thing could-- Look at--
[Striker] Look at that. Look at how heavy the ladder is.
Shelton can barely maneuver the ladder.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] This is not good. He's got this thing propped up
against this TV monitor that could fall right through the table in a second.
[Michael] And the other part of it-- Oh, against the apron of the ring.
-[Jerry] Watch it. -[Striker] Benjamin--
[Michael] Ooh. Slides under the ladder, averting disaster.
Oh. A takedown by Benjamin.
-Uh-oh, look out! -[Jerry] No!
No way.
-[Michael] Oh. -[Striker] Oh.
[Jerry] Look out, look out, look out!
[Michael] Christian may have saved his title and his career right there.
[Jerry] This match is not only dangerous to the competitors.
This is dangerous to everybody in this arena.
Guys, we need to get this ladder out of the way.
[Striker] Yeah, you go move it.
[Michael] Benjamin had been the aggressor for the early part of the matchup.
Now, it's Christian beginning to turn up the heat.
Because this match is about Christian's ECW Championship
which you see there is hanging above the ring.
[Striker] Climb the ladder, take the championship off of the ring.
The first of half a dozen title matches here at TLC.
[crowd clamoring]
-[Jerry] Reversal. -[Striker] Oh.
[Jerry] And these guys, what a start to the night
for Christian and Shelton Benjamin.
[Michael] What does Shelton have in mind here?
[Jerry] Watch this reversal-- well, yeah, reversal right here.
[Jerry] Throwing him face first into that ladder
and he's still trapped behind the ladder.
[Michael] And look at Benjamin, Shelton Benjamin and a counter.
Counter by Christian.
[Jerry] Well, Shelton took too long.
[Striker] ECW Champion was lying in wait
Is this the opportunity Christian needs?
[Jerry] Now, he's gonna have to reposition that ladder.
There he goes.
[Michael] No lack of confidence in Christian,
especially when it comes to this match.
And Christian gonna climb the ladder yet again,
trying to retrieve his ECW Championship.
Will Christian put this one away?
-[Jerry] He's there. He's got it. -[Michael] Title in hand.
-Benjamin trying to back up with-- -[Jerry] Watch it. Watch it.
-Watch it. -[Striker] He has it.
-[Jerry] Ooh. -[Michael] And Christian, lucky,
he was able to hang on.
[Jerry] Oh, did you hear that?
Christian would be lucky if he hangs on to his teeth after that.
Watch this once again. Shelton took too much time.
Christian able to shove that ladder right into the face of Shelton.
[Michael] Yeah, but a fabulous counter just moments ago by Shelton.
What a whip kick.
[crowd clamoring]
[Jerry] Look out. Look out.
[Striker] Oh, 11 ladder matches between these two men
and that is the third of all ladder matches in WWE history.
[Michael] And that was just an example there of how unpredictable
-these ladders are. -[Jerry] Look out!
[Michael] It almost seems at times the ladders have a mind of their own.
[Jerry] Well, they can certainly be your ally or your enemy in this match.
[Michael] Now, it's Shelton Benjamin's turn perhaps
to have an opportunity to retrieve the coveted ECW title.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Clear the debris.
[Michael] It could be an easy path for Benjamin.
[Striker] Position of the ladder is so important
in these type of matches, gentlemen.
[Michael] Benjamin there in the top of the ladder.
-He has the title… -[Striker] Yeah, but Shelton needs…
-[Michael] …in his grasp. -…to reach back for the title
and that took precious time away.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. This is going to the side here.
-Look out! -[Michael] Oh!
[Jerry] Oh, man!
Here's a crash and burn.
[Jerry] Here's our Wile E. Coyote cam again.
Oh! Good grief.
[Michael] The impact landing squarely in the back of the skull of Shelton Benjamin.
[Jerry] I just wanna say go climb,
but I don't even know if Christian is able to climb right now.
[Michael] He's gonna have to dig down deep.
[Striker] And notice Christian is holding the side of the ladder.
[Michael] And Matt, you see the way that the title…
-[Striker] Whoa, whoa. -…was swinging back and forth,
that makes it even more difficult to retrieve it.
-[Striker] Absolutely. -[Jerry] And see, we-- Christian is smart.
You gotta-- As you're going up,
-you can't look at the title. Whoa! -[Striker] Whoa!
[Michael] Oh, Shelton, locked.
[Jerry] Christian was keeping an eye on Shelton Benjamin.
He knew Shelton had some bad intentions climbing that turnbuckle out there.
-Now, look at this. -[Striker] Wow, look at that.
-[Michael] Benjamin-- -[Striker] Look at that!
[Michael] Benjamin fingertips away!
[Jerry] Oh, watch out.
[Michael] Look at Benjamin.
-[Striker] Amazing. -[Jerry] Look at that.
[Striker] The athleticism of Shelton Benjamin is unmatched, King.
[Michael] The agility of Benjamin.
[Jerry] Now, what's he gonna do?
[Michael] Tremendous dexterity as he heads to the top of the ladder.
[Jerry] Whoa!
-[Michael] And he takes out Christian. -[crowd cheering]
[Striker] This is awesome.
[Michael] Perfectly balancing himself to the right moment where he released
and took out the champion.
[Jerry] I think Christian thought Benjamin, as I thought,
that Benjamin was gonna try to swing by the championship
and grab it on the way,
-instead watch this. -[Striker] Look at that.
[Jerry] Comes right down with a clothesline.
[Michael] You imagine being Christian and looking up in the air
and seeing Benjamin coming at you from that height?
[Jerry] Well, can you imagine the damage that does to your back, and your neck,
and your spine to be slammed to the mat by somebody from that height?
[Striker] Well, it's this analyst's opinion
that Christian has not fully recovered
from that wound above the right eye
that took place within the first few minutes of this match.
[Michael] Well, he better recover quickly because Shelton Benjamin
is climbing the ladder and closing in on the ECW title.
-Benjamin's even at the top of the ladder. -[Jerry] Christian--
[Michael] Christian's back in but he-- is he there in time?
[Striker] Ooh, look at the way the belt spun away
from Shelton Benjamin, so crucial.
[Michael] Look at the way it's swinging now back and forth.
[Jerry] Is Christian gonna try to climb right over Shelton?
[Michael] Almost like you're playing one of those arcade games.
[Jerry] He's got it-- no.
-[Striker] Oh, no. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] What on earth?
-[Jerry] No way! -[Michael] Look at that, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, no.
That's gotta have finished Christian,
but had to do just as much damage to Shelton.
Well, how is Christian getting up after that?
[Striker] Notice how both superstars will stay in proximity of the ladder.
The ladder is so important.
Christian very smart to get it out of the way.
[Michael] Yeah, he realized he had no opportunity to climb the ladder now,
didn't wanna give Shelton that opportunity, that juncture,
being as injured as Christian is.
[Jerry] Oh, watch your back, watch your back!
-Oh! -[Striker] Oh!
[Michael] And again, made the mortal mistake, Matt,
that you pointed out earlier.
You can't turn your back on your opponent, especially in this match.
[crowd clamoring]
[Michael] Now, Shelton Benjamin gonna climb the ladder again,
again another opportunity
-for The Gold Standard. -[Striker] That's perfect position.
-[Jerry] Oh, he's got it now. -[Striker] Perfect position.
-[Jerry] Shelton-- oh. -[Striker] Whoa.
-[Jerry] Look at this! -[Striker] Look at that.
Shelton can still unhook the championship.
-[Striker] Can he catch it? -But no way can he free his hands.
[Jerry] He cannot drop from that distance.
He'll break his ankles or his legs.
[Michael] Now, Christian trying to use the ladder as a weapon,
trying desperately somehow to knock Benjamin off the perch.
I think he needs the taller ladder.
[Striker] And Shelton is helpless.
[Michael] Well, not now, he isn't.
[Striker] Unhook the title Shelton, unhook it.
[Jerry] He's trying to do it.
Oh.
[Michael] And it's Christian, Christian to the top of the ladder!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Will it be Christian's opportunity?
[Striker] But that eye is compromised.
-Christian cannot see… -[Jerry] Look out!
…along where the snaps are.
[Michael] Now Christian can feel what Shelton was going through
a few moments ago.
[Jerry] Hang on.
Oh, no.
-[Striker] Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The champ, crumpling in the corner.
[Jerry] Shelton Benjamin pulling Christian down onto his shoulders
for what could've been a-- basically a powerbomb
right into that ladder in the corner.
[Michael] Both men so comfortable with the ladder in the ring.
[Striker] Both men have ladders in their hands as well,
very important to point out.
[Jerry] Did you just say comfortable, Michael?
[Michael] They are. If anybody could be comfortable with ladders, they are.
[Jerry] Well, I don't know how anybody can be comfortable in a Ladders match.
[Michael] Made their careers out of it.
[Striker] Comfortable, maybe not the right word, confident perhaps.
[Michael] And look at Shelton Benjamin trying to climb up as is Christian.
ECW Championship hanging high above.
[Jerry] Oh.
Christian's got it.
[Striker] See, Christian is smart.
Shelton is almost wasting time beating on the champion
while the champ has a hand on the title.
[Michael] Yeah, but did you see how far out the title swung?
-[Striker] Yes. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
-[Michael] And now, Shelton Benjamin-- -[Jerry] Oh, no.
-Wait a minute. -[Michael] The sunset flip.
-[Jerry] Christian's hanging on! No! -[Michael] Christian counters!
-What a counter. -[Jerry] Beautiful. Beautiful.
[Michael] What a counter by the champion.
[Jerry] Where are you going? Wait. Where are you going?
I think Christian may be basically out on his feet.
He's locationally challenged right now.
[grunting]
-[Jerry] Oh, look. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Striker] The foreshadowing.
[Jerry] Oh, no, this ladder is still here.
[Michael] And Christian hanging on.
[Jerry] He better hang on for dear life right now.
[Michael] His championship hangs in the balance here on this particular move.
[Striker] Very wise by Christian to get his body into the ring.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Wait, what the?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Guys, I think it's time for us to exit.
[Michael] Somebody better get Shelton off that ladder.
[Striker] I don't know about you, but I'm not going anywhere.
-[Jerry] Oh, look at this. -[Michael] And Christian…
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] No! -[Michael] Oh, man!
[Striker] Oh.
The LiveWire, the ECW Champion doing everything he can to steal the show.
[Michael] The ladder split in half.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Look at the-- look at that ladder. Look at it.
[Jerry] I still can't believe that it happened three feet from us,
and I can't believe my eyes.
[Michael] Shelton Benjamin's body buckling through the ladder.
Christian looks to take advantage to the opportunity.
Can he make it to the ladder?
Can he make it to the top?
-Can he take down the championship? -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Halfway there.
Shelton Benjamin motionless at ringside.
-Christian-- -[Jerry] If Christian can somehow--
-he did it! -[Striker] Yes!
-[bell rings] -[Michael] Christian retains
the ECW title in a thriller.
[Justin] Here is your winner and still the ECW Champion,
Christian!
[Jerry] All right, guys, what a battle.
-["Just Close Your Eyes" playing] -♪ In the darkness ♪
♪ Life will take you to the other side ♪
[Michael] Christian earned this match tonight.
[Jerry] Well, you know what?
I'm gonna go out on a limb and I'm gonna say both guys deserve
to win this match but in the end, there's your champion.
[Michael] And you look at that picture there.
That is an example of what this type of match does to your body.
But in the end, Christian retains the ECW title.
[Striker] But in the beginning, look right here, watch Christian's head.
-Wham! -[Jerry] Oh!
[Striker] That ladder compressed in the wounds of war
and it stopped the match momentarily, King.
[Jerry] And then Shelton took advantage at that point.
[Michael] But this was it.
Watch Christian. Watch Shelton's body.
[Jerry] Amazing, look at this.
Oh!
Gosh.
[Michael] But that force, the force of Shelton's body,
cutting the ladder in half.
-And then the resilient champion. -[bell rings]
[Michael] Christian retains his ECW title. Look at the ladder.
♪ And out of the darkness I heard a voice say, "I'm you" ♪
[Jerry] The peeps around the world are ecstatic right now.
[Michael] And Christian acknowledging his competitor here tonight.
♪ Then I was alive ♪
[Jerry] And I think I just heard Shelton telling them something about his ribs.
He could have-- he could have fractured ribs, cracked, broken.
♪ And scars never healed ♪
♪ In the darkness Light will take you to the other side ♪
[Michael] Unbelievable.
[Jerry] And if a metal ladder snaps in half like that,
what keeps your bones from breaking?
-[Striker] Well, let's take a look here. -[Michael] Watch this once again.
[Striker] For as beautiful as that is,
it is also as destructive
and it led to Christian retaining the ECW Championship.
♪ Too close to the fire ♪
♪ Yet cold and so numb with the pain ♪
-[Michael] In the match… -[Jerry] Well--
…that Christian is indeed made famous…
well, Christian retains the title here tonight.
[Striker] You can only imagine the respect
that these two gladiators have for each other
after a high-flying thrilling match to begin TLC.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, still to come tonight,
more high-flying action and more climbing action as well
because the Unified Tag Team titles are on the line later on.
[Jerry] Boy, you got that right.
It's DX, Shawn Michaels, Triple H,
taking on Jeri-Show, Chris Jericho and The Big Show.
The tag title is at stake, Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match.
[Michael] And after what transpired this past Monday night on Raw,
I believe Jericho and Show were the odds on favorites to retain the gold.
It was DX, remember, two-on-one
versus Chris Jericho in a handicap matchup.
-[Jerry] Boy-- -[Michael] But a typical Jericho fashion,
he would use the referee as a shield, allowing his partner,
The World's Largest Athlete to get involved.
[Jerry] And did he ever get involved, look at the strength,
The Big Show lifting Shawn Michaels and a huge headbutt all in one motion.
Then that chair into the back by The Game.
It only seemed to incite the Big Show.
He slid that fist into The Game.
Then the ladders came into play.
Oh, man.
[Michael] Just an example of the damage that Jeri-Show can do
with tables, ladders, and chairs being used as weapons.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
-there is the world-famous River Walk… -[Jerry] Hey.
…the San Antonio River, cutting through downtown,
dining restaurants and bars,
a wonderful place during the holiday season in San Antonio tonight, of course,
the host of TLC sold-out at the AT&T Center.
♪ Are you ready to go? ♪
["Seeing Red" playing]
[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Introducing the challenger from Ayr, Scotland,
weighing in at 246 pounds, Drew McIntyre!
[Michael] Well, a golden opportunity tonight for The Chosen One.
Mr. McMahon's handpicked superstar from SmackDown.
[Striker] Well, when you say Chosen One, you do this two little quote things
with your fingers, Michael, no one can see that.
Mr. McMahon, the CEO of WWE has handpicked Drew McIntyre for a reason.
[Jerry] Don't worry, Michael.
I saw you did that little thing with your fingers.
[Michael] Thanks, King. [laughs]
["Seeing Red" continues playing]
[Michael] Look at the confidence on the face of Drew McIntyre here tonight,
ladies and gentlemen. He should be.
He already owns a pinfall victory over the Intercontinental Champion.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] It's like he smells something bad.
-["Ain't No Make Believe" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 224 pounds.
He is the Intercontinental Champion,
John Morrison!
[Michael] Matt, John Morrison losing in Drew McIntyre a couple of weeks ago,
do you think that is still in the champion's head?
[Striker] Well, I know that John Morrison has a lot of pride, a lot of ego,
and this past Friday night on SmackDown,
John Morrison mocked Drew McIntyre's Scottish heritage by coming to the ring
dressed as William Wallace, dressed as Braveheart.
Suffice to say, Drew McIntyre did not find it, the parody, to be funny.
[Jerry] Matt, you have the opportunity to see that entrance by this young man
with a-- yeah, he goes-- how does he do that?
Every week on SmackDown, it's like slow motion
and the wind blows his hair and that's so cool.
[Michael] Fifteen thousand two hundred twenty-six members of the WWE Universe
looking on with the Intercontinental Championship on the line
between Morrison and McIntyre.
Not only the 15,000 fans in San Antonio tonight
but they're watching all over the world,
including in Drew McIntyre's homeland of Scotland,
the United Kingdom on Sky Box Office tonight.
Also in places like Australia and Canada, Germany,
-Switzerland and… -[bell rings]
…even in Spain.
[Jerry] And look, I'm-- look at this list of country,
and Manila, I use their envelopes.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] And McIntyre looks to be the aggressor in the early going.
[Striker] Well, Drew McIntyre takes exception,
the fact that Drew McIntyre's handpicked.
Drew would like to know why John Morrison graces the latest WWE Magazine cover
and how come not Drew McIntyre?
[Michael] Well, perhaps 'cause Morrison is the Intercontinental Champion.
Perhaps he is a winner of two Slammy Awards in 2008.
Speaking of the Slammys, don't forget tomorrow night, big night.
As matter of fact, we're sitting next to a Slammy Award winning announcer
Matt Striker, King, but nonetheless, 2009 Slammy Awards.
Here's McIntyre into the cover and Morrison, and a kickout.
Tomorrow night's special time night 8:00 Central.
[Jerry] Matt, do you have your Slammy on your mantel?
[Striker] Absolutely, Mickie Mantle.
[Michael] McIntyre been extremely ruthless since he's come onboard.
[Striker] Now, this is what I'm curious about with Drew McIntyre
because John Morrison may have managed to get under Drew's skin.
We're going to see the emotional dexterity of Drew McIntyre here tonight.
[Michael] Oh, there you see…
-[Striker] Oh. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] …great physical ability of John Morrison,
the charismatic and dynamic champion.
You know, Matt, you've had the opportunity to watch Drew McIntyre each and every week
on Friday Night SmackDown, and question is,
did Mr. McMahon make the right choice, calling him the next champion perhaps?
[Striker] Mr. McMahon always makes the right choice.
[Michael] Well, but what do you think about Drew McIntyre?
[Striker] Well, so far, so good. We've been very impressed
on Friday Night SmackDown with Drew McIntyre's intensity.
-[Michael] Oh! -[Striker] He's a sadistic Scotsman.
[Jerry] Well, let me just--
[Michael] Here's a cover by the champ.
Hook to the leg of McIntyre, and a kickout.
[Jerry] Let me interject my thoughts about that.
You know, we've heard a lot about the fact that Drew McIntyre is handpicked,
that Mr. McMahon himself sees Drew McIntyre as a future champion,
but can you imagine?
What about the pressure that puts on Drew McIntyre?
You know, you don't wanna go out there and ever disappoint Mr. McMahon
after he's gone out on a limb and handpicked you.
-Whoa! -[Michael] Oh!
Morrison skull first off the steel.
[Jerry] That might have put a smile on Mr. McMahon's face.
[Striker] Well, my broadcast partner, Todd Grisham,
always talks about John Morrison's chiseled good looks.
That steel ring post may have compromised that.
[Jerry] That ring post can give you an extreme makeover.
[crowd clamor]
[Cone] Three.
-Four. -[Striker] Drew McIntyre very smart,
knowing the title cannot change hands on a count-out.
[Michael] But it can this way, pinfall perhaps, hook to the leg,
kickout by Morrison.
Seen that example of what has been called the brutal drive of Drew McIntyre.
He wants to win championships.
He's made no bones about that.
[Jerry] Well, he doesn't wanna make a liar out of Mr. McMahon.
-[Michael] Now look at referee literally-- -You gotta listen to me!
Pull him out of that pole! I want a clean break!
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] The referee--
[Jerry] Admonishing, I would say.
[Michael] Yeah, and Drew has gotta be careful if he's disqualified here.
He can't win the championship obviously.
[Striker] Hang on, guys. Drew has up to five,
and has to inflict as much damage and McIntyre is aware of this.
[Michael] McIntyre, physically dominating Morrison
-at this juncture! -[Striker] Oh!
[Michael] And there's another example of that.
Again, into the cover, McIntyre hooks the leg and a kickout.
[Striker] This is what I love from Drew McIntyre,
after going for a pinfall attempt,
immediately goes right to a potential submission hold.
[Jerry] Let's go back one more time and look at this big clothesline.
Oh, my gosh. Did you hear that impact?
[Michael] And Morrison looking to rally.
[grunts]
[Michael] Remember how impressive McIntyre was last month
at Survivor Series.
His team, Team Miz, knocking off John Morrison's team.
Let's go.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -Break it up, Drew.
[Striker] That was Drew McIntyre, United States Champion, The Miz
and, of course, the number one contender of the WWE Championship, Sheamus,
now with the Sole Survivors.
[Michael] Suplex again, McIntyre cover,
wearing down Morrison who has to kick out at two.
[Striker] And again, beautifully done. Right back to a potential submission hold
from the challenger.
[Michael] A little wasted movement by McIntyre.
Come on, Morrison.
[Michael] Straight ahead pounding offensive style.
[Striker] See where Drew McIntyre's hand is placed underneath John Morrison's chin?
King, you can attest to that, twisting the head of your opponent
always puts more strain on that armbar.
[Jerry] Well, that's right and I can--
I just get the sense that John Morrison is getting a little more
from Drew McIntyre than maybe he anticipated.
-Whoa! -[Striker] Oh!
[Michael] Well, he should've anticipated the matchup.
He lost to Drew.
-Watch the hair, Drew. -[grunting]
Watch the hair!
[Michael] And again, a cover of Morrison hooks the leg,
and a kickout, but he continues into another cover, again to the champion,
and again a kickout, but he continues to wear Morrison down.
[Striker] It expends energy trying to get your opponent off you.
But take a look at this big boot coming right now from Drew McIntyre.
[Jerry] Yeah, big boot from John Morrison first
and an even bigger boot from McIntyre.
Look at the grinding of the face there going to the side of Morrison's head
right into the mat, now, the knee applying pressure as well.
[Michael] Hey, you really see a lot of that, that style
from the United Kingdom, Ireland that, you know,
the Finlays and Regals had brought to the world.
You see that out of McIntyre here too.
[Striker] Look at the striation on that left deltoid.
See that line right there?
Those are muscles and tendons being compromised.
-[Jerry] What's that called? Striation? -[Striker] Yes.
[Jerry] You're a schoolteacher, right, Matt?
[Striker] Yes, I was.
[Jerry] Come to think, you might have been educated beyond this intelligence.
-What do you think, Michael? -[Striker] Always a fan guys,
-always a fan. -[Michael] Look at the intensity
in the eyes of McIntyre.
Everything he does with a purpose.
Morrison realizes he is in deep trouble here.
[Striker] Morrison wise to turn himself to a chest-to-chest position
to alleviate that pressure.
[Michael] He had to create separation, which is good for a moment,
but again, McIntyre right back on the attack--
-[Striker] Whoa, whoa. -[Michael] But Morrison--
there's an example.
[Jerry] There's the difference maker.
[Michael] From out of nowhere the ultra-athletic Morrison
with a huge counter.
[Striker] This could be the opportunity the Intercontinental Champion needs.
[Jerry] He's gotta capitalize on it, though. He needs to get turned.
[Michael] One of these men gotta make it back to their feet
before the count of ten as you take another look at this counter.
[Jerry] Watch as Drew McIntyre is planted.
Bam, my gosh.
[Michael] Again that's where Morrison is so dangerous.
From out of nowhere, he can take control of the match.
[Jerry] Did you see the torque on the neck of McIntyre?
I don't know how he's able to get up from that.
[Michael] He's barely getting up.
John Morrison realizes this is the opening.
He may not get another one. He needs to capitalize.
[Jerry] Morrison gotta throw some fists here.
Oh, nice clothesline of his own.
[Michael] Trying to turn a little-- that physical game around on McIntyre.
Morrison cover. Challenger is in trouble, hooks that leg,
and a kickout at two.
[Jerry] Ooh, that was close.
[Michael] Another near fall in what's been a great matchup
between SmackDown's Morrison and McIntyre.
[Jerry] Well, I think the momentum has definitely changed here.
If Morrison hits something big here, this can do it. He got it.
Missile dropkick off the top.
[Michael] Crawls to the cover, hooks the leg yet again on the challenger.
Does he get it? No, kickout by McIntyre at two and a half.
[Striker] King, are you noticing that Drew McIntyre
is kicking out with less and less enthusiasm each time?
Drew McIntyre could be wearing down.
[Jerry] Oh, Morrison has meted some pretty good offense here.
[Michael] Yeah, until McIntyre went to the knee.
[Jerry] Oh, no, look at this.
-Great move by McIntyre. -[Michael] Uh-oh. Look at-- look at-- oh.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Slingshot but like face-first, shoots the half…
[Jerry] I don't think I've ever seen that done to somebody.
…into the cover, forearm to the jaw,
hooks the leg and a kickout at two.
[Striker] The inverted Alabama Jam not enough.
[Jerry] Wow.
I think McIntyre felt he had the match then.
You gotta hand it to John Morrison being able to kick out after that.
[Michael] Yeah, but all it did was anger McIntyre.
Watch the hair.
Off his hair.
[Striker] You know, I think this is-- it should be illegal.
I mean a guy has long hair like that, use it to your advantage.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Michael] McIntyre dropkicked through the ropes.
[Cone] Let's go, McIntyre. Bring it in.
[Michael] This allows John Morrison to buy himself some time.
Regroup for a moment.
[Jerry] I kind of would use-- unlike you, Michael, I would use this time to…
-[Michael] Oh. -[Jerry] Well, a little R&R.
-[Cone] One. -[Jerry] There you go.
[Michael] Nice drop toe hold from Morrison.
[Cone] Two.
[Michael] Saw Morrison glanced at the ring. Oh.
[Striker] What a version of the flying shot,
but both men are outside the ring
and the title cannot change hands out there, gentlemen.
[Michael] Yeah, the only person a count-out will help here is Morrison.
Five.
[Jerry] Referee up to the count of five.
I mean, Morrison has hit McIntyre with everything
but the proverbial kitchen sink here and McIntyre just keeps coming back.
[Michael] Well, Morrison did withstand that
-early flurry from McIntyre. -[Jerry] That may do it.
[Michael] And now the champion is in complete control…
and looking to put McIntyre away.
[Striker] Ground control to Major John.
Could we see Starship Pain?
-[Michael] And Starship Pain connecting. -[Striker] I don't know,
it looked like only the top portion of the torso connected.
[Michael] It may not matter. Hooks the leg.
[Striker] Look at Drew's foot. No.
-His foot. -Huh?
His foot is outside of the ring.
[Striker] Yup. Official's handbook says
-if an appendage is outside the ring… -[Jerry] It is.
-…the count must stop. -[Jerry] You're right.
-That is it. -[Striker] Great job by the official.
-Hey, stop! Back it up! -[Michael] Look at Morrison.
[Striker] I bet you Drew knew where he was the whole time, King.
[Jerry] Yeah, I was just about to say I don't know if that was pure luck.
If it was, that was really beneficial to Drew McIntyre, but if not--
[Michael] You gotta give Morrison credit though.
He didn't gripe about that near fall. He went right back on the attack.
[Striker] Come on, international object, good. Get rid of it. Illegal.
[Jerry] What about that?
[Michael] Well, referee didn't see because the referee was busy
tossing that belt out of the ring.
-[Striker] Doing his job. -[Michael] And McIntyre took advantage,
-thumbs to the eyes. -[Striker] Oh, boy, hang on a second.
Beautiful Scot Drop.
Could this be it for The Chosen One?
[Michael] That double underhook DDT could make McIntyre a champion.
Falls to the cover, hooks the leg, shoulders down.
-[Striker] Yes. -[Michael] He does it.
-McIntyre wins… -[bell ringing]
-…his first major… -[Striker] Yeah.
…singles championship.
[Chimel] Here is your winner,
and the new Intercontinental Champion,
Drew McIntyre.
[Striker] The Prodigy, "The Chosen One"
Drew McIntyre is your new Intercontinental Champion.
[Michael] Well, it's a shame that the matchup had to end the way it did
-because it is so competitive throughout. -[Striker] Why?
[Michael] McIntyre took advantage of the situation.
Referee had his back turned dealing with tossing the belt out of the ring
and McIntyre went thumb to the eyes.
[Jerry] Well, it's only cheating if you get caught, Michael.
[Striker] Well, these are the exact qualities
that Mr. McMahon saw and Mr. McMahon touted.
[Jerry] Yeah, I gotta give McIntyre credit on that one.
That's being an opportunist.
And look what that opportunity afforded Drew McIntyre.
[Michael] Even when he's happy he doesn't smile. A sinister grin.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] But then the official was doing his job, gentlemen,
just because the back was turned.
Can we get another look? Yeah, right here. Perfect opportunity.
There's no eye machine on the gym. You can't train for that.
[Michael] And McIntyre taking advantage…
-[Striker] Bam. -…with a Scot Drop,
that double underhook DDT.
[Striker] Whoo.
[Michael] And McIntyre becomes the new Intercontinental Champion.
One, two, three.
[Michael] King, I'm gonna ask you.
Is Drew McIntyre indeed The Chosen One?
[Jerry] Well, I mean, there's no doubt about the fact
that he's chosen by Mr. McMahon.
I mean, is he gonna be able to continue on this impressive role that he's on?
So far, so good, can't argue with success.
[Michael] It is his first major singles championship.
Drew McIntyre, the brand new Intercontinental Champion.
[Striker] What's next for Drew McIntyre?
That's the question on Friday Night SmackDown.
["Seeing Red" continues playing]
-Mr. McMahon. -I know you won't let me down.
Congratulations.
This is step one. Believe me, this is just the beginning.
Excuse me, Mr. McMahon.
Can I just get a quick word with you, please?
Rather than getting a quick word with me,
why not get a word with the new Intercontinental Champion?
-Yeah. -Okay.
Do your job.
Drew, first of all, congratulations.
And secondly, with your quest to become a champion here in the WWE,
are you surprised that it came so quickly here in your career?
Of course, I'm not surprised, Josh.
What you saw tonight
was the inevitable coming to fruition.
When Mr. McMahon personally signed me to SmackDown,
I knew what I was capable of
and I knew just how quickly it would come.
[crowd cheering]
As a newcomer myself,
I have to say that was pretty impressive.
But know this,
you're not the only newcomer
who's gonna leave TLC with some gold.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, gentlemen, thank you very much.
Drew, once again congratulations
on becoming the new Intercontinental Champion.
We'll send you now back to ringside.
[crowd clamor]
["Obsession" playing]
[Jerry] If I were Josh, I'd go to my room.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the WWE Women's Championship.
In the ring, the challenger, Mickie James.
[Michael] Well, as usual, Mickie James with a big smile on her face.
But you have to think that it may be a cover up.
I mean, she's had her emotions toyed with and played with
by Michelle McCool and Layla over the past few weeks.
This is so personal for Mickie.
[Striker] Oh, Mickie's been under emotional duress
after Michelle and Layla started to poke, what I call, innocent fun,
but Mickie turned on the waterworks and began to really--
-[Michael] Innocent fun? -[Striker] Yeah, why not?
["Not Enough For Me" playing]
[Jerry] What do you mean why not?
[Chimel] And making her way to the ring,
she is the WWE Women's Champion,
Michelle McCool.
[Michael] Well, both of these Divas, Michelle and Layla,
have had it out for Mickie.
I mean, cruel, malicious, mean personal attacks on Mickie James…
-[Striker] Oh, come on. -…including what I call
a very distasteful skit
after a Mickie James match last month.
Hey, Piggy. Piggy!
Hey, Piggy James! Over here.
♪ Michelle McCool had a farm, E-I-E-I-O ♪
♪ And on the farm she had a pig E-I-E-I-O ♪
♪ With an oink, oink here And oink, oink there ♪
♪ Here an oink, there an oink Everywhere ♪ [snorting]
[Striker] That's a clever parody, guys. Come on, it's catchy.
[Michael] Hey, listen, Matt, Mickie James is a great person.
-[Striker] Sure. -[Michael] She's a wonderful human being.
-[Striker] Okay. -[Michael] No one likes to be teased
about their weight among other things…
-[Striker] Oh, I'm so sorry. -…especially a Diva.
-[Striker] Your feelings are hurting now. -[Michael] Now,
wait a minute, not my feelings. But it was insulting, it was embarrassing.
I mean, it hurt Mickie. She was crying in the ring.
[Striker] That's what Michelle wanted.
-[Michael] But you condone those actions? -[Striker] Absolutely.
It doesn't matter what I say about you.
It matters what I do to you and that's why we're having the match.
-[Michael] Yes. -[Striker] It's entertainment.
[Jerry] I think-- and that's like we talked about before,
maybe a little locker room fodder.
I think that's a little extra incentive for Mickie James,
who, by the way,
-if you think Mickie James is fat… -[Striker] Whoa, whoa.
…you need to go to see an eye doctor or something.
Mickie James is hot.
[Michael] Well, have you looked at Striker lately?
And nonetheless, it's Mickie versus Michelle McCool
-for the Women's Championship. -[bell ringing]
[Striker] Plump, zaftig, whatever it is,
Mickie James is still a four-time Women's Champion
and a one-time Diva Champion. Let's not take that away.
[Jerry] Mickie James has a great background
and a pretty darn good foreground as well.
[Striker] And of course, Michelle McCool, the first Diva to ever hold both
the Women's title and the Diva's Championship.
My opinion, personal shoo-in for Hall of Fame.
[Michael] Mickie-- Matt, she's been around for about five years.
-[Striker] Okay. -[Michael] Nonetheless--
[Striker] She's accomplished more in five years
than Wendi Richter or Leilani Kai, or whoever else you wanna throw out there.
[Michael] Mickie James winning the Triple Threat match
against Beth Phoenix and Natalya
to become the number one contender to the Women's Championship.
[Striker] And let's not forget, Layla El at ring side.
Layla has an extensive background, even danced in a Timbaland video,
and Timbaland's gonna be guest host in Raw, the last Raw of 2009.
[Michael] And look at Mickie and Michelle, no love lost between these two.
[Jerry] Well, let me ask you this, Matt,
what do you think Layla's purpose is at ringside?
[Striker] Why not? She could be up for moral support,
-she could be tagging the observer… -[Michael] Now, look at--
…the Piggy James t-shirt.
[Michael] Let's not forget the Women's Championship's on the line.
Mickie needs to get the match back in the ring.
She's gotta corral her emotions for the time being.
[referee] Come on, ladies. Get in the ring.
Let's go. Hey, come on.
[Jerry] You see the intensity here.
[Striker] A collar-and-elbow tie up is usually used
to feel out your opponent, but look at this.
I know how to play games, Michelle. You wanna play?
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Mickie James came to SmackDown a number of months ago in the Divas trade.
[Jerry] This just may boil down to a--
we used to call it a little catfight, some hair pulling.
[Michael] Look at Mickie, she was ready for it.
Jackknife. Cover could have her, and a kickout.
Mickie's had her sight set on the Women's title since she got here.
Kick out by Michelle again at one.
[Layla] Get her.
[Striker] Michelle McCool enjoys the height advantage but right now…
[Michael] Mickie James-- oh.
What a bridge and Michelle just managed to roll out of it.
[Striker] Those model-esque long legs of Michelle McCool
may have just saved the Women's Championship.
[Layla] Get her, Michelle.
Come on, Piggy.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] How does Michelle support that weight?
[Striker] Oh, she's strong. She's model-esque.
[Michael] Oh, look at-- ooh, ooh, Mickie.
[Striker] Oh. Very smart.
Michelle McCool a master's degree from Florida State University
utilizing the brains.
[Michael] Mickie James beat Layla in her first match
since she came over to SmackDown.
In fact, pinned Layla in a tag match this past Friday night.
[Jerry] What do you get, Matt,
with a degree from Florida State University?
Put it on your windshield so you can park in the handicap section or…
Come on, James. Come on, Michelle.
[Striker] Listen, the last time the Women's Championship
changed hands in this city was a decade ago.
[Layla] Get her. Get her.
[Michael] Front cover by Michelle. What a kickout.
Mickie powering out at two.
[Layla] Piggy James!
[Jerry] I'm just trying to keep an eye on Layla.
I mean, she's got some kind of evil intentions.
-[Striker] Well, she might-- -[Jerry] She can't just be that
big of cheerleader for Michelle McCool, that big of supporter.
[Michael] Look at-- look at and a kickout at two.
One thing she will do is play mind games with Mickie.
[Layla] Piggy James.
[Michael] And Mickie knows she's gotta not only concentrate on Michelle
but worry about Layla outside the ring.
[Striker] This is where the height and strength advantage
of Michelle McCool comes into play.
[Michael] You mentioned before, Michelle McCool is the longest
reigning singles champion in the WWE.
Won the Women's Championship back in June at The Great American Bash.
[Striker] You think they have those Piggy James t-shirt
at WWEShopZone.com yet maybe?
I want one.
[Jerry] You would wear one of those?
-[Striker] Sure. -[Michael] A tank top?
[Striker] Maybe, why not? I'm on Jersey Shore. Why not?
[Michael] Imagine you out on Jersey Shore. That would be a sight.
Hair slicked back, beach house for the summer.
Look at-- oh, and Michelle continuing to wear down Mickie.
[Striker] This is smart by Michelle McCool,
really controlling the pace of this championship match.
[Jerry] You're really trying to stay on the good side of Michelle McCool.
Why, you don't wanna suffer her wrath, do you?
-You don't want her making a… -[Striker] No, I--
…Matt Striker t-shirt, do you?
-[Michael laughs] -[Striker] I'm admiring--
well, I-- it's a funny ammunition, believe me.
-I am admiring… -[Michael] Sidestep.
…the championship presence of Michelle McCool.
[Michael] Well, one thing about Michelle, she…
is able to ward off that early adrenaline rush from Mickie early on
and has taken complete control here in this Women's Championship battle.
Come on, Michelle, away from these ropes, come on.
Huh, Piggy James? Huh? Huh, huh, huh?
Hey, hey, let's go.
[Michael] Still trash talk-- oh, and she'll pay for that.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Here comes Mickie perhaps.
Oh, and Michelle with a counter.
Could be it, smile on her face, Mickie kicks out.
-Are you serious? -[Michael] Nonchalant cover
may have cost Michelle.
[Jerry] The smile disappeared quickly.
[Striker] Well, I've never known a woman to not be emotional.
Michelle needs to keep her emotions in check here. Hang on.
[Michael] Mickie James could have here, Women's title-- no, kickout at two.
[Striker] I mean, sometimes the chase is better than the catch, huh, guys?
[Michael] Mickie is so lucky that her spine
did not go right into that steel ring post.
Managed to bridge at the last minute.
But still the damage done by Michelle.
Huh? Huh, Piggy James? Huh?
[Jerry] Michelle has just kind of…
[Striker] Oh, whoa.
…in a mean streak.
[Michael] Why is Michelle like this, Matt?
[Striker] Well, this is smart on Michelle's part.
Michelle knows that she cannot lose the Women's title on a count out.
Leave Mickie out there, let the official count to ten,
-and let's go out on the River Walk. -[Michael] Yeah.
The point I was trying to make was the vicious nature of Michelle McCool.
[Striker] You have to have some type of aggression inside you
to succeed in the WWE.
Get inside, Michelle. Get inside.
-Oh, shut up. -[Michael] And Michelle measuring Mickie…
[Jerry] Oh, look out here. Missed it.
-She missed it. -[Michael] Mickie just--
[Striker] Mickie did move out of the way, astute observation, King.
[Michael] And Mickie James attempting somehow to get back in this matchup.
And that could help.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Here's the Thesz Press.
[Jerry] Watch it. Watch it. Watch it.
[Michael] Oh, Layla.
You get over there. Enough for that.
[Michael] Well, the distraction allowed Michelle to get back into the ring.
[Jerry] I don't think Layla actually heard it.
It could have been a disqualification, but I don't think she made contact.
[Michael] Oh, there's a Thesz Press again by Mickie.
Momentum shifting. You could feel it.
[Striker] This is where Mickie's experience is gonna come into play, guys.
[Michael] Into the cover again, hooks the legs,
shoulders down, and a kickout by the champ.
[Striker] Mickie knows the importance of momentum and adrenaline,
and King, you can attest to that.
[Jerry] Well, she's got to sustain it though.
You saw Mickie with the adrenaline and the momentum early on in this match,
she lost it.
-Whoa. -[Michael] Here's the quickness of Mickie.
And you suddenly feel like the champ's reeling a bit.
[Layla] Come on.
Come on.
[crowd cheering]
-Get her! -[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Mickie's still in on the apron though.
-Hey, look out, look out. -[Jerry] That's Layla.
[Striker] Oh, see?
[Michael] Referee's vision obstructed dealing with Michelle.
Layla paid though.
[Striker] Hang on a second now.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Whoa.
-[Striker] Oh. No, no, no. -[Michael] Mickie! Mickie's gonna win it.
Mickie's gonna win the title. And a kickout at two.
So close for Mickie James.
[Jerry] Oh, good grief.
[Striker] Beautifully done, long legs coming into play.
-One, two, three. -[Striker] Yeah.
-[Michael] And Michelle McCool retains… -[bell ringing]
…the Women's Championship.
["Not Enough For Me" playing]
[Chimel] Here is your winner
and still the WWE Women's Champion,
Michelle McCool.
[Jerry] You think that you would acknowledged Layla with an assist there,
but Michelle McCool delivered two devastating kicks,
one to Layla and then the other to Mickie James.
[Michael] You saw the look on Michelle's face.
-I believe she realized… -[Jerry] Watch this.
…that she just survived here tonight.
[Jerry] Watch how Layla gets involved.
[Striker] Oh, hang on a second. I commend the official.
The official is with Michelle McCool, let the championship match continue.
[Jerry] Yeah, but how can you commend this?
[Striker] Why not? Turnabout fair play. Layla is out of the picture.
Michelle is gonna win this on her own, guys.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Yeah, that was-- that was a head on…
-[bell ringing] -…straight in the face kick.
Not much you can do about that.
[Michael] The triumphant champion, Michelle McCool…
Oh. Oh, not today.
…here at TLC.
[Striker] Oh, E-I-E-I-O, huh, guys?
[Jerry] Well, I asked earlier on what Layla was doing out here,
I guess we found out.
[Michael] What game, Mickie James here tonight,
while Michelle escapes with her title.
Well, guys, this is TLC on pay-per-view.
We are in the gorgeous River City,
second largest city in Texas, San Antonio,
the Gateway to the Hill Country.
As you look at downtown, we are there somewhere
sold-out in the AT&T Center,
15,226 members of the WWE Universe are here.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we've got such an exciting night so far
but coming up next, the WWE Championship is on the line.
John Cena's reign is in serious jeopardy.
[Jerry] Well, you're right. I mean, anybody that steps in the ring
with Sheamus, as of late, is in serious jeopardy.
-["Bullet Soul" playing] -And tonight,
it is a Tables Match for the WWE Championship.
[Michael] And remember, the champion does not have to be pinned or submit.
He just has to be put through a table…
-[Striker] Again. -…by the Irishman, Sheamus.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Oh, he's Raw's latest free-agent acquisition,
he is six-foot-six, he's 272 pounds,
and he ran roughshod over the young stars on ECW.
[Sheamus] My name is Sheamus
and I'm here to make an impression.
[Michael] I think we're looking at the favorite to win that Battle Royal
and get himself a WWE title opportunity.
[Vince] And now, it comes down to three, Orton, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston.
[dramatic music playing]
[Vince] And now Orton, pulling on-- and now he is out of the Battle Royal.
And Sheamus with Kofi, and Sheamus wins it.
Sheamus wins the Battle Royal.
[Sheamus] I am the number one contender.
I demand that you stand over and face me.
And now standing before me is Sheamus
demanding that I take him seriously.
You crippled a harmless announcer
or was it because you retired a guy that's half your size?
That is nothing compared to what I'm gonna do to you.
I have gone toe to toe with the meanest,
the baddest, and the toughest.
I have performed the impossible,
I have achieved the improbable.
And every single one had been compromised.
If you sign that paper, you're going to war with me.
You better be ready to make a statement.
[tense music playing]
[Michael] John Cena versus Sheamus in a Tables match.
[dramatic music playing]
At TLC, I don't have to pin John Cena,
I don't have to make him submit even though I can.
All I have to do is put him through a table.
[Michael] Our guest host Mark Cuban hosting the TLC showdown
between the number one contender, Sheamus, and the WWE Champion, John Cena.
Are either of you concerned about the dangers of competing
in a Tables match?
Well, it's obvious Cena isn't concerned enough.
The best case scenario for you
is that you lose your WWE Championship.
The worst, I'm gonna put you through a table.
I hope you believe what you're saying because in seven years,
you ought to know that a cheap shot and one smash through the table,
that ain't gonna slow me down one bit.
It's simple. Either back up what you say
or I'm the guy that makes you a footnote in WWE history.
You impress me, but not for one second do you intimidate me.
[dramatic music playing]
[Sheamus] You have never faced anyone like me.
Your title, your health,
you're gonna lose everything.
[Jerry] He's gonna kick him again. Look out.
[Michael] And again to the skull.
[Sheamus] I will become the new WWE Champion.
-[Jerry] Don't do it, Sheamus. No. -[Michael] Oh, my God.
[Sheamus] I'm the new WWE Champion.
And then Cena,
you will take me seriously.
[bell ringing]
The following is a Tables match
for the WWE Championship.
Now, the only way to win the title
is to drive your opponent through a table.
["Written in My Face" playing]
♪ It's a shame For they lost their head ♪
♪ A careless man who could wind up dead ♪
[Michael] Now, ladies and gentlemen, the opportunity of a lifetime
for this man, Sheamus, and he is extremely confident.
And if you want an example of how confident Sheamus is,
all you gotta do is take a look at what King is reading here at ringside.
It is from the Irish Voice, the current issue,
which is still available on newsstands today.
And the headline, King, says it all.
"Sheamus vows victory."
Yeah, and inside, quite a story on Sheamus, full page story there.
You got-- some of the things that this guy said about his native country of Ireland.
I mean, he's on a mission for this-- the--
for the respect for his country, not only himself.
[Michael] And in this article, Sheamus says,
"There's no doubt I will walk out champion."
"I'm not a nice guy."
"I wanna make an impact now."
I took the opportunity to show this newspaper earlier on today to John Cena.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Michael] Cena smiled and walked away.
Matt Striker, locker room fodder perhaps, for the champion.
[Striker] Well, if we all know John Cena the way I do,
we know that The Champ is ready,
and boy, it's gonna take more than a newspaper article
to deter the Chain Gang Soldier.
[Michael] Sheamus wants to be the first Irish-born champion
in WWE history to make history here tonight.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena!
[Striker] Sheamus has put The Champ through a table before.
Can The Celtic Warrior do it again tonight?
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Krrr, Amadou! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise ♪
[Jerry] Hey Sheamus, The Champ is here.
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
[Michael] Over 15,000
-members of the WWE Universe… -[Jerry] Wow.
…are on their feet.
♪ Oh, you hear those horns You finished ♪
[Michael] And remember what John Cena said when he told Sheamus face-to-face,
"I have earned the right to say The Champ is here."
He told Sheamus, "You impress me, but you don't intimidate me."
The question is though, Matt Striker,
do you think John Cena actually believes that?
[Striker] John Cena's the most controversial pop culture superstar
the WWE has even known.
It's all about hustle, loyalty, and respect.
John Cena says what John Cena believes.
[Michael] In this Tables match, King,
John Cena loses the advantage of being champion.
He doesn't have to be pinned or submit.
If he's put through a table, he loses the gold.
[Jerry] Well, now, I don't think he loses any advantage.
I mean, this is-- these guys aren't even terms here.
[Justin] Introducing first, the challenger,
from Dublin, Ireland,
weighing 272 pounds,
he is "The Celtic Warrior"
Sheamus.
[crowd jeering]
And his opponent, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing 240 pounds,
he is the current WWE Champion,
John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] You notice John Cena being careful not to turn his back on Sheamus.
Sheamus, I mean, you know, that's part of this guy's MO.
I felt it first, I mean, you know, you turn your--
you look away for one second, he'll catch you with that cheap kick.
He's done it to me, he did it to John Cena three times now.
[Striker] Oh, King, if we were in Memphis, you wouldn't have felt a thing,
I mean, you're biased towards Sheamus, let's just call it as it is.
[crowd chatter]
[bell ringing]
Come on. Come on.
[Michael] And, remember, all he has to do is put the champion through a table.
[Striker] Again, Sheamus has done it before.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena!
[Striker] Here we go.
[Michael] And Cena with the right hand. And Cena with so pent--
so much pent up emotion against Sheamus.
[Jerry] Now, it's John Cena turning the tables
giving Sheamus a little taste of his own medicine there.
[Striker] John Cena's never faced anyone the likes of Sheamus.
[Michael] And he's rolling. The Champ is rolling.
Remember, no pinfalls here but Cena needs to try to beat down Sheamus
to the point where he can put him through a table.
[Jerry] And he's well on his way to doing that if you ask me.
-I don't know if Sheamus knows where he-- -[Striker] Oh, here we go now.
[Michael] And Sheamus.
[Striker] Both men like to utilize power moves.
I do believe that works in Sheamus's favor
because Sheamus seems to have the momentum, Cole.
[Michael] If you noticed the front of Sheamus's trunks,
the word laoch,
it is a Gaelic term for warrior, is imprinted there.
It is because Sheamus patterns his life after the Celtic warriors in the past.
Remember no pin fall yet again, just dish out punishment.
[Jerry] When I look at Sheamus--
look at that body, I can't see his trunks.
It's just-- white body reminds me of a corpse.
Matter of fact, I think I'd like him better if he were one.
[Striker] Already Sheamus has what seems to be an abrasion
underneath his left arm, his right arm.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] This is the point of match.
It looks like Sheamus will be-- yup.
Sheamus is going for a table.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] A little early on if you ask me. And I think so does Cena.
-[Michael] Oh, man. -[Striker] Oh.
[Jerry] Look out.
Oh.
[Michael] Cena physically assaulting Sheamus.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Striker] Cole, have you ever seen this aggression from John Cena?
[Michael] No, but he's had it pent up. We mentioned it before, Matt,
everything that Sheamus has done to Cena over the past couple of months,
and I think the big thing for Cena, Matt,
is that he believes Sheamus doesn't respect him.
He doesn't respect that everything John Cena has done
for this industry over the past seven years.
[Striker] Well, it's no secret that anytime a young superstar
comes and disrespects the tenure and the legacy of what we've done,
the veteran superstars will let that young superstar know
that he is in the wrong.
[Michael] And Sheamus battling back, another counter…
-[Jerry] Look out. -…on the champion Cena
who goes shoulder-first off a steel post.
[Jerry] And again, when that young superstar is six-foot-six,
270 plus pounds, he can kinda do whatever he wants, huh?
[Michael] Sheamus came onto the Raw scene on October 26th.
He's ran roughshod through the Raw roster.
He retired the veteran Jamie Noble
with one of the most hellacious assaults we've ever witnessed.
And now, he looks to end the reign of Cena as WWE Champion.
[Jerry] Boy, and just moments ago,
John Cena just hammering Sheamus' head right here into announce table,
it's in shambles now, but Sheamus right back on the attack.
-And the reversal. Oh. -[Michael] Reversal.
Oh, shoulder-first to the steel steps.
[Jerry] I got a feeling there's gonna be a little bit of color
added to that white body of Sheamus before this match is over.
[Striker] Well, King being a smaller guy, I've been through many tables.
I could tell you, the tables don't always break nice and clean.
Sometimes shards and splinters come up.
Watch Sheamus's head. Bam, right there.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] John Cena's so determined to win this matchup here tonight.
He told Sheamus that, "This is my life. It's my passion.
This is all that I have."
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] First table of the night is pulled out in this Tables match
for the WWE Championship.
[Striker] Now, putting your opponent through a table can happen anywhere.
It does not only have to happen in the ring.
It can happen at ringside. It can happen up the ramp.
[Michael] Cena a seven-time champion.
[crowd clamor]
-[Jerry] Well-- -[Striker] That's-- go ahead.
[Jerry] Well, I'll go if you guys won't.
I just think that-- I don't think that Cena is at a disadvantage here.
I think that, you know, it's equal terms.
Cena's got the opportunity to put Sheamus through a table
just as well as Sheamus can Cena.
It's all Cena has to do to win.
[Michael] John Cena up to the top rope.
He's looking to take Sheamus out.
[Jerry] Well, what would happen here?
Ooh.
[Michael] I believe if Sheamus went through the table first,
-he could lose it, right? -[Striker] Well, what if
Sheamus rolls out of the way and Cena puts himself through the table?
[Michael] I think we'll have a new champion, right?
I think we'll have a new champion.
[Striker] I do believe that you have to put your opponent through the table.
[Jerry] I believe you're right about that.
[Michael] And now look at Sheamus with the knees to the spine of John Cena.
[Striker] And that's very smart because Cena utilizes a lot of power,
and to take away the back and spine area,
you limit the champion's offense.
[Michael] Now look at Sheamus.
[Jerry] Oh.
If there had been a table in the middle of that ring right now,
this match would be over.
[Michael] Well, that's how Sheamus put Santino
and then our guest host on Raw last week, Mark Cuban, through a table.
Look at-- taking his time.
[Jerry] But also feeling the effects of Cena's onslaught.
[Striker] Wise beyond his ring years is Sheamus,
slowing your pace down, a methodical pace could benefit the challenger.
[Michael] Sheamus says he has been obsessed with one thing
over the past couple of weeks.
Oh, look at the table there.
Forgot about the table that still stands at ringside.
[Striker] Looming ominously, set up by John Cena.
How about the irony in that?
[Jerry] Yeah. Now, I think at this point,
if Sheamus were to nail Cena right between the eyes like that
then Cena goes through that table
[Michael] Oh, the champ realizes the table is there now, trying to hang on.
-[Striker] Sheamus with a-- -[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Cena weathers that storm.
I was saying earlier, Sheamus says he's obsessed with the sound…
-[Jerry] Oh, oh, oh. -…that-- oh, look at this.
Oh, the Attitude Adjustment, the Attitude Adjustment.
[Jerry] Oh, through the table.
[Michael] Can he do it? Can Cena do it?
-[Striker] Oh. -[Jerry] No, no, no.
-Watch it. Oh. -[Michael] And Sheamus regains control.
[Striker] You know, a lot of people see a Sheamus victory here tonight
as a change in the WWE landscape forever.
[Michael] Well, you heard what Carlito said a couple of weeks ago.
He said there's plenty of superstars in the Raw locker room
that wanna see Sheamus beat Cena here tonight.
But is it time for the changing of the guard?
[Jerry] Oh, watch out here. Watch out.
[Michael] Oh, kidney first.
[Striker] Continuing to soften up the back,
very, very smart on the part of the number one contender, Sheamus.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Michael] Wow.
[Jerry] A punch right to the-- to the kisser there.
Sheamus is just pure evil.
-Watch it, John. Oh. -[Michael] He's barbaric
at times on his attacks.
[Striker] A real championship atmosphere here in San Antonio.
Many NBA stars are here witnessing firsthand TLC.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Almost a smirk…
breaking out on the face of Sheamus.
[Jerry] That's like a-- it's not almost, it's a smirk.
[Striker] Look at the welts on Sheamus' body.
[Michael] Again, that table is still sitting there…
so close to the combatants.
[Jerry] Here comes Cena.
Here comes the champ.
[Michael] So determined and gritty has John Cena, been through his career.
[Jerry] This kind of match, you gotta realize where you are at all times,
and, more importantly, you gotta realize where those tables are.
[crowd clamor]
-[Michael] Table is right there again. -[Jerry] And the Champ
trying to work Sheamus into position here.
[Michael] But Cena better not get his back towards the table.
[Jerry] Attitude Adjustment coming onto the table.
[Striker] Look at the power.
[Michael] Sheamus, 270-pounder,
John Cena-- look out, champ.
Champ, the table's right there. The table's there.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Sheamus could be closing there to the title.
[Striker] Come on. Come on. Here we go.
[Jerry] And, Cena, great move by the champ.
[Michael] Yeah, managed to shift his weight just in time
and then the battle continues in the aisle way up toward the ramp.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Yeah, and every time Cena tries to get a little offense going,
-Sheamus just cuts it out. -[Jerry] Watch it. Oh, man.
These guys are on that steel ramp, a sunset.
-[Jerry] A sunset! Oh, oh! -[Striker] Oh!
Cena had the presence of mind to block the suplex
and switched the momentum.
[Jerry] Talk about welts.
[Michael] One question about Sheamus that we have not had answered so far
throughout his career here is how well does he absorb punishment?
He's never been under an assault like he's going to take here tonight.
We don't know how he can handle the punishment.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena
[Striker] I've witnessed Sheamus's dominance on ECW firsthand,
but I hate to say it, Raw and ECW are two entirely different animals.
[Michael] Now, this…
[Jerry] Cena thinks maybe it's easier to bring the table to Sheamus
than it is to bring Sheamus to the table.
[Michael] I wonder what's going through the champ's mind
at a strategic standpoint of this juncture.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Cena's back is really hurting.
[Jerry] You think John's maybe thinking about swinging that table
like a baseball bat?
-I think he is. -[Michael] Oh, my Lord.
-[Striker] Whoa! -[Michael] And Sheamus
roughly rolled out of the way and that could have been the death knell.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Cena not going to allow Sheamus to retreat,
bringing the fight to Sheamus like he promised he will.
[Jerry] Oh!
[Striker] If nothing more, Sheamus certainly will have a respect
for the tradition and sacrifice
that so many have given for our great industry.
[Michael] It was almost a look of exasperation on the face of Sheamus
when he bounced off that barricade moments ago.
[Jerry] Oh.
Great opportunity for some of the WWE Universe,
getting up close and personal to the action there
with these guys right out amongst them.
[Striker] It's more personal they can get.
[woman] Cena!
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Notice how Cena controls the head of his opponent.
Wherever your head goes, your body must follow and John Cena knows that.
[Michael] This has been a brawl since the get-go,
all throughout the AT&T Center.
[Striker] The beauty of the tables matches that there are tables everywhere.
[Jerry] Like about six of them just on this side of the ring alone.
[Striker] Buy Home Depot stock, huh?
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Cena!
Let's go, Cena!
[Michael] What does he have in mind here?
[Chad] Hey, get inside.
[Jerry] Sheamus through the table, maybe.
-[Michael] Thanks. -[Jerry] You're welcome.
Oh, and look at Sheamus, there it is.
[Michael] There is the Irish Curse kick.
That now for the fourth time…
has taken out Cena in the past few weeks.
[Jerry] I'm gonna tell you from experience--
I'm gonna tell you right now from experience,
Cena is gonna be disoriented for a while here.
[Striker] And wham.
[Michael] Well, remember what happened Monday night, King,
a couple of those kicks kept Cena down and out for the count.
[Jerry] That's what I'm saying. This is Sheamus's golden opportunity.
[crowd clamor]
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena
[Michael] Well, he prides himself on being The Celtic Warrior.
He's got the wounds to prove it.
[Jerry] You gotta watch this guy. You gotta watch this guy.
He could just lash out at anybody for no reason at any time.
Watch.
[Michael] There's debris falling everywhere at ringside.
[Jerry] And right now, in the ring, John Cena's part of that debris.
[Michael] And remember, Sheamus has to put the champion
-through the table to win the title. -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Striker] Michael, this is reminiscent of this past Monday night on Raw
the way that table is situated.
[Michael] Sheamus putting Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks,
our guest host, through that table this past Monday night.
He put superstar Santino through the table the same way a couple of weeks ago.
Will John Cena be next?
Will the WWE Championship be changing hands?
Sheamus only has a few feet to go
to drive the champion through the table.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] And Cena managed to counter.
Went-- looked like he was going for the STF.
[Striker] But that wouldn't matter, no submissions and no pinfalls.
[Michael] Yeah, but-- oh.
[Jerry] Cena could've incapacitated that leg
or any part of Sheamus.
That would be to his advantage.
What do you think here?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And Sheamus--
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] You can't see me.
Five Knuckle Shuffle. Oh!
[Michael] Welcome to the big league, Sheamus.
The WWE Champion--
-[Striker] Oh. -[Jerry] What's he doing here?
-[Michael] Smart. -[Striker] Very smart.
-[Michael] Smart. -[Striker] Yes.
[Michael] And look at John Cena going for the Attitude Adjustment,
-but there's no table there. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Striker] You would have to believe that that would have been through the table
if Sheamus didn't have the presence of mind.
[Michael] Yeah, Sheamus realized that he was in deep, deep trouble.
[Striker] I think Cena realizes something now as well.
[Jerry] Well, one thing you have to admit,
Cena has definitely slowed Sheamus down.
[crowd clamor]
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena
[Michael] That table was set up to a while ago by the champion.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Cena has been so determined.
[Jerry] Well, now you see,
it's a good thing that Cena was able to deliver that Attitude Adjustment.
It gives him time to relocate that--
another table back to the center of the ring.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Cena so deliberate, so methodical.
[Michael] Well, he's in control.
There's no need to hurry.
Make sure everything is completely set.
No mistakes at this juncture.
Cena again looks to put the challenger through a table
with his WWE title on the line.
[Jerry] How does he wanna do it, Attitude Adjustment or what?
[Striker] What is this?
[Jerry] I don't know what John has in mind here.
[Michael] Well, he said he wanted to punish Sheamus, but…
the champ's gotta be careful here.
[Jerry] What in the world?
[Striker] Cena's back must really be hurting him
for him to try to go for an Attitude Adjustment
using the ropes for leverage.
[Jerry] Well, wait a minute. How can you get--
-[Striker] How good is that? -[Jerry] His back can't be hurting.
Look at the strength that this is taking.
[Michael] Two-hundred-and-seventy-pounder on Cena's shoulders,
but Sheamus manages to battle out.
[Striker] Whoa, whoa. Ooh.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] It is a bad place for either competitor to be right now.
[Jerry] To get to that table just lurking right in the center of the ring,
just inviting somebody to come slamming through it.
[Michael] One mistake, one mistake is all it takes.
[Jerry] Exactly.
John gotta be so careful right here.
[Michael] Really, really careful.
[Striker] Normally it only takes three seconds in the WWE
but in a match like this, one split second can be the difference.
[Jerry] John got that arm over his head and Sheamus trying to fight it.
[Michael] And Cena trying to-- trying to get perched on that…
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -…the top rope,
precariously perched.
[Jerry] He's wanting to hit a superplex.
[Michael] There's the table one of these men
must go through to end this matchup with the WWE title on the line.
[Jerry] I don't know if John has the strength to superplex.
-[Striker] Whoa, whoa, whoa. Look out! -[Jerry] Look out!
-[crowd cheering] -[Striker] No.
[bell ringing]
-[Jerry] What? -["Written In My Face" playing]
[Striker] We have a new champion.
[Justin] The winner of this match
and new WWE Champion,
"The Celtic Warrior"
Sheamus!
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, I am stunned.
[Striker] Shock and awe throughout the WWE Universe.
Sheamus is your new WWE Champion.
[Michael] I am absolutely stunned.
[Jerry] As is everyone, but no one more stunned right now than John Cena.
[Michael] I can't believe it, Sheamus,
Sheamus is the WWE Champion.
He came-- he came to Raw on October 26th,
and now less than two months later, he has taken out Cena.
[Jerry] Yeah, now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Let's not go too far overboard on this.
Both of these guys were perched up on that corner precariously.
You know, Cena was gonna try to suplex Sheamus.
I don't know if Cena just was shoved off the top
or if Cena lost his balance and fell through.
[Striker] King, sir, with all due respect, it doesn't matter,
and let's, let's go overboard.
John Cena has been defeated by "The Celtic Warrior" Sheamus.
-♪ And I'll make you believe ♪ -[Striker] Wow.
♪ Yeah, your time is done And now it's time to bleed ♪
[Michael] Stunning turn of events
here tonight at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
[Striker] Look at how good the championship looks
draped across the shoulder of Sheamus.
Let the road rise to meet you.
[Jerry] What was the name of that Irish newspaper this guy was on?
[Michael] The Irish Voice.
-[Jerry] He'll be the headlines tomorrow. -The Celtic Warrior!
[Striker] Yeah, Cena will be in the classifieds.
[Michael] A historic night…
for that man, Sheamus.
[Striker] I mean, just look around the arena,
there are jaws wide open.
Look at that shock, disbelief.
[Jerry] I'm disbelieving as well.
[Michael] When John Cena went through the table,
not only us here at ringside were silent,
-this arena was silent. -[Striker] Look at that.
[Michael] The WWE Universe could not believe what had happened.
[Jerry] Well, they don't wanna believe it.
I mean, are you happy with this guy, Sheamus, as the WWE Champion?
[Michael] No, I don't wanna believe it either.
[Striker] I am. I am.
Look at the heartbreak on the faces of these kids.
[Michael] I was waiting to-- I was waiting to see
if they were actually gonna award the gold to Sheamus.
[Striker] Why wouldn't they? John Cena went through the table.
Those are the rules.
I will say it like this so you understand.
♪ And now it's time to bleed ♪
-♪ Oh ♪ -[Striker laughs]
♪ Oh, and you wear Your cowardice well ♪
[Jerry] Well, this is shocking.
♪ And I will see you ride it Straight to hell ♪
[Striker] No, this is great.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena!
[Jerry] John refusing help to get back to his feet.
He's gotta be…
[Michael] Well, he's gotta be as shocked as everybody else.
[Jerry] Well, and embarrassed.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] I can think of different words, but I'm not allowed to say it.
[Michael] Well, that young man's face,
his emotion told the whole story.
[Striker] Here we go. Interesting, maybe a little souvenir,
something to motivate the "former" WWE Champion.
[Jerry] Come on. Let's not rub it in.
[crowd cheering and booing]
Never again.
[Michael] Yeah. John Cena indeed will never forget this night.
[Striker] Uh-hmm.
-[dramatic music playing] -[Cena] Every day, I train.
[Jericho] Thousands of hours of practice.
[Rey] Injuries can happen at any time.
[Triple H] My kneecap just kind of blew over to the side of my leg.
[Cena] I've torn the pectoral muscle completely off my shoulder.
[Rey] I've had surgery five times in my left knee.
[Batista] The tendon was torn off the bone.
I can hardly lift my leg anymore.
-[Cena] With every move I make… -[Randy] My body…
[Edge] My life is on the line.
[Cena] Don't risk yours.
Please, don't try this.
[music fades]
Ladies and gentlemen, we're still shocked and I think in this shock,
I think we've all forgotten the enormity.
The enormity of what has just happened here at TLC.
Would you call it one of the biggest upsets in WWE history?
I mean, it's huge, it's huge, but, you know,
judging from what we've seen from Sheamus up to this point,
I don't know if you could say it's an upset.
The guy has been so impressive and he's won here, but you're right.
It's so shocking.
Look at the faces of our WWE Universe here.
Well, let's show you what happened again here at the end of the matchup.
-You see the table there. -[Jerry] Yeah, I wanna watch this.
-Now let me see if… -[Striker] Okay.
…if he shoved through-- wait a minute.
[Striker] What? What?
Cena set the table up,
Cena perched Sheamus up there.
[Jerry] Yeah, but did John lose his balance there?
[Striker] Well, how do you know?
All Sheamus had to do was give him a slight little nudge.
And it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter because Sheamus is the WWE Champion.
And now you have to ask the question coming up next.
Can Batista defeat The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight title?
Well, but first before we get to that, there's some thanks going on, huh, King?
[Jerry] Yeah, you're right. We wanna send out a special thank you to Switchfoot
for what you're listening to right now.
It's "Bullet Soul," the official TLC theme song.
It's off their album Hello Hurricane,
which is in stores right now.
[Striker] And speaking of music, could it be the swan song
for the World's Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker?
Batista has unleashed a rage unlike we have never seen before.
Will The Animal sit atop the WWE
after this Chairs Match as World Heavyweight Champion?
♪ I wanna glow in the dark ♪
[tense music playing]
[Batista] I'm gonna rip your head off…
Rey.
I'm not playing.
I think I'm tired of my best friend stabbing me in the back.
Come on!
You're supposed to be my friend!
[yells]
[tense music playing]
Rey Mysterio chose to embarrass me.
I chose to powerbomb Rey
until the EMTs had to scrape him off a steel chair.
No one disrespects me,
which is why I'm here tonight to put everyone on notice.
The World Heavyweight title is mine.
The Undertaker…
is mine.
[Todd] It's our main event.
The World Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker,
going one-on-one against Chris Jericho
as the number one contender Batista looks on here ringside.
[Striker] And that is what Batista must deal with at TLC.
[Todd] Up and down, a Chokeslam.
The Animal in the ring.
A chop block sends Undertaker down.
Batista has a steel chair.
[Striker] At TLC, this is all legal.
[thudding]
[dramatic music playing]
Everything about me screams
World Heavyweight Champion.
The way I walk, the way I talk,
my ring dominance, everything.
The Undertaker is not the dominant force
that everyone makes him out to be.
I've looked into his eyes
and I've seen nothing but fear.
[explosions]
[Striker] After last week's vicious attack at the hands of Batista,
the World's Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker,
will call The Animal out, face to face, man to man.
[suspenseful music playing]
[music fades]
[Michael] Now that's what it's all about, the Chairs Match for the world title.
[Striker] Chairs will be legal.
They will be set up around ringside,
a very dangerous situation for the World's Heavyweight Champion.
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is a Chair Match
and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, this match can only be won by pinfall or submission.
However, the use of chairs is legal.
[crowd cheering]
["I Walk Alone" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Yeah! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger ♪
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, Batista came to SmackDown for one reason
to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
And tonight, he's in a position to do so
and what is frightening about this matchup is to think
you're going to hand over this animal a steel chair
that he can legally use as a weapon.
[Striker] Batista said it this past Friday night on SmackDown,
Batista exudes championship caliber
and that is evident in the fact that no one has attacked
and manhandled The Undertaker
in the way that this altered beast Batista has.
[Jerry] I'll tell you what was evident to me.
Batista, there on his entrance,
took the opportunity to intensely turn his back
on the WWE Universe momentarily
just as he turned his back on his best friend, Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] Well, this past week, he basically said it's about him.
He demands the spotlight.
He has no need for the fans, for his friends,
even those who made him famous like Evolution.
-[Striker] Uh-huh. -["I Walk Alone" playing]
[Jerry] WWE Table, Ladders, and Chairs
is being presented by SmackDown versus Raw 2010, the video game.
It is the best-rated SmackDown versus Raw in years.
[Michael] I'll tell you, this is the first time ever for the TLC pay-per-view.
What a night it's been.
Drew McIntyre wins the Intercontinental Championship,
Sheamus is the new WWE Champion.
Will Batista soon become the new world champion?
[Striker] Well, the Universe is getting a look at the Batista I've always known.
Batista never liked to sign autographs, never liked to take pictures
and now the real Batista will emerge.
[Jerry] So you're telling me Batista was never really friends with Rey Mysterio?
I find that hard to believe.
[Michael] Almost a look of disgust
shot the way of the WWE fans here in the front row.
[Striker] Four-time World's Heavyweight Champion,
Royal Rumble winner, and number one contender, Batista.
[crowd cheering]
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[Striker] Wow.
[Michael] Mythical.
[Jerry] You can feel all the way across the arena that intense heat…
from those bursts of flame and I can only--
I can only think that Batista feels not only that heat,
but he's got to know he's gonna be feeling the heat of The Undertaker momentarily.
[Michael] The legend grows and grows…
but it could indeed be argued that in The Undertaker's two-decade career,
Batista has posed his largest problem,
his toughest competition.
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[Striker] Ooh.
So many have been frozen in fear
with the ominous presence of The Undertaker, but not Batista.
[Michael] And speaking of fear, it's Batista who has said in recent weeks,
he has sensed and seen fear from The Undertaker.
Do you feel the same way?
[Striker] Well, intimidation has been The Undertaker's greatest weapon.
If Batista is not intimidated,
this is a level playing ground.
[Michael] This has been a fierce rivalry over the years
between The Undertaker and Batista.
In fact, many experts point to their battles of a few years ago
as the maturation of Batista,
the point where Batista went from an also-ran to a champion
to the-- well, person that he is today.
[Jerry] Boy, this is big.
This is gonna be one of those that you just wanna sit back and enjoy.
This is gonna be a war.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] Remember, it was WrestleMania a couple of years back
when The Undertaker defeated Batista
for the World's Heavyweight Championship.
This is where those seeds come into play.
Introducing the challenger from Washington D.C.,
weighing in at 290 pounds,
Batista!
[crowd cheering and booing]
And from Death Valley,
weighing in at 299 pounds,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
The Undertaker!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I can't help but tell you guys, I don't see any fear in those eyes.
[Michael] So again, this is a Chairs Match for the World Championship
and there are some unique things about this match
I think we should point out.
Remember, chairs are legal to be used as a weapon.
However, there can be disqualifications…
-[bell ringing] -…and count-outs in this matchup
if you use something else as a weapon perhaps.
Any pinfall or submission will be the finish of this matchup.
-[Jerry] And look at Undertaker. -[Striker] Oh, look at that.
Very smart on the part of The Undertaker.
-[Jerry] Watch it there-- oh! -[Michael] Oh!
[Jerry] Undertaker beating Batista to the punch, not once, but twice.
But now-- oh, there's Batista.
[Striker] The Undertaker has been in Hell in a Cell,
Elimination Chamber, Inferno matches,
perhaps none more dangerous than a Chair Match.
[Michael] And you saw The Undertaker quickly trying to take the chair
out of the hands of Batista.
He realizes it as well.
[Jerry] Both Undertaker and Batista wasting no time
in trying to get to those chairs.
-[Michael] Any strategy… -[Striker] Well, a factor in the match.
-I'm sorry. -[Michael] I'm sorry.
Any strategy you'd employ in a Chairs Match I guess?
[Jerry] Yeah, just what both of these guys tried to do,
get a chair as quickly as possible,
make it your friend, make it your ally,
use it at every opportunity.
[Striker] Well, let's keep in mind, Batista can bench press 500 pounds.
Imagine the force of Batista swinging a chair.
[Jerry] Oh, I agree.
[Michael] Hey, imagine the force of The Undertaker swinging the chair.
[Striker] It's like getting hit by a truck.
[Michael] And much like we saw in the Tables match
just a few moments ago,
one swing of the chair here could be the turning point.
Oh! Power of Batista.
[Jerry] Well, Matt, you're right about that.
You saw it right there. Anything-- whoa, here we go.
Anything that Batista does to you,
I mean, just by the fact that it's done to you by Batista is magnified.
I mean, this is not like a normal mortal superstar.
Wow. Did you see that?
[Michael] And again, remember, just like in a normal championship match,
Batista needs to pin
or get The Undertaker to submit to win the world title.
[Striker] And can utilize a chair to help that along.
Oh!
[Charles] One! Let's go!
[Striker] I mean, it may sound silly, but Batista's protein intake
is obviously more than The Undertaker's.
-Batista's bones are more dense. -[Jerry] What?
[Striker] That means a chair shot to Batista
may not have the same effect that it would to The Undertaker.
[Michael] Well, what if The Undertaker drinks more milk?
-Does that mean-- -[Jerry] Hey--
[Michael] Now, look at Undertaker continuing
to try to get back in this thing against "The Animal" Batista.
-[Jerry] What are you guys talking about? -[Striker laughs]
[Michael] Batista beat Kane to become the number one contender
for the world title.
[Jerry] Oh.
Here, get back.
[Striker] Mm. I don't think that was an errant toss
on the part of the World's Heavyweight Champion.
That chair may come back into play.
[Michael] Yeah, but it also may come back and haunt The Undertaker
if he can't get back to it.
-[Jerry] Whoa, look out. -[Michael] Over the barricade
into the timekeeper's area goes Batista.
[Jerry] Is a chair in there?
Chairs are everywhere.
[Michael] You saw the damage Batista can do under these type of conditions
against Rey Mysterio in that street fight.
Well, the chair tossed into the ring.
[Striker] And what does the calloused heart of The Undertaker have in mind?
[Jerry] Chairs.
-Whoa! -[Striker] Look out!
[Jerry] No. Oh, no.
[Michael] And you have to wonder if Batista
had that planned out the whole way.
[Striker] Yeah, this could be smart, guys.
Why not attack the knees of The Undertaker and minimize that…
[Michael] Undertaker's a sitting duck! Oh!
…that seven feet of tattooed madness in The Undertaker
that gets cut down to size?
[Jerry] Well, I don't know if that damaged The Undertaker's knees.
He straddled-- oh, that wall. Oh, look out here.
[Striker] This is all legal in a Chairs Match.
First time ever, TLC.
[Jerry] Yeah, but they can't stay outside the ring all night.
They have the referee counting up there.
[Striker] Well, the referee will use championship discretion.
-That's how important this match is. -[Jerry] Now the referee's not counting.
[Michael] Well, again, as Matt said,
championship discretion as the assault continues
at the hands of Batista
with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
[Charles] Get in the ring! You can't win out here! Get in the ring!
-[Striker] Uh-oh. Look out. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[man] How about you getting, uh--
[Jerry] Watch out, watch out!
-[Striker] Oh! -[Michael] The Undertaker.
[Striker] Phew. That'll sting your hand.
Those chairs are made of amalgamated metals.
[Jerry] Sting your hands?
What would that have done to The Undertaker's head?
[Michael] It's like if you ever swing a baseball bat
and hit a baseball in cold weather.
Now look at Undertaker…
oh, may have the challenger right where he wants him.
[Jerry] Oh, we've seen this before. This could do some damage. Yes.
[Michael] Vintage Undertaker.
[Jerry] I had a feeling you'd say that.
[Michael] And now The Undertaker has a little bit of time to recover
from the chair assault moments ago by The Animal.
[Jerry] I'd do some assaulting with a chair myself
if I were Undertaker right here.
[Michael] Again.
[Jerry] That head of Batista is very inviting right now.
[Michael] And a cover, cover, cover.
Ooh, Batista just managed to kick out at two, barely.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Man, you already used your vintage Undertaker line.
-[Michael] Yeah, but I can use-- oh. -[Striker] Oh, not yet.
[Michael] No need for it there with Batista on the counter.
[Striker] Batista seems to be shaking his right leg out.
You have to wonder if there's some type of damage going on
to those gigantic quads or knees.
[Jerry] He looks okay right now.
[Striker] We saw how perilous this position could be
in the WWE Championship match.
[Michael] What does Batista have in mind?
It looks like perhaps a superplex.
Undertaker trying to counter.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] I think if you're as big as these two guys are,
you don't wanna land in that ring
and it looks like he's gonna have no choice.
Oh, my gosh.
[Michael] Wicked superplex.
Nearly 600 pounds coming down from that top rope.
-[Jerry] He could do it without a chair. -Here's the cover,
for the World Heavyweight Championship and a kickout at two.
[Striker] And you have to believe that that was the mindset
of John Cena and Sheamus earlier,
that particular move that we see executed successfully here by Batista.
[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Striker] Guys, Batista does look to be hurt or injured.
[Jerry] Now he's back to that chair.
[Michael] He's gonna put The Undertaker away.
Batista Bomb perhaps.
[Jerry] On the chair is what he's thinking.
[Michael] If he does this, it could be lights out for The Phenom.
[Jerry] Undertaker trying to block it and blocked it. Whoa!
[Michael] It was a great move by The Undertaker
to drop down to the knee,
and then power his way back up for the backdrop.
[Striker] Look at the way Batista's leg is contorted.
[Jerry] Yeah, and his hips landed right on that metal chair.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] There's no such thing as a good landing from a backdrop,
but that one was extra bad.
[Michael] World champ back to his feet first,
seven-time world champion, The Undertaker, unloading.
[Jerry] These two huge guys just exchanging haymakers here,
throwing bombs.
[Striker] Look at the torque on The Undertaker's strikes.
[Jerry] Reversal.
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh, and a spinebuster.
Cover, hook of the leg.
-Will we crown another… -[Jerry] Whoa!
…a new world champion? I thought, but a kickout at two.
Batista has to keep his emotions in check.
He cannot allow mounting frustration to cost him here tonight.
[Jerry] Undertaker somehow gotta regain the momentum
and then go with-- you gotta go with what kind of match you're in.
Keep your hands on the nearest chair and use it.
[Striker] Here comes the unpredictability and volatility of a Chairs Match.
Let's see what type of unique offense The Animal has in mind.
[Jerry] Well, he's wedging that chair between those two ropes.
That chair is not gonna budge.
He's planning on sending The Undertaker in there face first, I'm sure.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Batista continuing to wear down the champion.
[Jerry] Missed the clothesline.
A big, big clothesline from The Undertaker.
[Striker] This could be the opportunity the World's Heavyweight Champion needs.
[Michael] As he sits up, Undertaker realizes it
and I believe he glanced and caught a glimpse of the chair
that's lodged in those ropes.
[Jerry] Here we go again.
[crowd clamor]
-[Jerry] There it is! -[Michael] Old School from The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
-[Striker] Uh-oh. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Snake eyes and a spear.
[Striker] Batista had it countered.
[Michael] A spear, a cover, The Undertaker's in trouble
and gets the shoulder up at two.
[Striker] Gentlemen, we have seen The Undertaker destroy the competition.
We have never seen anyone take it to The Undertaker
the way the altered beast Batista has.
[Jerry] Well, we heard Batista mentioned the fear in the eyes of The Undertaker
and I just saw a look in Undertaker's eyes
that the one you don't see very often…
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -…from The Undertaker.
[Michael] Batista, with that steel chair there.
Undertaker, oh, spinebuster
and you saw the back of The Undertaker's head
bounce off the steel chair.
-[Striker] All legal. -[Jerry] He could be knocked out.
-[Striker] Come on. -[crowd clamor]
[Michael] The moment of truth for the challenger.
-[Striker] Whoa, whoa, whoa! -[Michael] Look at this.
Submission hold, going for the Hell's Gate…
-going for the Hell's Gate. -[Jerry] He's locked in.
He's got him. He's got Batista.
[Michael] If Batista taps out, it's over.
If Batista taps out, it's over.
[Striker] I don't know if that left arm is fully hybrid standard
on the part of Batista,
or else he would've tapped out long ago.
[Michael] But he's fading. He seemed to be fading. Batista--
[Striker] Look at The Undertaker's hands, they're not clasped for the grip.
[Jerry] No, the grip-- the grip is loosening.
[Striker] No. Ooh.
[Michael] And now, Taker must break.
[Striker] The Undertaker, a master of the submission arts,
not able to lock that submission hold in completely.
[Michael] Wear and tear showing on both men.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Batista damaged right now, but he's got a chair in his hand.
[Striker] That submission hold cuts off the flow of blood to your brain.
It gets you all dizzy.
Batista is trying to recombobulate himself.
[Jerry] Watch it, Undertaker. You watch the chair.
-[Michael] Oh. -[Striker] Oof.
Oh, man.
[Michael] Undertaker never saw it coming.
[Jerry] Walked right into it.
[Michael] Batista holding that weapon in his holster
and pointed it out at the last moment.
The champion in dire straits.
[Jerry] These guys have really dished out and taken.
[Michael] Such a physical match.
[Striker] Oh.
[Michael] And the chair came back to hurt Batista.
[Striker] And here comes the Poltergeist, the Minister of the Night, The Undertaker.
[Michael] Phenom into the cover, hooks the leg, champion,
challenger in trouble, and kicks out at two and a half.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Michael] And that looks says it all.
[Jerry] I don't think it's a look of fear, but it's certainly a look of exasperation.
[Striker] It then turned into a look of disdain.
Did you see the lip curl up?
Here comes the demonic World's Heavyweight Champion.
[Michael] Expression suddenly has changed on the face of the Deadman.
-Batista going for a Ride. -[Jerry] Yes.
[Michael] Cover.
Will Undertaker retain?
And another kickout.
[Striker] Oh, it was barely, barely a kickout.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Oh.
Frustration has turned to anger.
Undertaker preparing the grave.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. Watch it. Watch it.
[Michael] The Undertaker-- oh, and a low blow.
Referee obstructed by The Undertaker.
[Striker] Oh, Batista was very smart.
He knows The Undertaker's seven feet tall.
Batista planned that beautifully.
[Michael] Well, a low blow nonetheless
and Undertaker's suffering the effects of it.
Batista, steel chair at hand, measuring the champion,
closing in on the title perhaps.
-[Jerry] Watch out. -[Michael] The skull.
A crushing blow, the cover, hook to the leg, he got it.
-[Jerry] Oh, my God. -[bell rings]
[Michael] Batista is the new world champion.
[Chimel] Here is your winner and the new
World Heavyweight Champion, Batista!
[Striker] Gentlemen, we are witnessing history here.
The WWE title and now, the World's Heavyweight Championship
have changed hands here tonight at TLC.
[Michael] It was a low blow by Batista.
[Teddy] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
-[Striker] What? Why? -No. No.
Ladies and gentlemen,
pardon my interruption,
but there's no need to celebrate.
Now, Batista, you and I know
that the usage of chairs is legal
in this World Heavyweight Championship match,
but a blatant foul is not.
Now, if you think that I'm going to allow
the world title to change hands
on such a low, cheap, despicable act
after what you did, uh-uh.
Not tonight, player.
Therefore, as general manager of SmackDown,
I'm ordering this match to restart.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] Good.
[Striker] No. Why?
-Teddy Long's on probation anyway. -[Teddy] Ring the bell. Ring the bell.
-[bell rings] -[Teddy] Ring the bell.
[Michael] What does probation have to do with it? He made the right call.
-[Jerry] Look at The Undertaker. -[Striker] But he's not an official.
[Michael] And look at Batista. Look at Batista.
-[Striker] Oh, come on. -[Michael] Trying to take advantage.
Steel chair again and Undertaker, the match has been restarted.
The world title is still on the line.
-[Jerry] Watch out. -[Michael] Steel chair.
Undertaker with a second life.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Tombstone. -[Michael] Tombstone Piledriver.
-The wrong has been righted at TLC. -[bell rings]
["Rest In Peace" playing]
[Chimel] Here's your winner and still
the World Heavyweight Champion,
The Undertaker!
[Michael] Undertaker retaining the world title.
[Jerry] Man, oh, man.
You know what, you can't-- you said it best, Michael.
The wrong was right and the referee was not at fault.
He didn't see what happened, but we all saw it, the world saw it,
unmistakable, low cheap shot by Batista to get the win.
[Michael] And like our general manager Teddy Long said,
"Chairs were legal. A low blow wasn't legal."
Hence, the reason the decision was reversed.
The right call by Teddy Long.
[Striker] Teddy Long's either a general manager or an official,
cannot be both.
[Michael] He's the general manager. He loves himself.
[Jerry] Wait a minute. Listen, another thing that's important.
Teddy Long didn't reverse the decision.
I mean, he didn't award the match to The Undertaker.
-He just simply restarted the match. -[Striker] Okay.
Let me pose this for you,
perhaps Teddy Long is covering his own behind
for some of Teddy Long's transgressions against that man,
the World's Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker. It's the best.
[Michael] Whatever the reasons-- whatever the reasons,
it doesn't matter at this point.
Undertaker is still, still the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Striker] Controversy abound earlier in this match.
We will see here.
It looks to me like Batista is on his way to becoming World's Heavyweight Champion.
[Michael] Look at it. Low blow.
[Jerry] With the referee's back turned, and there's the chair shot,
-which was legal. -[Striker] That was perfectly legal.
-You're right. -One, two…
[Michael] We thought Batista was the world champion at this point.
-[Striker] He is. He was, until this. -[Chimel] Here is your winner…
[Michael] Teddy Long restarting the match and Undertaker wasted little time.
[Jerry] Taking that chair right into the skull of Batista
then strapping it right across his back
and finishing The Animal off with the Tombstone Piledriver.
Oh, man.
[Michael] But the concern in this situation is this,
we know how enraged and frustrated Batista has been
by not winning the world title. Tonight, he had it in his hands.
It was taken out of his grasp.
Can you imagine what he's gonna go through now?
[crowd clamor]
I don't need any of you.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Well, Batista, obviously, in his own mind,
feels that he is still the winner.
He says he doesn't need any of our fans, our WWE Universe.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] He might need a little medical attention.
He is definitely dazed.
[Michael] And disappointed as well is The Animal.
[Jerry] Good match.
[crowd clamor]
Well, ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
it is nothing short of personal between Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton.
Boy, you're talking right there.
I mean, we have seen, at the hands of Randy Orton,
a new side of Kofi Kingston.
Randy Orton has brought out, dare I say, the best in Kofi Kingston.
He has brought out a Kofi Kingston that none of us even knew existed.
What do you think about that, Matt?
Either the best or the worst, we're gonna find out.
Kofi's on a roll here, but it's a very different Kofi Kingston.
Well, let's take a look at how this all came about.
[Michael] Oh, look at this.
-[Jerry] What in the world? -[Michael] Randy Orton.
[Kofi] Randy lost the WWE title and bragging rights,
and like a classic bully, he wants to blame someone else for his problems.
I'm not gonna be bullied by anybody.
That's why I took a stand.
Get off my car.
I will make your life a living hell.
-Listen, hey-- -You know what I love about these cars,
these NASCARs?
Is the fact that they are so durable.
Is that a-- don't worry, Randy.
I got you, Randy. I got you.
There it is. There it is. Huh? Huh?
It looks like I've really screwed up your paint job, man.
Let me make it right for you, all right?
I don't think you've ever looked better.
[Jerry] Oh, no. Oh, my lord.
[Kofi] I won't be bullied by anybody. That's why I took a stand.
[Michael] Oh, Randy Orton momentarily distracted
and here's the reason why.
Kofi Kingston unloading on Randy Orton.
[Striker] Kofi Kingston has not stood for Randy Orton's bullying.
Kofi Kingston refuses to be pushed around.
[Michael] And Kofi Kingston is not letting up.
Orton didn't want any of it tonight. And here comes Kingston.
Look at Kingston go.
[Striker] That's the unpredictable athleticism of Kofi Kingston.
[Michael] Officials desperately trying to separate the two.
Oh, and he's still going at it.
It's one of those steel lids to one of the technical cases.
Orton with a glazed look in his eye.
Kofi Kingston has been unleashed.
Is Kofi gonna--
Oh, my.
The Boom Drop from out of the stairs.
This isn't your fun-loving Kofi Kingston anymore.
This is a man with a chip on his shoulder.
A man dead set on revenge on The Viper.
[crowd chanting] Kofi! Kofi! Kofi
[Michael] There's Kofi Kingston getting ready
for this big matchup tonight against Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
Relax, Kofi.
We're not gonna beat you down right here.
We're gonna let Randy enjoy doing that tonight.
-Is that right? -Yeah, we're just here
-to pass along a message. -Guys, look, look, I get it.
Randy sends his two sidekicks to try and intimidate me before the match,
try and psyche me out, right?
Well, it doesn't psyche me out at all.
It only psyches me up.
Yeah? You know, you should know better than anybody
that we're not just two sidekicks.
Yeah, that's pretty big talk, Kofi,
considering you've never been in this situation before.
One-on-one with somebody the caliber of Randy Orton
and all that false bravado you're spouting out
is obviously hiding the fact that
inside, you're terrified of what he's about to do to you.
-Terrified? -Yeah.
Terrified?
Randy sends his two carrier pigeons here to deliver a message to me
instead of doing it to my face himself,
but I'm the one who's terrified?
You tell Randy--
You know what? I got a better idea.
-[Ted Jr.] Hey, Kofi. -[Cody] Ready to go.
[Ted Jr.] Hey.
What's he doing?
Randy, I think you're a coward.
I don't think you deserve a title shot ever again
and I'm really, really looking forward
to beating you down tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I guarantee you, Randy Orton did not expect that Kofi Kingston.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are at San Antonio, Texas here tonight
and on the River Walk, the mariachis.
[Striker] The Vianos, some luchadores for you, King.
[Michael] Having a grand old time.
[Jerry] I can't wait to go. Do you know where those guys are?
[Michael] We're going there tonight.
[Jerry] No, I don't wanna go there by mistake.
[Michael laughs] TLC here at the AT&T Center.
We're sold out, ladies and gentlemen, over 15,000 members of the WWE Universe.
-["Voices" playing] -♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me ♪
♪ They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[bell rings]
[Chimel] This match is set for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing 245 pounds, Randy Orton!
[Michael] You know what's so frustrating, King, I believe for Randy Orton
is he's used to getting his way.
He's used to using Legacy and then his own talent to,
well, beat people into submission, to get what he wants,
but that hasn't been the case with Kofi Kingston.
Kingston keeps coming back, and coming back, coming back.
[Jerry] Yeah, Kofi Kingston obviously, as we just witnessed,
is not intimidated in the least by Randy Orton or by Legacy,
but, you know, what is--
I don't remember exactly what J.R. used to say,
sometimes more brains than… Well, no, more guts than brains.
That's what it was.
[Michael] Kofi Kingston did walk right into Randy Orton's locker room.
He looked at him in the eye and said, "You're a coward."
[Striker] Well, that's what the kids call manning up.
Kofi Kingston stood face to face with his opponent and told him,
"I'm not afraid of you and I will fight you,"
and that fight is coming up right now.
[Michael] Randy Orton, a six-time world champion,
but this isn't about titles in this matchup here tonight.
It is about pride provoked of these competitors.
[Striker] Yeah, but ego and pride can collide with judgment,
that's the question.
-["S.O.S." playing] -♪ You know ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ SOS ♪
♪ I hear them shoutin' ♪
[exploding]
♪ SOS ♪
[Chimel] And his opponent, from Ghana, West Africa,
weighing 221 pounds, Kofi Kingston!
[Michael] Kofi Kingston is ready for Randy Orton
in perhaps the most important matchup of Kofi Kingston's young career
here tonight at TLC.
Kofi Kingston, of course, from the West African country of Ghana.
Many members of the WWE Universe are watching live tonight
in the great continent of Africa, places like Somalia,
and Chad, also in Egypt, Morocco, and around the world,
in Mexico, New Zealand, Germany
and Austria.
[Striker] But, Michael, you brought up an interesting point
-that Randy Orton-- -[Jerry] Before you say that.
-[Striker] Okay. -[Jerry] You know,
we have an impressive list of everyone who's watching.
Let's certainly not forget the Armed Forces Network
tuned in all around the world.
-Hey, guys. -[bell rings]
[Jerry] It's-- We really appreciate you.
[Striker] Well, our Armed Forces protect the world from bullies
and you said that Randy Orton is used to bullying people around.
How will Randy Orton react when an opponent like Kofi Kingston
does not back down, does not acquiesce?
[Michael] Well, we're gonna find out.
This rivalry, of course, began a couple of months ago
when Orton blamed Kofi Kingston for costing him the WWE Championship.
[Jerry] Randy Orton can sometimes make you acquiesce.
-[Striker] Spell it. -[Michael] Along the road--
along the road to TLC,
Kofi Kingston pinned Randy Orton at Survivor Series
in the Kofi versus Orton team match.
Kingston eliminated Randy Orton from the breakthrough Battle Royal on Raw
a couple of weeks ago.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Well, Randy Orton will enjoy a height and experience advantage.
Kofi Kingston is far quicker
and perhaps more athletic than Randy Orton.
[Michael] Kofi, we never knew existed,
born out of this rivalry.
Vindictive and vengeful at times, fierce at others.
[Striker] And there's the agility and athleticism.
It's a very unique style of Kofi Kingston.
Michael, King, you see it every Monday night on Raw.
How will Randy Orton combat this unique style?
[Michael] Well, as you saw it, it's almost like the, you know, the gears
are turning in Orton's mind. He's trying to figure Kingston out.
[Striker] Well, you know, the thing is Kofi is insistent on the fact
that Randy is trying to intimidate, and possibly, he has.
[Jerry] But Kofi is not intimidated, but on the other hand,
nobody intimidates Randy Orton either.
[Michael] And what you're seeing here is vintage Orton.
Those long limbs on the offensive end for Orton,
keeping distance from Kingston,
but also allowing him to stomp Kofi as well.
[Jerry] You might get the best of Randy Orton on occasion.
You might even beat Randy Orton on occasion,
but I don't think you're gonna intimidate him.
And somehow, I think that's what Kofi has--
[Michael] And a scoop slam by Orton. Beautiful.
Hooks the leg, Kingston kicks at two.
[Striker] There's the reach you were referring to,
coming into play there.
Orton catching Kofi Kingston halfway across the ring
and now going to a very, very painful potential submission hold.
[Michael] What-- I believe Kingston does not wanna get
into a pound and ground battle with Randy Orton.
Kingston needs to pick up the pace.
He needs to fly, use that controlled frenzy of his.
[Striker] Now, with Sheamus as the WWE Champion,
the door has swung wide open in the Raw locker room.
[Michael] How the landscape of Monday Night Raw changed tonight
in a second when John Cena crashed through that table
and the doors could open for both of these men.
-Remember… -[Striker] Yeah. Yeah.
…Randy Orton could not get a shot at the championship
as Cena was champion. But with Sheamus on top now,
Orton is back in the title hunt.
Look at Kingston hammering away with the right hand.
So Kofi Kingston there as well.
[Striker] Closed fist, closed fist, illegal.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I'm sure that Randy Orton would probably like to consider himself…
-[Michael] Because of that-- -…the number one contender.
[Michael] And because of the title change,
think about how the landscape and complexion of this match has changed.
The winner of this match-- oh, look at Kingston.
Shoulders down, could happen here and a kickout.
Whether this match could be in line for a title opportunity down the road--
[Jerry] Well, that's what I was gonna say. If Randy loses tonight to Kofi Kingston,
he wouldn't be considered the number one contender.
-[Michael] But Kofi could be. -[Jerry] Right.
Here we go.
[Michael] And look at Orton, knew what was coming,
-the veteran instincts of The Viper. -[Striker] No, no.
That was only a boom, boom instead of a boom, boom, boom.
[Michael] Look out. Sidestep.
[Striker] It's like he's on rubber. Look at Kofi.
-Oh, that was dope. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
-[Michael] Wow. -[Striker] There you go.
There's some broken ribs for you. That was awesome.
[Jerry] I got to agree. That was awesome.
[Michael] Kofi Kingston was awesome setting it up.
-Watch Kofi flying over and then Orton. -[Jerry] Orton-- watch Orton fly.
-[Striker] Watch him, watch him… -[Jerry] Kicked him in midair.
[Striker] Bam, right there.
[Michael] There's a reason Randy Orton is a six-time world champion.
[Striker] Randy seems to be pawing on his right shin or knee.
There's a sense of urgency now within Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Well, that wasn't just a normal dropkick
that Randy Orton just delivered
because he's capable of delivering some beautiful dropkicks,
and that was spectacular.
[Michael] It looks like he wants to deliver punishment
-as he breaks the count. -[Jerry] Well, you're right.
The force that, uh, Kofi Kingston was coming at Randy Orton with
was a different type of-- whoa, watch this now.
-[Michael] Oh, right to the ribs… -[Striker] Yeah.
…where the dropkick connected earlier on,
Orton now focuses his attack.
[Striker] If you've ever fractured your ribs,
it's painful to even breathe, even to take a simple breath in.
That's gonna compromise Kofi Kingston, Michael.
[Michael] Just getting dumped over the barricade
like Kingston just did will hurt.
…five…
[Michael] And Orton quickly rolls Kingston…
-One, two… -…pinning position, cover,
hook of the leg and at two, Kingston kicks out.
What?
[Michael] Orton questioning the--
what he believed was a slow count from the referee.
[Striker] Well, this is not Mark Cuban slapping the mat three times
in one second.
[Michael] Well, remember, all that did was even the series
between these two after Orton had the advantage,
thanks to the Legacy's ambushes to Kingston a week prior.
[Striker] Is plural of ambush ambushes?
[Michael] I think so. Perhaps.
-You're the teacher. -[Striker] Yeah.
[Jerry] And Randy Orton--
Right now Randy Orton doing a little teaching of his own,
taking Kofi Kingston to, uh, school, so to speak--
[Michael] And look-- And look where he has focused the assault…
-[Striker] Uh-hmm. Yeah. -…the ribs of Kingston.
[Striker] The ribs and the sternum,
that's that soft part right in between your pecs.
You can put your thumb in there and feel that.
[Michael] Orton, forearm to the face as Kingston kicks out.
Injured ribs could cause so many problems for a guy like Kofi Kingston
who loves to fly and loves to move around the ring as fast as he can,
gonna cause some problems breathing, among other things.
[Jerry] A right hand there to the ribs of Randy Orton, but Kofi Kingston--
[Striker] At what cost?
Even throwing a punch is taking a lot out of Kofi Kingston.
[Michael] We almost feel, King, like Orton has Kingston
right where he wants him now…
which makes Orton so dangerous.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
And Orton turning it up a notch.
[Michael] Randy Orton… merciless.
Well, shoots the half, hooks the leg,
and Kingston has the power at two.
[Jerry] Let's go back and think of the history.
I'm sure Orton is right now.
I'm sure Orton has flashes
of seeing Kofi Kingston demolish that NASCAR,
that beautiful, spectacular NASCAR that The Legacy had given him.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Oh!
This has to feel so good for Randy Orton
to have Kofi Kingston at his feet.
[Michael] Yeah, it's unsettling.
-[Striker] For whom? -[Michael] For those watching.
[Striker] I'm enjoying it.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[Michael] Classic Orton uppercut.
[crowd jeering]
[Jerry] So much like you said. What do you expect?
You think it would be any different?
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Orton gonna let Kingston pull himself to his feet.
-[Michael] Oh, look at-- -[Striker] Whoa.
[Michael] It looks like Randy was giving Kingston false hope,
the SOS from Kingston bending Orton in half.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] There's such a thing as taking too much time,
letting your opponent recover too much
and I think that's what we just witnessed.
Watch this as Kofi able to hook Orton and--
[Michael] And look at Kingston, top part of your screen,
top of your screen, cover, cover,
Orton kicks out at two and a half.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] You're right. That referee has not been
to the Mark Cuban school of counting, has he?
[Striker] Thankfully.
Watch out!
[Michael] But can Kofi muster any sort of offense to get the momentum built here?
Can Kingston build on this?
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] As I mentioned before, Kofi has to pick the pace up.
-He's playing-- -[Jerry] I think he's about to.
-Yes! -[Michael] Oh!
[Striker] Well, there's no bicycle in the basement of the Alamo,
but there's fight left in Kofi Kingston,
but look, look, Kofi clutching his ribs.
[Jerry] He's hurting. He is hurting.
[Michael] Yeah, Kofi threw caution to the wind,
may have reinjured the ribs that Orton's been focused on
throughout the matchup.
[Striker] We have to try to watch Kofi's mouth.
See if he starts breathing with his mouth wide open.
That's usually a direct sign of an internal injury.
[Jerry] Well, if he had internal injuries, he should--
[Michael] Oh, what a crossbody!
Lateral press, hook of the leg, he's got it. Kofi got it.
No, kickout at two and a half.
-And again… -[Striker] Woo!
…despite the injured ribs--
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] I got to think-- well, I don't know.
I-- It's almost, I have to think that the ribs are not cracked or fractured
or he would have never been able to hit that crossbody from the top.
-I don't think. -[Michael] Kofi, here we go.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] This is not the speed we are used to seeing from Kofi Kingston.
[Jerry] Oh, you're right. He's damaged goods right now.
[Michael] Well, Orton maybe damaged goods as well.
Hook of the leg, Orton's done.
Orton could be done here and a kickout at two and a half.
-[Jerry] And look at this. -[Striker] Look at this.
This is beautiful height, beautiful execution, but at what cost?
-Watch Kofi's ribs on impact. -[Jerry] Oh. Oh.
[Michael] Now, we have the backbreaker.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Randy Orton just literally slithers around in that ring.
-[Striker] Serpentine? -[Jerry] He's so-- what?
-[Striker] Serpentine. -[Jerry] Yes, he's serpentine.
I would rather just use
-maybe snake-like or something. -[Michael laughs]
Hey, look at The Viper coiled.
[Jerry] Oh, yes. Look at those eyes.
-Oh! -[Michael] And Kofi with a dropkick.
He snuffs out the snake.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Now, is this gonna be a Boom, Boom, Boom?
-Yes, it is, the Boom Drop. -[Michael] Oh, Boom Drop.
Now it's Kofi Kingston.
[crowd chanting] Boom! Boom! Boom!
[Striker] I know Kofi likes to build momentum here,
but this is not necessary.
You're wasting crucial, crucial seconds.
[Jerry] Valuable time, valuable time.
[Michael] Trouble in Paradise connecting,
Trouble in Paradise, Kingston hooks the legs of Randy Orton,
Randy Orton got the rope.
Randy Orton grabbing the rope and he survives.
[Striker] Credit our cameraman. What a great shot there, huh?
[Michael] We talked earlier about the long limbs
-allowing Randy Orton offensive use… -[Striker] Yeah.
…but defensive this time around.
[Jerry] Well, Matt, Kofi made you and I eat our words there.
He wasn't wasting time.
He was building the momentum and it worked.
[Michael] The long arms of Orton allowing him to get to the rope
and forcing the referee to call off the count.
-[referee] Two. -[crowd clamor]
[referee] Three.
[Jerry] And Orton just out on his feet.
Kofi having to manhandle him to lift him back into that ring
where he can hopefully get the pinfall.
[Michael] Trouble in Paradise connected dead-on from Kingston.
[Striker] I've been hit with that kick right behind the ear.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[Striker] Hang on a second.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Kofi, Kofi-- -[Striker] Oh, yeah.
[Michael] Randy Orton planting Kingston.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Hmm, hmm, hmm.
[Striker] That's the beauty of Randy Orton, always thinking.
You have to believe when Randy rolled to the floor,
he was immediately thinking of his next move which was right there.
[Jerry] He is serpentine.
He can lie there motionless and then strike like a snake.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Both men struggling.
-[Striker] Oh, yeah. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Striker] Randy has seen this so many times.
His opponents trying to push themselves up off the mat.
-Here it comes. -[Michael] Orton, his eyes just lit up.
Randy Orton's eyes have lit up.
-The punt could be… -[Jerry] Oh, no. Watch out, Kofi.
-Watch out. -[Michael] And Kingston, I believe--
[Striker] Did he block it?
[Jerry] Yeah. But Orton kicked his arm.
[Michael] Kofi Kingston got his shoulder up in time.
[Striker] I could be wrong, but looking at the way Kofi is shaking that arm.
Now, King, you know, this could be a stinger which is a neurological injury.
Your arm starts to feel like it's on fire.
[Jerry] It could be a broken arm as well.
[Michael] And Randy, right to work on the injured shoulder.
[Striker] I think Randy senses it.
It's-- that arm, it gets-- it gets very hot and then it starts tingling,
like when your foot falls asleep and then it becomes completely numb.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Kingston--
[Striker] Randy positioning himself on that left side.
[Michael] Missed with the Trouble in Paradise.
Orton looks to take advantage.
He does.
-RKO! -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Lights out for Kingston. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
-["Voices" playing] -♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
[Justin] And the winner of this match, Randy Orton.
[Michael] I guarantee you, ladies and gentlemen,
Randy Orton realizes that he was in a fight tonight.
But Randy Orton prevailed over a game Kofi Kingston.
[Striker] Oh, Kofi blocked that vicious punt
with his left hand, at what cost though,
as you saw Kofi's left arm completely taken out of the picture.
Randy Orton very wise to attack from that side, Michael.
[Michael] And with the WWE Championship situation
turned upside down here tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
Randy Orton may have positioned himself
for another title opportunity down the road.
Impressive victory for Randy Orton here at TLC.
[Jerry] Very, very impressive victory.
Hard fought match, Kofi Kingston.
It all takes-- watch where Kofi blocks this, bam,
right above his elbow.
[Striker] Can we see it again? Thank you.
-Watch right there. Right there. -[Jerry] Watch this.
[Striker] It looked like it's either above the elbow or under the armpit,
those pain receptors become inflamed,
that left arm is useless and here comes Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Now, Kofi with that desperation try,
Trouble in Paradise.
When that missed, he was left wide open for the RKO.
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
we didn't get the opportunity to see it on camera,
but here in the arena, there you see,
Randy Orton was looking up at the big screen here
watching that replay admiring his handiwork
against Kofi Kingston here at San Antonio.
[Jerry] Well, Randy Orton's got reason to be proud right now.
He's got to feel vindicated,
all of the abuse that Kofi Kingston
has put Randy Orton through in the past few weeks,
Randy Orton has-- you know, he's turned the tables now.
[Michael] But you can't take anything away from Kofi Kingston.
Kofi Kingston tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
proves that he belongs,
he belongs in the upper echelon of the WWE.
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
I was robbed.
It's your fault and you're gonna make it right.
Dave, you need to calm down.
-I need to calm down? -This is not the time.
-We can-- -I was robbed.
-We can talk about this some other time. -It's your fault
-and you're gonna make it right. -Batista--
-You hear me? -Get a hold of yourself.
I was robbed of the World Heavyweight title and you're gonna make--
-Get a hold of yourself, Batista. -Get a hold of myself?
You want me to swing a chair? How's that?
You're gonna make this right,
or the next time I swing this chair, it's gonna be on your head.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Now, there is the Alamo,
a deserted Spanish Mission until brave Texans turned into a fort,
held off Mexican forces for a few weeks in 1836
-in the Battle for Texas Independence. -[Jerry] Oh, hang on there.
Now, there were a few brave Tennesseans
-that volunteered to go down there. -[Michael] Including Davy Crockett.
-[Striker] There you go. -[Michael] This is San Antonio,
home tonight to the Revolutionary TLC.
[bell ringing]
This is a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
and it is for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships.
Now, the usage of tables, ladders, and chairs is all legal
and the winners will be declared when one member climbs the ladder
and retrieves the Tag Team Titles.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
-["Are You Ready?" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ You think you can tell us What to do? ♪
♪ You think you can tell us What to wear? ♪
♪ You think that you're better? ♪
♪ Well, you better get ready ♪
♪ Bow to the masters ♪
♪ Break it down! ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Justin] Introducing first the challengers,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "The Game" Triple H,
D-Generation X!
♪ D-Generation X! ♪
♪ D-Generation ♪
♪ You think you can tell me what to do?
♪ You know who you're talkin' to? ♪
[Michael] When talking about DX, Triple H said, "We make history."
And they can do that again tonight.
It is the first ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Matches
for Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
And for the first time ever, DX could win the Tag Team Championship.
["Are You Ready?" continues]
♪ D-Generation! ♪
♪ You think you're a big man? ♪
[Jerry] Well, you know, Michael, DX has--
they have accomplished a lot of firsts, but you're right about one thing,
they've never won the tag team titles.
♪ Break it down! ♪
[explosions]
[Jerry] This has already been a historic night.
DX winning the tag team titles could be the--
Well, the icing on the cake.
[Michael] DX talks about the army,
the DX Army that it has amassed over the years
and you're looking into the sea of DX recruits right now,
over 15,000 in San Antonio.
[Striker] Well, the troops are standing on guard,
but the biggest shock of the night in this analyst's opinion,
is John Cena losing the WWE Championship.
♪ Put it away Like a book on a shelf ♪
♪ That you can’t read boy ♪
♪ Yeah that you can’t read little man ♪
-["Break The Walls Down" playing] -♪ Well, break the walls down!
[explosions]
♪ It's like Jericho ♪
♪ You know I got ya ♪
[Justin] And their opponents, at a combine weight of 711 pounds,
they are the current Unified WWE Tag Team Champions,
Chris Jericho and the Big Show!
[Jerry] I'll tell you what would be a bigger shock to Jericho and the Big Show
than John Cena losing is if they lose the tag team titles here tonight.
[Michael] Oh, this of course, TLC live from San Antonio,
but the next time we're on pay-per-view,
it's gonna be 2010, starting a new decade the last day of January,
the Royal Rumble from Atlanta as we begin the Road to WrestleMania.
[Jerry] I love the Royal Rumble.
I think that's my favorite pay-per-view, Royal Rumble.
-I wonder why. -[Striker] Thirty Superstars enter
and the last man standing goes on to WrestleMania.
[Michael] Now, ladies and gentlemen, there've only been ten TLC matches
in WWE history.
The first came at SummerSlam in the year 2000.
Tonight, out of the four men in the ring,
only one has been involved in this type of matchup.
Chris Jericho's done it twice.
WWE, I should say the Unified Tag Team Titles
hanging above the ring much like we saw
-in the Ladder Match earlier tonight… -[bell ringing]
…you climb a ladder, try to take down those titles to win the gold.
[Striker] And the Big Show only has to go up about three rungs.
[Jerry] Oh, I know but-- I mean, Big Show in this type of match,
whoa, is-- it's almost got to be like a fish out of water.
He's either gonna be a huge advantage or a huge disadvantage.
[Striker] Big Show has Ladder Match experience.
He's been in one.
HBK, of course, a pioneer of the Ladder Match contest,
and even Triple H has only been in two,
and one of them was against his partner tonight,
-The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels. -[Michael] Big Show looking to dominate.
Now, this is not a traditional tag team match.
You don't tag in and out of the ring.
So for Big Show and Jericho, if they could,
like Show is trying to do here, take Triple H out of the picture,
they put themselves in a handicap situation
-against Shawn Michaels. -[Jerry] Let me tell you guys something,
just a little hint, I looked at one of those ladders earlier
before the, uh, match has started tonight,
one of them-- underneath the rung said maximum weight limit 400 pounds.
Now, if one these ladders can only hold 400 pounds,
what's the Big Show gonna do?
-[Michael] He's 425-- -[Striker] Only use one foot.
[Michael] And the quickness of Triple H sends the seven-foot monster
careening over the barricade and into the crowd.
[Striker] You can forget Jim Bowie, you can forget Tim Duncan,
HBK is San Antonio's favorite son.
[Michael] Now, remember, tables, ladders, and chairs
can all be used as weapons in this matchup.
An appropriate way to end this evening.
[Jerry] And Triple H is on the hunt for something right now.
-[Striker] Michael, King, we've heard… -[Jerry] Tables.
…Chris Jericho saying that he would like to eradicate DX,
rid the WWE of D-Generation X.
Imagine a WWE without Triple H or HBK.
[Jerry] Unthinkable.
[Michael] Jericho calls DX "frauds."
As Triple H in the corner of your screens, setting up a table.
Jericho and Michaels going at it inside the ring.
[Jerry] Jericho doesn't think anybody is the real deal except himself.
[Michael] Well…
Jericho calls he and Big Show the most dominant tag team in history.
They have a point.
Won the titles on their first night together.
[Jerry] Have you ever been to Jericho's house?
-[Michael] No. -[Jerry] His telephone doesn't ring,
-it applauds. -[Striker] Ooh.
[Jerry] But we're gonna take everything he says with a grain of salt.
Whoa.
[Michael] Any particular strategy in a tag team match like this
-because you know so much? -[Striker] Oh, you have to believe,
and if I were Chris Jericho, I'd want the Big Show in the ring
because of his height advantage and the object of the match
is to climb a ladder and take down the tag team titles.
-[Michael] So great-- -[Striker] Oh, wow, did you hear that?
[Michael] It's a great strategy by The Cerebral Assassin, Triple H,
-to keep Big Show out of the ring early. -[Striker] Uh-hmm.
[Michael] And Shawn Michaels had his bell rung
as Jericho sets up another table.
[Striker] Let's not forget the athleticism of HBK
has pioneered this concept
and Chris Jericho has extensive TLC experience.
[Jerry] Oh, we've seen a table match earlier
where you lost if you were put through a table.
That's not the case here,
but you can certainly be put through a table.
[Michael] Yeah. Damage your opponent big time.
[Striker] Remember how difficult it was for John Cena and Sheamus.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Jericho and Shawn Michaels realize what perils await them
if they go through that wood.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Back to the ring.
[Jerry] Reversal by Jericho,
but he's caught coming off the ropes by Shawn Michaels.
-[Michael] Kip-up by Shawn Michaels. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Uh-oh, Walls of Jericho.
[Striker] The Walls of Jericho is a very smart submission hold.
Shawn Michaels has extensive back injuries.
[Jerry] But he also has the home field advantage here tonight,
San Antonio, Shawn Michaels' hometown and-- whoa.
He's on a roll.
[Striker] Now, we've seen this before.
[Michael] Shawn is putting on a show.
Hence the reason he's nicknamed The Showstopper,
and look at Michaels.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Michael] Oh, and Jericho countered.
[Jerry] Ooh, man.
[Striker] Brilliant counter by the Mental Mastermind, Chris Jericho.
[Michael] Remember, he's the 2008 Superstar of the Year,
won a Slammy Award for it is Jericho,
five-time World Champion, nine-time Intercontinental Champion.
[Jerry] I haven't seen-- Where is the nearest ladder?
Jericho needs to be looking for it right now.
[Striker] Wham. Right there.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] That answered your question.
-[Jerry] There it is. -[Michael] Oh, Big Show.
[Jerry] That was in essence Shawn Michaels--
[Striker] Notice there, it's off camera.
-Jericho was on his way to the ring… -[Jerry] Watch the chair.
…and now he's coming to try to get the Big Show into the ring
to use the Big Show's height advantage.
[Michael] Now, Triple H--
[Jerry] Or just to use the Big Show to guard the ladder
while Jericho climbs the ladder.
[Michael] Uh-oh. Look at-- look at--
[Jerry] Pedigree on the ramp.
-Oh, no, no, no. -[Michael] Counter by Jericho.
And DX is in serious trouble.
[Striker] Here's the opportunity. Come on, guys, go to the ring.
Now's the chance.
[Michael] Shawn Michaels has been knocked out outside the ring.
Triple H in trouble. Oh, there's Shawn again,
got back to his feet.
But DX, look at,
both down at the hands of Jericho and Big Show.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels is…
I can't see where Shawn Michaels went.
-[Striker] Oh, boy. -[Jerry] There's Shawn Michaels.
[Michael] They're gonna battle with the chair.
Look at it.
[Jerry chuckles]
Looks like a sword fight with chairs.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] No.
Uh-oh, uh-oh.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] On his way to the ring perhaps to take the unified tag titles.
[Jerry] I would say those tag championships
are hanging about 20 feet in the air.
[Michael] And here comes Jericho as well.
In order to retain the tag team titles,
one of these men must get up there and get the titles down.
[Jerry] Look at the way-- Jericho really runs Jeri-Show.
He's like, "All right. Hey, pick up that ladder."
[Michael] Well, he thinks he runs Jeri-Show.
[Striker] He's the Quentin Tarantino of this epic cinema.
Do you prefer Nelson Demille over these others?
-Cecil B. Demille? -[Michael] Michael-- Michaels and Triple H
saving the tag team gold for the moment.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Now this does not bode well for Chris Jericho.
You got both Triple H and Shawn Michaels up on their feet.
A ladder being brought into the ring.
[Michael] We saw the damage that DX can do to Jericho, two-on-one.
-We saw it Monday night. -[Jerry] Look at The Game now,
hammering away.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] DX taking out Big Show really helped their odds.
[Striker] Triple H's Hall of Fame career would certainly benefit
from becoming a unified tag team champion.
A guaranteed Hall of Famer, Triple H.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Watch out, Jericho.
-[shrieks] -[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] You can imagine how-- just watching it doesn't do it justice.
How heavy, how big, how awkward,
and how damaging those ladders could be.
Any way they hit you, it's gonna hurt you.
[Striker] What does DX have in mind here?
[Jerry] Ow.
Slammed.
[Striker] Michael, how much would DX enjoy not only
becoming unified tag team champions
but doing it at the expense of their archrivals,
-the Big Show and Chris… -[Jerry] Oh, no. Whoa.
-What about this? Oh. -…Jericho.
[Michael] Now, that is a double-team.
-[Jerry] That's a backbreaker. -[crowd cheering]
[Striker] It is the namesake, Tables, Ladders & Chairs,
and it only happens once a year.
[Jerry] And Jericho's certainly glad of right now.
[Striker] One more time. Almost a ladder suplex here.
[Michael] Uh-oh, Big Show-- oh.
Did you see Big Show's head and neck snapping back?
[Jerry] Well, you're right, Matt. That's exactly what DX did.
They suplexed that 20-foot ladder right into the back of Chris Jericho.
[Michael] And then they used the ladder here as a battering ram.
Oh.
[Jerry] DX well in command.
[Michael] And could be closing in on the tag team titles
for the first time in the history of DX.
[Striker] Notice Shawn Michaels' ladder match experience,
positioning the ladder perfectly to allow either Shawn or Triple H
-to climb and unhook the titles. -[Jerry] Uh-oh, watch out.
[Michael] And somehow Triple H tries
to run interference for Michaels who goes after the title.
But Big Show blasts through the frontline of Triple H
-and takes out Michaels. -[Jerry] You're right.
Shawn was almost all the way to the top of that ladder.
The Big Show didn't even have to leave the ground to reach up and grab him.
[Michael] And this is what DX did not want to happen.
They did not want the angry giant back in the ring on the assault.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh. [Striker] Look at the aggression
and the venom of the Big Show now.
[Michael] Look at Big Show go with the rights and lefts.
[Jerry] Using Triple H as a punching bag.
[Michael] No love lost between DX and Jericho and Show,
-that's for sure. -[Jerry] Watch it here.
[Michael] Oh, Jericho.
And Michaels' pinned between the ladder and the steel post.
And suddenly the tide has turned.
[Striker] Yeah, but this is where Chris Jericho's ego
may come into play.
Why not set the ladder up and climb up and get the championships?
[Michael] Well, maybe he believes that Triple H isn't incapacitated enough
to allow him easy access to the gold.
[Jerry] Well, I think that Jericho is so confident
that they're gonna eventually win this match
that he wants to make a major statement in winning.
[Michael] Hey, wouldn't you be confident?
You saw what Jericho and Show did to DX Monday night.
-Their use of the ladders and-- -[Jerry] Look out.
[Michael] Oh, and there's a Bulldog into the steel.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Striker] And the Big Show's enjoying it.
[Michael] Jericho and Show had been obsessed
with exposing the "fraud" that they believe DX is.
[Striker] Well, it's the disdain for the WWE Universe,
all of the DX headbands and the t-shirts and the glow sticks, I mean, come on.
[Jerry] What's wrong with that? It's merch.
[Michael] Well, maybe if Jericho and Show are a little nicer.
-[Striker] Nicer? -[Jerry] Oh.
Oh, man.
[Michael] Again, successfully keeping Shawn out of the ring.
Allows the two-on-one to continue on Triple H.
Sound strategy.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] You have to wonder if Jeri-Show is isolating…
-[Jerry] Watch it. -…oh, Triple H
because of Triple H's inexperience in TLC matches.
[Michael] Look at the strength of Big Show.
[Jerry] Yeah, The Game literally just being manhandled.
-[Michael] Oh. -[Striker] Oh.
-Look at the left leg of Triple H. -[Michael] And look at here.
Lodging it, locking it in the ladder.
[Striker] Triple H, that well-documented quad injuries.
That cannot be beneficial.
[Michael] But now Triple H is helpless.
And with Triple H tied up and helpless,
now you can turn yourself on to smaller man, Shawn Michaels.
-[Striker] Whoa. -[Jerry] Watch out here.
[Michael] Oh, right into Triple H.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Oh, man, 500 pounds.
[Jerry] The Jeri-Show just literally punishing DX now,
having their way with them.
[Michael] That's like having a refrigerator dropped on you.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Striker] Take another look here.
The Big Show's power and inertia
forces HBK into the already prone Triple H.
[Michael] Jericho and Show dismantling, dominating.
[Jerry] It's like they've almost temporarily forgotten
about the tag team championships up there.
They're just-- whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute.
[Michael] Triple H launching Jericho into the ladder.
Now, Jericho eliminated, but he still got the task
of having that monster in front of him.
[Jerry] I don't think you're gonna be able to launch the Big Show into any ladders.
-Wait-- -[Michael] But you can do that.
[Jerry] Well, Big Show launched himself into the turnbuckle.
[Michael] And Triple H gonna go after Big Show the traditional way.
[Striker] Well, there's a reason they call him "The Game"
"The Cerebral Assassin" Triple H.
-[Jerry] Look out. -[Michael] Oh.
To the back of the head.
-[Striker] Oh, heads up. Oh. -[Jerry shrieks]
[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Michael] Went for the chokeslam and Triple H countered into a DDT.
Michaels--
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Look out. -[Michael] Vintage Michaels
with the elbow to the heart.
-[Jerry] The Jeri-Show reeling. -[crowd] One!
-[Jerry] Can you hear it? -[crowd] Two!
-[Michael] This is not a mariachi band. -[crowd] Three!
-[Jerry] I hear the fat lady singing… -[crowd] Four!
…Sweet Chin-- oh, no.
-[Michael] Jericho ducking underneath. -[Striker] Codebreaker.
[Michael] Codebreaker! Codebreaking Michaels out of the ring.
-Spinebuster. -[Jerry shrieks]
-[Michael] Spear. -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] Bodies strewn everywhere.
[Jerry] There's not one man in this match that would be able to climb a ladder now.
[Striker] Gentlemen, look at how close the Big Show is
to the only ladder on our screen.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Jerry] You gotta be kidding me.
[Striker] There you go. Get the ladder, Show.
-[Jerry] Is that what he's thinking? -[Striker] Absolutely.
[Jerry] He's looking at the championships.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK! HBK!
[Michael] Does he even need a ladder?
[Jerry] Big Show, remember what the--
what the maximum weight load is on those ladders.
[Michael] Unified tag team titles hang in the balance.
[Jerry] You're way over the weight limit.
[Michael] Big Show gonna set the ladder up.
Jericho and DX both-- all have even taken out.
Again, King, he may only have to go up two, three rungs.
[Jerry] If those rungs will hold his massive frame.
[Striker] One foot at a time, very quickly jump up
and get those championships, Big Show.
Go. There is no one around.
[Michael] Big Show does nothing quickly.
And Big Show climbing one rung,
-two rungs. -[Jerry] Well, he's tentative
-because this ladder may collapse. -[Striker] How about this?
-[Michael] Very tentative. -[Striker] Is Big Show afraid of heights?
-[Jerry] Look at-- look at-- no. -[Michael] Triple H.
[Jerry] He's afraid of chairs.
-[Striker] Uh-oh. -[Jerry] Or maybe he's not.
[Striker] Yeah, no, thanks for coming.
[Michael] Oh, what a right hand.
[Striker] Oh.
[Michael] The chair bounces off the skull.
And look at the dent in the chair.
[Striker] Is that either from Big Show's fist
or from Triple H's head?
-[Michael] I think both. -[Striker] Okay.
[Michael] And now with Triple H out, Michaels tries to roll back in the ring.
-Again, Big Show-- -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Just tosses Michaels away.
[Striker] Just reach your arm up, Big Show.
-[Michael] Both members of DX. -[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
No way.
-[Michael] Big Show clinging, begging. -[Jerry shrieks]
Timber.
-[Striker] Oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Look at this.
-[Jerry] Pedigree. -[Striker] Oh, Texas-sized Pedigree.
-[Michael] With an assist from Michaels. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Could it be DX time?
[Jerry] I think The Game has hurt himself on the Pedigree,
but Shawn Michaels still up.
[Michael] And the master of the ladder match has a ladder in hand.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] The AT&T Center is rumbling.
[Jerry] The ladder is right under those championships.
Oh, no.
[Michael] Michaels to the middle of the ladder,
closing in at DX's first ever tag team titles.
-[Jerry] Look out. Watch out for Jericho. -[Michael] But Jericho…
-[Jerry shrieks] -…Michaels, Big Show.
And now it's Jericho's turn.
Alone in the ring.
Now, can you imagine if it's Jericho--
if it's Jericho who climbs the ladder
-and rips those titles down? -[Jerry] Here he goes.
[Michael] Can you imagine if it's Jericho who puts DX away?
[Jerry] I don't know if Jericho has the strength.
-He's up there. -[Striker] Yup.
Come on. Unsnap them.
Yes, yes. Does he have to get both?
[Michael] And Triple H with a desperation right hand.
Jericho is there for a moment.
[Striker] Oh, the belt's swinging away.
The championships swinging away.
[Michael] Yeah, the perils of the titles being hung.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Striker] What--
-[Michael] Again-- -[Striker] Just time it.
-Just time it perfectly 'cause-- -[Michael] And he's got it.
-Jericho's got the titles. -[Striker] Yes. Come on.
[Michael] And again Triple H.
-[Jerry] Whoa. Uh-oh. -[Striker] Oh, boy.
-[Michael] Playing defense. -[Jerry] Watch out, Jericho.
[Michael] Jericho sent for a ride.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] This is great.
[Michael] I got goosebumps.
-[Jerry] And now can The Game climb? -[Michael] Triple H…
[Striker] Well, remember, Triple H had that leg trapped into the ladder.
We don't know what condition Triple H's knees
-and ankles are in. -[Jerry] Oh, look at Big Show back up.
-Big Show is back up. -[Michael] Dragging himself up the ladder.
-And a chokeslam. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Michael] Triple H's head had to be ten feet in the air.
[Jerry] Who's got anything left in the tank here?
[Michael] Seesaw, back and forth.
[Jerry] Big Show's mad at the ladder.
Wait. He's destroying it.
[Striker] He's gonna make certain
that D-Generation X cannot climb that ladder.
-[Jerry] Watch out, guys. Watch out. -[Striker] Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Show just beat up the ladder and now turns his tensions
and aggression to Triple H.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] These knockout blows.
[Michael] Believe me. Triple H and Shawn Michaels
have both been knocked out by Big Show's right hands.
[crowd chanting] Big Show sucks!
[Jerry] Jericho gonna have to try to find another ladder.
That one's completely useless.
There. He's got one.
[crowd clamor]
[Michael] Michaels has been punished, as does Triple H.
[Striker] Now, King, what's this strategy
getting both members of DX back into-- oh, here we go.
-To inflict vile punishment. -[Jerry] Yeah. There it is.
[Michael] Well, take DX out of the game for good.
[Striker] And eradicate DX.
That's been Jeri-Show's motto or mantra.
[Jerry] DX trapped between the--
oh, that ladder being held in there by Big Show.
Slam it down.
[Jerry] Oh.
Again. Slam it again.
[Striker] A little science. Metal transfers energy
as good as water does, you can imagine that.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Wow.
[Jerry] Big Show just ripped that ladder apart, bare hands.
-My gosh. -[Striker] How strong is he?
[Jerry] Is there gonna be a ladder left to climb?
[Striker] Well, there's half a ladder in the ring.
-A lad. -[Jerry] Yeah, climb that.
Whoa.
[crowd clamor]
[Jerry] Oh.
Body shots.
[Michael] DX has been eliminated from the ring.
[crowd chanting] We want tables!
[Jerry] Look at Jericho.
[Michael] Yeah, he realizes he can't climb that ladder.
[Striker] If anyone can figure it out, it's Chris Jericho.
[Michael] And Big Show…
[Striker] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Michael] Big Show with the attack through the table.
[Jerry] Good grief.
[crowd clamor]
[Striker] Have Big Show come in
and have him hold that half of the ladder, Chris.
Physics aren't gonna let you climb that, Chris.
There you go.
Who needs a ladder, huh?
[Michael] What's he doing? Oh.
[Striker] It's the old André and Snuka thing.
Here we go. Big Show, seven feet tall.
Chris Jericho is six feet tall.
That's about 13 and a half,
-14 feet in the air. -[Jerry] It's gonna work.
-This is gonna work. -[Michael] Jericho is almost
-on level with the championships. -[Striker] But Jericho needs
to free a hand and Jericho's hands are being used to balance.
[Jerry chuckles] Whoa, whoa.
-[Striker] There we go. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Trying desperately.
Uh-oh.
DX, Michaels.
[Striker] Big Show can't defend himself.
-[Jerry] Nor can Jericho. -[Striker] Get down.
[Michael] Look at the look in Big Show's eyes.
[Jerry] No. That's Sweet Chin Music.
-[Michael] Sweet Chin Music. -[Striker] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] My gosh. Did you see that?
[Michael] And a second one.
[Striker] Big Show still standing.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Big Show was still standing.
[Michael] Not anymore. Big Show…
[Striker] This is the opportunity for D-Generation X to make history.
[Michael] But, again, there's a ladder there
-with just one side. -[Jerry] Half a ladder.
[Striker] Triple H is certainly strong enough to hold that ladder.
Let Triple H be the base. Come on, Shawn.
[Michael] They're gonna try it. Teamwork.
Teamwork. That has always been part of DX.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Michaels is there.
-Can he unclip the titles? -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] He does. -[Striker] There's one.
-There's the second. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] DX have won the tag team championships.
[Justin] The winner of this match
and new Unified WWE Tag Team Champions,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "The Game" Triple H,
-D-Generation X. -["Are You Ready?" playing]
[Striker] For the first time ever, we can say,
your new tag team champions, D-Generation X.
[Michael] Controversial, legendary, powerful,
rebels without a cause now hold the tag team gold.
What a night for DX.
Tables, Ladders & Chairs.
[crowd cheering]
[Striker] The DX army has mobilized and DX is off to war.
The beginning of the end, King.
[Jerry] Oh, this was not good for Jeri-Show.
Look at Jericho.
Whoa, man.
He may be feeling the effects of that for a long time.
Then the Big Show dumped unceremoniously, head over heels.
[Striker] And how about this?
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It has always been about teamwork for D-Generation X.
A shining example tonight
with the DX army in the background.
-[bell ringing] -["Are You Ready?" continues]
♪ That's the breaks boy, yeah ♪
♪ That's the breaks little man ♪
♪ Break it down! ♪
[Striker] No matter how long you do something,
there is always hope.
There is always a dream.
[explosions]
♪ D-Generation ♪
♪ You think you can tell me what to do? ♪
[Michael] DX makes history
at the historic first-ever Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view.
[Jerry] What a night.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for joining us from San Antonio.
And we've got two words for you, good night!
♪ D-Generation ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[music fades] good night!