[narrator] Tonight, for these four Superstars,
there is no way out…
[dramatic music playing]
I'm gonna give you a match you've never dreamed of seeing.
And all likely will never take place again.
[narrator] Their sentence delivered…
[Vince] John Cena, teaming up with Shawn Michaels
in a tag team match against Batista and The Undertaker.
[narrator] …and the punishment is severe.
[Ross] Opponents at WrestleMania 23, partners tonight.
[JBL] This is the biggest tag team match in the WWE history.
[music fades]
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Two WrestleMania main events pitted against each other.
[JBL] You think these two guys can coexist?
[Ross] It looks like there's no way out.
[narrator] Four Superstars.
No friends, no trust, no way out.
The Road to WrestleMania continues.
[crowd cheering]
[music fades]
[rock music playing]
[narrator] And now SmackDown presents WWE No Way Out.
[explosions]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] We are taking a bit of a bumpy detour
on the Road to WrestleMania tonight.
You are looking live at the sold-out Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Welcome to SmackDown presents No Way Out.
Michael Cole with JBL at ringside
in perhaps tonight the biggest main event in SmackDown history.
[JBL] There's no doubt it's the biggest main event
in SmackDown history.
WrestleMania opponents tonight, tag team partners.
It may be the Road to WrestleMania, we're about to have a 22-car pileup.
And also joining us tonight, our Spanish broadcast colleagues,
-Hugo Savinovich and Carlos-- -No, no, hell no.
This is America. We speak English.
I'm sick of bilingual schools, bilingual courthouses,
bilingual federal system!
This is SmackDown. We speak English.
Bilingual, my ass!
Let's take us to our Spanish broadcast colleagues,
Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich.
[speaks Spanish]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is a six-man tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
[clock ticking]
-["I'm Comin'" playing] -♪ One, two ♪
♪ You hear the clock tickin'? ♪
♪ Tick-tock, you about to stop livin' ♪
♪ Tick-tock, I want you to remember me ♪
♪ Tick-tock But the day don't have no memory ♪
♪ I'm comin'! Nobody could stop me… ♪
[Michael] And there he is, Montel Vontavious Porter ready
for this big six-man tag team matchup.
♪ I'm here to bring the pain I'm never ever gon' change! ♪
♪ Like Tropicana, I got the juice Offer the leash to let the dog loose ♪
[Chimel] Making his way to the ring from Miami, Florida,
weighing in at 238 pounds,
Montel Vontavious Porter, "MVP"!
[Michael] And John, what a treat,
tonight again this six-man match to kick off No Way Out.
[JBL] What a treat to have MVP.
You're talking about refined by fire.
You're talking about smelling like smoke because he's been through the action.
MVP, he's had everything in the world thrown at him by Teddy Long.
He is better because of it, right there, SmackDown, MVP.
[Michael] Well, you may not like his style,
but there is no denying what MVP has accomplished
since he's joined the SmackDown roster last year.
["Paparazzi" playing]
[Chimel] And his partners, from Los Angeles, California,
at a combined weight of 440 pounds,
Mercury, Nitro, and Melina, "MNM"!
[Michael] And here are the three-time Tag Team Champions, MNM.
Hell of a rivalry with their opponents tonight, the Hardys.
[JBL] It is smoking here tonight.
What we have tonight, Michael, is something special.
The best of SmackDown, which is the best,
and you throw in the best of Raw, the best of ECW,
and you've got a memorable night.
And, of course, Melina.
One word, Michael, smoking.
[Michael] And I know you love this entrance.
[JBL] I love Melina.
[Michael] MNM got their start here on SmackDown,
three-time Tag Team Champions.
[JBL] Look at this, Michael.
Wait for it, Michael.
Wait for it, my boy.
[laughs] Here it comes.
Holy cow.
Oh, my God.
The Staples Center roof just blew off.
[Michael] Wow.
[JBL] Even you would like that, Michael.
[Michael] I love it.
[JBL] I may have to learn Spanish.
[Michael] Can we just--
-I'll learn Spanish, and you just-- -[JBL] I'll start, yeah--
[Michael] …buried the Spanish language a bit ago.
[JBL] I didn't say I was gonna speak it in America.
I'm talking about the next Senora Layfield there.
John Wayne had a Mexican wife, why couldn't I?
["Loaded" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Making their way to the ring, from Cameron, North Carolina,
at a combined weight of 446 pounds,
-Matt and Jeff, the Hardys. -[Michael] And, John…
[explosions]
[Michael] John, do not think that the Hardys and MNM
have forgotten what happened in Armageddon
back in December with that Fatal 4-Way tag team ladder matchup
when, well, Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy used the ladder
and it busted up the nose of Joey Mercury,
that's why he's wearing that protective face gear.
[JBL] I've never seen a face implode
like Joey Mercury's face did at Armageddon.
The Hardys know what they're doing.
They damn sure do it on purpose and MNM has not forgotten nor forgave it.
[Michael] Matt and Jeff Hardy, one of the greatest tag teams of all time.
["Whatever" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, my.
[Chimel] And their partner, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 234 pounds,
it's the United States Champion, Chris Benoit.
[Michael] And this is a pretty formidable team,
Chris Benoit the United States Champion and the Hardys.
[JBL] Oh, my!
♪ There's no holding me back ♪
[JBL] You got a guy that came out here that is a former World Champion,
the current United States Champion, one of the greatest wrestlers of all time,
and all you could say, you mealy-mouthed moron is "Oh, my!"?
"Oh, my!"
He's a walking, talking legend.
Chris Benoit is a stud.
He deserves a hell of lot more than "Oh, my!"
[Michael] I did deserve that. You're right.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] And this matchup is set
to get underway, to kick off No Way Out here
at the sold-out Staples Center.
It has been sold out for weeks, over 17,000 fans.
And John, I'm expecting more car crashes here tonight
than they had at the Daytona 500 today,
as we continue on that Road to WrestleMania.
[JBL] The WrestleMania Road may have been smooth,
but like the last turn in Daytona today, you're gonna see a 22-car pileup,
not sure if anybody like Kevin Harvick's gonna come out of this one.
[Michael] And there's no rivalry on SmackDown perhaps
as personal as the one you see in the ring right now,
Matt Hardy and Joey Mercury.
Mercury blames Matt Hardy for costing him his Hollywood good looks,
as Mercury likes to call it, after what happened in Armageddon.
[JBL] Think about this. We're out here right next to Hollywood,
right out here in The Land of Fruits and Nuts.
Joey Mercury, this could've been his big break
instead of the Hardys, and they did do it on purpose.
There's no way you can defend what the Hardys did to Joey Mercury.
[Michael] What is going through Joey Mercury's mind, John,
as he goes into a matchup like this against the two men
who really, in his words, disfigured him in Armageddon?
[JBL] Think about it, you got all these celebrities here at the Staples Center,
this could've been his big break.
Instead, the guy he hates the most in the world, Matt Hardy,
is directly in the ring with him.
[Michael] Matt Hardy dropping the elbow to the back of the neck.
And Matt Hardy, Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy in control in the early going,
and here comes, from Raw,
the current Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] You mentioned it earlier,
it is a-- and look, here's the cover by Jeff Hardy.
And a kick-out. Huge event feel here tonight in Los Angeles.
Members of all three brands,
ECW, Raw and of course, SmackDown here tonight.
[JBL] The premier brand in all the company
and all of CW, the crown jewel, SmackDown
Everybody wants to be a part of SmackDown, Michael.
[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] And here's Johnny Nitro,
former Intercontinental Champion off the tag,
right-- walks into the hip toss by Matt Hardy.
[Michael] This Hardy and MNM situation has become so personal.
And not only at the nose level, I mean, look at them in tag teams.
Both these teams believe that-- well, they are the--
well, the greatest tag teams among them of all time.
[JBL] They are. You're right.
[Michael] And here's MVP, Montel Vontavious Porter.
You may not like his attitude,
but there is no denying
what he has accomplished here on SmackDown.
[JBL] No denying the pace is about to be picked up.
Once you tap in, my boy, here we go.
[Michael] The United States Champion Chris Benoit,
The Rabid Wolverine, who only knows,
well, one gear and that is fifth gear.
Full throttle, straight ahead.
-[grunts] -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Tell me he's not psyched up
to be out here in a sold-out arena on pay-per-view.
Benoit tagging in is like the old Freebirds
when Terry Gordy used to tag and the mood just changed.
But our boy, MVP, doesn't care.
[Michael] Yeah, Montel Vontavious Porter with a kick to the back.
He's been through it.
Here's the cover, shoulders down, and again, and a kick-out.
He's been through steel cage matches, street fights,
and who will ever forget, when MVP was burned
in that Inferno match against Kane.
[Michael] And MVP wants nothing to do with those chops from Chris Benoit.
[JBL] What the hell is MNM doing?
[Michael] They're trying to tag Mercury into the matchup
but I don't believe Mercury wants anything to do with Benoit either.
[JBL] This was what I like about MVP.
You look at all he's been through since the year he's been here.
Teddy Long has put him through hell
and once again nobody wanna face Chris Benoit.
Who climbs in the ring? MVP.
[Michael] John, I don't wanna burst your bubble, but he had to.
He made the tag when he was already through the ropes and outside the ring.
It wasn't legal. Off to snap suplex.
Here's the cover, hook to the leg and a kick-out.
[JBL] I don't know what you have against him.
I don't know what Captain Cialis Teddy Long has against him.
All-- Just all infatuated to Kristal.
You ought to mind, the company story just a little better.
[Michael] Jeff Hardy back in off the tag.
I think the problem that the general manager has
and I don't wanna speak for Teddy Long, but I will in this juncture,
is the fact that he's paying MVP a lot of money.
The biggest contract in the history of SmackDown
this man was given when he signed.
Teddy Long wants him to make him earn that money.
And there's a rake to the eyes, and now he tags in Johnny Nitro.
-[crowd chatter] -[Melina] Come on, Nitro.
[Michael] And Johnny Nitro and Jeff Hardy
who had such a great rivalry
-over the past few months… -[crowd chanting] Hardy! Hardy!
…involving that Intercontinental Championship
as the Hardy chant begins here in Los Angeles.
Jeff Hardy, what a fighting Intercontinental Champion he's been, John.
He has taken on every comer for that championship.
[Michael] Great athletic move by Jeff Hardy.
Very unorthodox style offensively,
but when he picks up the pace, as he-- his brother Matt does.
[JBL] The guy has got green and red hair
and tattoos all over and he wears stocking on his arm.
Do you think anything that he's gonna do is gonna be orthodox?
-[Michael] Well, not at all. -[JBL] Then why should it surprise you
that it's unorthodox?
[Michael] Johnny Nitro slapping Jeff Hardy in the face.
Sign of total disrespect.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Michael] Now Jeff Hardy has had enough.
Johnny Nitro back into the ring and-- Oh, look at this.
This is typical MNM.
The referee with his back turned dealing with Nitro
and Mercury got involved,
then suddenly, MNM and MVP are in control of the match.
Cover again, hook to the leg, kick-out by Jeff Hardy
as we take another look.
Great tag team style here.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] That's why MNM are three-time Tag Team Champions, John.
[JBL] That's what tag teams need to do, Michael.
You don't have to beat the entire team, you have to beat one guy.
That is strategy.
You isolate Jeff Hardy.
You'll-- You isolate Matt Hardy.
If you can, you isolate Chris Benoit, but you only have to beat one guy.
The key now is keep Jeff Hardy away from his teammates.
You walk away the winner here at No Way Out.
[Michael] And you see Melina looking on.
She, of course, many people would say the brains behind MNM
and she looks on at ringside nodding her approval
at what Johnny Nitro is doing to Jeff Hardy here.
Well, Jeff Hardy with the elbows to the midsection.
Oh, and a boot to the back by Joey Mercury.
[JBL] That's what I say. You've only gotta beat one,
you don't have to beat the whole team. This is smart.
[Michael] They are trying to isolate Jeff Hardy from his corner
of Matt Hardy and Chris Benoit.
Textbook tag team wrestling by MNM.
-[JBL] Against the unorthodox. -[counts]
[Michael] Here's the cover again. Kick-out by Jeff Hardy.
And what is MVP when you add him into the mix?
He hasn't tagged with MNM before,
is that causing any problems, John?
[JBL] Absolutely not. You got an ace in the hole.
You've got a guy sitting there that is as good as it is on SmackDown.
You get him in here, it's no longer tag team situation.
It's a one-on-one situation.
All you gotta do is keep Jeff Hardy down.
Keep the other two guys away, you win the match, you go home the winner.
Tagging in MVP raises the level of this match.
[Michael] Joey Mercury backing Jeff Hardy into the corner.
-You saw him knocking him. -[JBL] There he comes.
[Michael] And here's "MVP" Montel Vontavious Porter
from Friday Night SmackDown.
He has been through leaps and bounds since coming on the scene.
I know you had some issues with him in the beginning, John,
but you really think highly of MVP.
[JBL] I thought he was overpaid.
I thought he was all brass and no ass.
Turns out that MVP is worth every single dime that was paid for him.
[Michael] And look at Johnny Nitro behind the referee's back,
MVP wisely had the referee distracted.
As MVP, off the suplex to Jeff Hardy, floats into the cover.
Shoulders down and a kick-out by Jeff at two.
[JBL] MVP is a great singles competitor.
Come to tag team, he's good there as well,
but what he shines at is a single competitor.
[Michael] Well, you've seen him tag with Mr. Kennedy in the past.
[JBL] Because what he likes, Michael, is the spotlight.
-[Michael] Yes, he does. -[JBL] He doesn't like
sharing it with anybody.
Let me tell you, it's like Terrell Owens,
"If you don't want him to dance in the end zone,
you keep him out of the end zone."
You wanna shut MVP up, try to beat him.
Try to do what Teddy Long has done this entire time, as it works.
[JBL] That's why I admire him.
[Michael] Jeff Hardy, top rope, look at that.
The spinning moonsault off the top rope
-taking out Johnny Nitro. -[JBL] Whisper in the Wind.
[Michael] A variation of that Whisper in the Wind off the top rope
and Jeff Hardy needs to make a tag.
And he does. And here comes Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy with the right hands to Johnny Nitro.
And Matt Hardy's been rising to the occasion as of late.
[JBL] Matt Hardy has risen so much
since that feud he had last summer with Gregory Helms.
Matt Hardy all along could be--
I've said it all along, could be a main event guy.
You look at him, this is why.
[Michael] Matt Hardy taking out both members of MNM.
There's the Side Effect. Into the cover, hook of the leg.
Here's the count by the referee. He may have him here.
[JBL] You forget I was a tag team wrestler
that people say couldn't make it as a single wrestler
and I was World Champion. I say the same thing about Matt Hardy.
He could be a World Champion one day.
[Michael] And look at MVP, from behind suplex,
referee was busy with Benoit and Jeff Hardy.
And again MNM and MVP continue the illegal tactics here.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] We got a hammer on being illegal.
It's what you do to win.
If an offensive lineman holds and doesn't get caught,
what's the record? Nothing.
You didn't get the quarterback sacked, your team wins.
You got a four-count to break.
That's what competition is all about.
The end justifies the means.
Read Machiavelli.
Nobody has a conscience. All of this is about winning and losing.
[Michael] Well, some people have consciences, John.
-I know you don't. -[JBL] Well, I don't.
[Michael] You made your career on not having one.
And Matt Hardy with the big punches to the ribs of MVP,
but Montel Vontavious Porter with the gutwrench.
And MVP is feeling it here tonight.
Look at this juking and jiving, extremely confident dropping the elbow,
a little bit cocky, I might add.
Here's the cover. Kick-out again at two.
-Benoit had to break up the three-count. -[JBL] But he backs it up.
Michael Strahan does the same thing.
Nobody can stop him either.
MVP might look like Barney and the Power Ranger put together,
but the guy fights like Floyd Mayweather.
[Michael] Joey Mercury in, right hand,
and a straight right to the nose of Matt Hardy.
And you've got to believe that every time Joey Mercury sees Matt Hardy,
he wants to disfigure it just like he puts the thumb in the eye
trying to rip that eye out of the skull of Matt Hardy.
See that look of-- sinister look on the face of Melina.
[overlapping chatter]
-[Michael] Look at it. Look at Melina. -[JBL] Sinister?
[JBL] I think the word starts with an "S," but I don't think sinister.
Sexy.
-[Michael] What a clothesline… -[JBL] And solid.
[Michael] …by Mercury.
Here's the cover to Matt Hardy. May have him here.
And a kick-out by Matt at two.
Staying in the matchup.
Watch this clothesline.
Oh, merciful.
[JBL] As a guy who won a lot of tittles with the clothesline,
-I got to tell you, that's impressive. -[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] Tag made to Johnny Nitro, former Intercontinental Champion
into the ring with the right hand, and another right to Matt Hardy.
-MNM continues to single out Matt Hardy. -[crowd chanting] Hardy!
[Michael] There's the neckbreaker,
not allowing Matt Hardy to get to that corner.
Here's the cover by Nitro, hook of the leg, could have him here.
And at two, a kick-out by Matt Hardy.
[JBL] And once again MNM and MVP have done the right thing.
They've isolated Matt Hardy.
You don't have to beat them all, Michael, you just beat one guy.
[Michael] Johnny Nitro into that front face lock
continuing to wear down Matt Hardy.
Melina shouting instructions.
Stay down, stay down!
What Jeff realizes is Matt's in trouble.
He needs to get into this match.
Matt Hardy has got some guts though.
And there's the uppercut by Nitro.
Oh, and there's a clothesline to Matt Hardy, may have an opening here,
but can he capitalize?
[JBL] The thing Nitro better do is keep Matt Hardy away,
especially from Chris Benoit.
[chuckles] That's just the last thing you want coming into this matchup.
[Michael] And a tag made by Mercury, cheap shot to Jeff Hardy.
[JBL] That's smart.
[Michael] And Matt Hardy couldn't quite get to Benoit,
but Matt Hardy countered.
Tag made. Here comes the United States Champion.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] The mood just changed.
[Michael] Chris Benoit, The Rabid Wolverine
knocking Joey Mercury down.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I tell you, Benoit is just so intense.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Oh, what a snap suplex right on MVP
taking out two men at once.
[JBL] Here we go.
[Michael] Look at this.
Double German suplex.
I've never seen that before.
-Have you ever seen Benoit do that? -[JBL] Oh, my God.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And this is what we were talking about earlier on.
-[JBL] What a ride. -[Michael] Car crashes at No Way Out.
Joey Mercury in trouble.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Vintage Hardy, Poetry in Motion.
Matt Hardy, Side Effect.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Off the Twist of Fate. -[JBL] He's got him.
[Michael] And Hardy off the Twist of Fate.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] A Swanton by Jeff Hardy.
-Chris Benoit gonna fly. -[JBL] Air Benoit!
[Michael] Joey Mercury twisted like a pretzel.
-Here's the cover by Benoit. -[JBL] Ballgame.
[Michael] Hook of the leg, Mercury in trouble,
and MVP breaks up the three-count.
This matchup would have been over with if it wasn't for MVP.
[JBL] That's what partners are for, Michael.
-[Michael] And Jeff Hardy. -[JBL] Look at this.
[Michael] Went for the sunset flip, Johnny Nitro hanging on.
And Nitro taking Jeff out.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] MVP, MVP with the United States Title.
Benoit trying to lock in the Crossface.
[JBL] He's got him in the middle of the ring.
-[Michael] The Crossface is locked in. -[JBL] There's nowhere to run.
[Michael] Will MVP tap out?
-He's gonna tap. He's gonna tap. -[JBL] No, no.
[Michael] And Johnny Nitro breaks up the Crossface.
I thought MVP was gonna tap to the Crossface, John.
[JBL] Well, you may have thought wrong.
[crowd chanting] Hardy! Hardy!
[Michael] MVP and Jeff Hardy sent over the top rope.
Chris Benoit, Joey Mercury,
-the legal man. -[Melina shrieks]
[Michael] As Mercury knocks Benoit down center of the ring,
and there is that disgusting scream.
[JBL laughs] I don't know,
when a pretty a woman screams like that, I call it heaven.
[Michael] MNM setting Benoit perhaps with a Snapshot here.
Going for the Snapshot, trying to put this one away.
Matt Hardy from behind.
Benoit rolls through.
Shoulders down.
Trying to go for the cover here.
Now for the Crossface.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Will Mercury tap out to the Crossface of Chris Benoit?
-He does. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Mercury taps to the Crossface.
["Whatever" playing]
[Chimel] Here are your winners,
The Hardys and the United States Champion, Chris Benoit.
[Michael] What a matchup to kick off No Way Out.
Once Benoit has that Crossface locked in,
it is extremely difficult to get out of it.
[JBL] When it says SmackDown on the pay-per-view, Michael,
this is what you get.
Guys out there busting their butts for one reason.
You get your hand raised here when the lights are on bright,
it helps your career because it doesn't get any bigger than this.
[Michael] Chris Benoit and the Hardys picking up the victory
over MNM and MVP here at No Way Out in Los Angeles.
♪ Stumble in your mind ♪
♪ And the fear, the hope inside, They hit here ♪
♪ But whatever ♪
[Michael] Well, let's take another look at the double German suplex.
First time I've ever seen that.
[JBL] I've never even heard of it.
The tenacious Benoit.
-[bell ringing] -[JBL] I've never seen
Chris Benoit look better ever
and I've known him an awful long time.
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
right now let's join the vivacious Kristal with a very special guest.
♪ There is no holding me ♪
Please welcome my guest at this time,
wife of WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero…
Ladies and gentlemen, Vickie Guerrero.
Hi, gorgeous, how are you feeling?
Kristal, I feel great.
And lately, I have been doing a lot of soul searching,
but, Kristal, do you remember that opportunity
we talked about a few weeks ago?
-Yeah. -It is so close to happening.
But first, there's one important thing that I must do,
and I'm gonna do that this Friday night on SmackDown.
And I just wanna say thank you for everything.
Vickie, you're so sweet.
-Come on. -No.
-No, I'm not going out there. -Let's go.
No. No.
And no, I don't want to.
What is wrong with you?
I'm scared.
Oh, you're scared of Boogeyman?
Not the Boogeyman.
No, I'm not scared of him.
Oh, whoa, whoa. Wait.
You're scared of the Little Boogeyman?
Right?
You're kidding me.
Little people are scary.
[crowd cheering]
What? Little people are scary?
Yeah.
Listen. You stay right here.
-No, no, no, no. -Listen to me.
-Stay right here. -Nope.
-I'm gonna get my shillelagh. -I'm coming with you.
-Wait here. -No.
[crowd laughing]
-I'm not waiting. No. -Listen. Okay. Look at you.
You're all frightened,
-you're all wound up. -Yeah.
-You're short of breath. -Yeah.
Listen to me.
Listen, Hornswoggle, I can start-- Give me a hug.
You need a hug. Come here.
That's better. That's better.
Yup, that's much better.
-Much better. -I'll take care of you.
-Don't worry. -Much better.
-We'll solve this one. -Much better.
Much better.
[crowd gasping]
Maybe you'll feel a bit safer in here.
[Michael] Oh, my-- Oh, my God.
[Hornswoggle screaming]
No, no.
No, no, no, no.
No, no.
[screaming]
No.
[JBL] What in the hell?
[menacing laugh]
[Michael] Oh, no. It-- It's Little Boogeyman.
It's Little Boogeyman.
[JBL] What in the hell?
-It's like Gulliver's Travels around here. -[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is the Cruiserweight Open.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, earlier today, the Superstars drew numbers
to determine their entrance in this match.
Number one and number two will start.
Once a Superstar is defeated, another one will enter.
This will continue until we have a final winner
and he will be the Cruiserweight Champion of the world.
♪ Turn it up ♪
-["Bangin' It" playing] -♪ Bangin' it, bangin' it ♪
♪ Bangin' it, bangin' it ♪
[Chimel] Making his way to the ring from Westbrook, Maine,
weighing in at 207 pounds, Scotty 2 Hotty.
[Michael] Another great No Way Out bonus in Scotty 2 Hotty.
What an opportunity for him, John.
He has never held the Cruiserweight Championship.
[JBL] Boogeyman should like this guy.
He's the inventor of the Worm.
[Michael] Oh, you're right.
-[JBL]That's funny. -[Arabic music playing]
[Chimel] And from Detroit, Michigan,
weighing in at 205 pounds, Daivari.
[Michael] Well, John, here's the man, Daivari,
who just came back to SmackDown.
Had a hell of a performance in his first match back.
He took on Gregory Helms,
the Cruiserweight Champion in a non-title matchup and beat him.
[JBL] That's something I never thought he would do.
I never thought he had a chance against Gregory Helms.
He held the rope, and so what, Gregory Helms would have done that to him.
Actually defeated Gregory Helms.
In fact, Gregory Helms who is in this,
which I'm not sure is quite fair,
has held that cruiserweight title twice as long as anyone else ever has.
[Michael] Yeah, longer than a year.
And now it's up for grabs here tonight.
So Scotty 2 Hotty and Daivari will start things off in the matchup.
-Once one of these men loses… -[bell ringing]
…he'll go back to the locker room,
the next person-- the next Superstar will enter this match.
The last man standing, the Cruiserweight Champion.
And Daivari goes right to work
with a kick to the midsection of Scotty 2 Hotty.
So if you're one of the two men who started this, John,
is there any way to pace yourself at all?
[JBL] Absolutely no. You gotta feel-- you gotta find a way to win,
you gotta find a way to win quick.
[Michael] And Daivari going for the quick victory just like you mentioned
and a kick-out by Scotty.
Another pinfall-- near pinfall, kick-out again.
[JBL] The last thing you want is to go to through four, five, six opponents
and have Gregory Helms walk out last.
You're a sitting duck.
You got to find a way to win and you got to find a way to win
-without expending much of your energy. -[Michael] Here's the cover again
by Daivari and a kick-out by Scotty 2 Hotty.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] The order of entry determined by a drawing of numbers earlier on today.
[screams]
And Daivari-- Well, he should listen to you
and go for quick covers here and try to put this one away, right?
[JBL] Never claimed Daivari was very smart.
[Michael] Big right hand by Scotty 2 Hotty
and another right by the veteran Scotty. And Scotty taking it to Daivari.
Cruiserweight Open for the Cruiserweight Championship of the world.
Another bonus matchup added to No Way Out
by General Manager Long.
And Scotty--
[JBL] Here it comes, the craziest thing I've ever seen in sports entertainment.
Now watch this. A sold-out crowd here at the Staples Center,
-home to WrestleMania 21 -[crowd chanting] W-O-R-M.
…is gonna sing the Worm in unison.
Insane.
[Michael] And Scotty delivers the chop to Daivari.
Here's the cover. Hook to the leg.
-He may have him here. And he got it. -[crowd cheering]
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] And Daivari was eliminated
-by Scotty, courtesy of the Worm. -[JBL] Don't forget,
Scotty is a two-time Tag Team World Champion.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. -[JBL] Well, here comes the man.
[Michael] Here comes the Cruiserweight Champion.
[JBL] This is the last guy you'd possibly wanna have.
[Michael] And Gregory Helms whose Cruiserweight Championship
is on the line here in this Cruiserweight Open.
The champion had a distinct disadvantage.
He needs to go through a number of men, John,
in order to keep that championship here tonight.
[JBL] He's held it for over a year.
I don't care if he enters before the show even starts.
He's gotta be the favorite.
[Michael] Gregory Helms winning the championship
much to the same men at the Royal Rumble last year.
As Helms continues the pressure on Scotty 2 Hotty.
I'll tell you, you can what you want about Helms,
but he's been a great Cruiserweight Champion.
Wow. That rope right to the throat.
[JBL] That's impressive.
[Michael] Here's the cover. Hook to the leg again by the champ
and a kick-out by Scotty at two.
[JBL] Don't forget how smart Gregory Helms is.
Scotty 2 Hotty took almost a year off because of a neck injury.
First thing Gregory Helms goes after.
[Michael] That's why he's the longest reigning champion in SmackDown history.
Boom. And a knee to the head.
[JBL] But this is what I like, it's not pretty. It is simply effective.
You kick guys down, Michael, you ground and pound,
you do what you have to do, you beat them up.
-Then you make sure they stay down. -[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie!
[Michael] You know, Gregory Helms isn’t really your typical cruiserweight, John.
Well, Eddie-- Well, Eddie--
[JBL] Yeah, but understand this, Michael, cruiserweight cutoff is 225 pounds,
these guys still wear XL shirts.
It's not like we're talking about 150-pound individuals.
[Michael] Yeah, the point I was trying to make
is Gregory Helms doesn't do a lot of flying around,
he's more of a ground-based wrestler as a Cruiserweight Champ
than a lot of these other guys are.
He likes to beat people up.
[JBL] Which is why he has been effective.
[Michael] Scotty whipped to the ropes. Here's the reversal, Gregory Helms.
Here's a suplex by Scotty 2 Hotty.
[JBL] Flip flop, guys, Well, they may be exciting, Michael.
They are not the guys you put the company on.
[Michael] Oh, he's going for the Worm.
And Gregory Helms bounced Scotty 2 Hotty off the second rope
and Gregory Helms with a knee to the temple.
And the champion into the cover.
-And he got him. -[bell ringing]
-[JBL] That's impressive. -[Michael] Gregory Helms--
[JBL] And look at the amount of energy he expended to do it.
["Dojo" playing]
[Michael] So, Helms has eliminated Scotty.
His next opponent is Funaki.
Funaki quickly into the ring, the former Cruiserweight Champion.
And Gregory Helms must run the gauntlet so to speak,
must defeat all of these individuals
in order to keep that Cruiserweight Championship.
-[Korderas] Funaki, get in here. -[Michael] Funaki going to the top rope.
-[JBL] Going for a homerun right away. -[Michael] Going for a crossbody.
Looks like he-- and here's the-- Look at this.
Helms has got the tights
-and Helms cheating his way… -[bell ringing]
…to a victory over Funaki.
-["It's Time" playing] -[JBL] You know, at WrestleMania 20,
Funaki got beaten in four seconds, setting an all-time record.
I think tonight, we might have seen a new record.
[Michael] And here's Shannon Moore into the ring.
Shannon Moore, we've seen on ECW in recent weeks,
going right to work on Gregory Helms.
-This is smart. -[referee counting]
Helms whipped into the apron, kicking first.
Shannon Moore sends Helms to the ground.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Gregory Helms being met at every turn by these cruiserweights.
-[JBL] For the championship, Michael. -[Michael] Here's the cover by Moore,
hook to the leg and a kick-out.
[JBL] These guys have a walk-- chance to walk out of here champion.
One-on-one matchup with Gregory Helms,
he's shown over the past year that he could not be beat.
[Michael] Helms caught Shannon Moore.
Oh, and is planted knee to the spine.
Here's the cover.
Shoulders are down now and a kick-out at two.
Referee Jimmy Korderas in perfect position.
Watch the punch, Helms. One.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Helms with the right hands. And, John, he cannot be happy
over the fact that he's got to defend his title in this manner.
And look at that hair-- Oh, look at this. Shannon Moore off the jackknife cover.
[JBL] Look at that haircut on Shannon Moore.
Normally, that would be weird, but not out here in Hollywood.
[Michael] Well, not at all.
[JBL] You'd think he's a fan favorite out here.
[Michael] Shannon Moore, whipped into the corner,
the Cruiserweight Champion in trouble.
Oh, here's the swinging neckbreaker from the second rope, into to the cover.
Can Helms be eliminated? No.
[JBL] They'd accept you out here, Michael.
-No, I doubt it. -[Michael] I like Los Angeles.
[JBL] I bet you do.
[Michael] A bit different than the East Coast but…
And Shannon Moore gonna climb high.
Gregory Helms, the Cruiserweight Champion
meets Moore before he could get into an offensive position.
And look at Gregory Helms, the Cruiserweight Champion.
[JBL] He's got him another one.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Oh, and a knee to the jaw.
[JBL] Gregory Helms got him another one.
[Michael] Here's the cover, hook to the leg.
-He got him. -[bell ringing]
[JBL] I told you. You can put Gregory Helms out here
against 30 people, he's still the odds-on favorite.
-["Gonna Punch Someone Tonight" playing] -[Michael] Here's Jimmy Wang Yang,
the resident redneck of SmackDown.
[Michael] And Jimmy Wang Yang and Gregory Helms,
they've had some battles in the past, John.
[JBL] Resident redneck? He's not a resident redneck.
-[Michael] Why not? -[JBL] The guy looks like one-fourth
of The Village People.
He'd be normal out here too.
[Michael] Look at Jimmy Wang Yang, standing moonsault.
Here's the cover and a kick-out at two by Helms,
-the Cruiserweight Champion. -Yee-haw.
[JBL] What the hell is wrong with him?
-[Michael] In Jimmy Wang Yang? -[JBL] Oh, Jimmy Wang Yang, that's who.
[Michael] Jimmy Wang Yang's trying to knock off the Cruiserweight Champion
and win the title.
There's nothing wrong with him, John.
[crowd chanting]
[JBL] What a disaster that would be.
-[Michael] Yang-- -[JBL] You'd have to listen to yee-haw--
[Michael] Thumb to the eye.
Helms' face first. Yang rolls him up.
Shoulders down and a kick-out by Gregory Helms.
[JBL] What do you mean Wang's got a lot of talent?
He's just a goof.
[Michael] Side Russian leg sweep by Jimmy Wang Yang.
Look at this. This is a unique submission maneuver.
[JBL] Right in the middle of the ring.
[Michael] Look at that right arm of Gregory Helms.
Will the Cruiserweight Champion tap out?
If he does, he'll lose his championship.
Shoulders down and Jimmy Wang Yang almost had him.
Kick-out at two.
Gregory Helms must defeat Yang here
to retain that title he's held for over a year.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Top rope moonsault, nobody home.
Landed on his feet.
Helms with a right hand,
-right to the skull. -[JBL] That's your yee-haw.
That's your how about it.
That's your resident redneck right there.
Everybody's got a game plan till you get punched in the mouth, Michael.
[Michael] And Gregory Helms measuring his man.
Jimmy Wang Yang, headscissors, roll through.
He's got it.
-[JBL] No, no. No. -[bell ringing]
-[Michael] Jimmy Wang Yang-- -[JBL] Oh, my God, no.
[Michael] Jimmy Wang Yang has defeated the Cruiserweight Champion.
And Helms is gonna make Jimmy Wang Yang pay for it.
["Kash Money" playing]
[Michael] And here comes Jamie Noble.
But the story here is this, John.
Gregory Helms has lost the Cruiserweight Championship
that he's held for over a year.
And Noble going for the quick cover.
Shoulders down on Jimmy Wang Yang and a kick-out.
Another cover by Noble and another kick-out,
trying to put Jimmy Wang Yang away and Gregory Helms cannot believe it.
[JBL] But no offense to the two guys in the ring,
the story here is Jimmy Wang Yang.
That-- Or not Jimmy Wang Yang.
Damn it. What the hell? I'm confused.
Gregory Helms.
Gregory Helms just was robbed of his title.
[Michael] How was he robbed?
Here's the cover by Noble.
Jimmy Wang Yang won it fair and square there,
knocking off and eliminating Helms.
[JBL] You're sticking some socks from that draft hybrid match.
You started the odds against him.
[Michael] Here's the cover off the neckbreaker,
kick-out at two by Jimmy Wang Yang.
[JBL] What an injustice in Los Angeles that has just occurred.
[Michael] Well, injustice or not, Gregory Helms has lost--
[JBL] No, it was an injustice. I just said it was injustice,
so you don't come back with injustice or not.
It was a damn injustice.
[Michael] Well, that's the way you saw it.
[JBL] That's the way I saw it in the color commentary, you jackass.
[Michael] And Jamie Noble continuing the pressure on Jimmy Wang Yang,
the man who eliminated Gregory Helms in this Cruiserweight Open moments ago.
We will crown a new Cruiserweight Champion here tonight at No Way Out.
[crowd chanting]
[JBL] What an opportunity for these two guys.
They got a chance to walk out here champion.
I'm just upset about the fact it's not Gregory Helms.
[Michael] Jimmy Wang Yang puts Noble in the corner.
And here comes SmackDown's resident redneck.
Nobody home.
Shoulder first into the steel post.
Noble looks to take advantage.
Shoulders down. Noble's got the jeans and a kick-out.
Let's take another look at Jimmy Wang Yang going into the steel post.
[JBL] Well, you want a resident redneck.
Jamie Noble, that's your resident redneck.
The guy is to the line of David Duke.
[Michael] Jamie Noble.
Oh, and Jimmy Wang Yang caught him.
Noble may not know where he is.
[JBL] He believes NASCAR is real.
[Michael] Jamie Noble measuring his man and he gets caught up on the second rope.
We wanna thank all the great WWE fans around the world
who are watching No Way Out here tonight from Los Angeles,
including places like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia,
and many, many more, John.
Here's the cover by Jimmy Wang Yang and Noble kicks out at two.
[JBL] What a great opportunity for somebody
to walk out here Cruiserweight Champion.
You have knocked off the number one guy.
The field is absolutely wide open.
You'll never have a better chance than this
to be Cruiserweight Champion.
[Michael] Noble with a high knee catches Jimmy Wang Yang.
Noble crawls to the cover, hooks the leg,
shoulders down, kick-out by Jimmy Wang Yang.
[JBL] Still an injustice.
[Michael] Watch this high knee by Jamie Noble.
[referee] Noble.
And Jimmy Wang Yang caught up on the top rope.
[JBL] We haven't seen much of Jamie Noble lately,
as tough as it gets. Double tough.
[laughs] I love to watch Jamie Noble fight.
That's just what he does.
[Michael] He may be the toughest cruiserweight
on the entire SmackDown roster.
[JBL] No. The toughest cruiserweight just got eliminated, Gregory Helms.
[Michael] Oh, perhaps was the toughest cruiserweight.
Jamie Noble dropped on his face by Jimmy Wang Yang.
Look at this. Moonsault, shoulders down.
-He got it. -[bell ringing]
[JBL] Oh, you got to be kidding me.
-[Michael] Jimmy Wang Yang. -[Chimel] Here's your winner…
-[JBL] No. -…and the new…
-[Michael] Yes. -["Chavo Ardiente" playing]
[JBL] No.
[Michael] Oh, wait a minute.
Chavo Guerrero?
♪ Ooh, Chavo ♪
[JBL] The multi-time Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero.
[Michael] So, a surprise entry?
[JBL] You better believe it.
[Michael] Well, the match is being contested under open invitational rules.
So, oh, Chavo taking advantage of that.
[JBL] Chavo fits the bill.
Chavo Guerrero, the one that took Rey Mysterio out of action,
and I believe permanently.
[Michael] And Chavo Guerrero with the right hands
to the back of the head of Jimmy Wang Yang.
If you're Jimmy Wang Yang, John, moments ago,
you'd thought you won the Cruiserweight Championship.
What does that do to your psyche now that Chavo has entered the matchup?
[JBL] You just try to find a way to survive.
You gotta weather the storm.
Chavo Guerrero has come out here where his uncle and I
had won hell of a World Championship match
right here at Staples Center a couple years ago.
The Guerreros are loved out here like they are everywhere.
You gotta weather the storm if you're Jimmy Wang Yang.
[Michael] And Chavo Guerrero, former five-time Cruiserweight Champion,
hammering away on Jimmy Wang Yang.
What a surprise here tonight at No Way Out.
We believe Jimmy Wang Yang is the new Cruiserweight Champion.
Not to be, at least to this moment.
Chavo misses with the right hand.
What a spin kick by Jimmy Wang Yang.
[JBL] Jimmy Wang Yang faced the wrath of Gregory Helms and Jamie Noble.
Not sure how much he has left in the tank.
[Michael] Well, he did eliminate Gregory Helms, the Cruiserweight Champion.
Reversal.
Chavo sent up over the top rope and right out in front of us.
And this could be the opening that Jimmy Wang Yang needs, John.
Look at Jimmy Wang Yang.
Top rope, taking Chavo out.
And that's what the Cruiserweight Championship
means to these individuals.
One, two, three.
[JBL] That's what I love about cruiserweights, Michael.
[Michael] Watch Jimmy Wang Yang fly.
Look at the elevation.
Gonna fly again.
Went for the missile dropkick, and Chavo Guerrero countered.
Chavo, the veteran, knows every trick in the book.
[JBL] Here we go. The trifecta.
The Guerrero name is intact.
[Michael] This is disrespectful, John.
[JBL] It is not disrespectful. He's a Guerrero.
They invented this.
They invented the camel clutch.
They invented the frog splash.
This is Guerrero at his best.
[Michael] Eddie Guerrero invented it.
Correction.
[JBL] It's a Guerrero. His last name is Guerrero.
[Michael] And Chavo is going up to the top rope,
perhaps for the frog splash, and Jimmy Wang Yang countered.
I tell you, Jimmy Wang Yang has been game all night tonight.
[JBL] And how dare these people rue-- boo a Guerrero?
[Michael] Hurricanrana from the top rope.
Chavo in trouble.
Jimmy Wang Yang gonna be the new Cruiserweight Champion,
and a kick-out at two.
[JBL] Don't ever say that again.
[Michael] Thought he won the title earlier tonight.
[JBL] I cannot put up with yee-haw and howdy from him.
[Michael] Chavo-- Jimmy Wang Yang may have went to the high-risk maneuvers
once too often and Chavo Guerrero took advantage.
[JBL] Jimmy Wang Yang, he's like a cook in a short order house.
Redneck.
[Michael] Chavo knocked off the top rope.
Jimmy Wang Yang may get his wish to fly again.
Went for the spinning moonsault.
Nobody home.
[JBL] Smart on Guerrero's part.
He laid there. He played possum. He rolled into it. And here we go.
[Michael] Chavo top rope.
-Frog splash. -[JBL] There we go.
-All hail Guerrero. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] And Chavo Guerrero
has won the cruiserweight title for a sixth time.
-["Chavo Ardiente" playing] -[Chimel] Here is your winner and the new
Cruiserweight Champion of the world,
Chavo Guerrero.
[Michael] Well, Chavo was clever tonight.
[JBL] The name Guerrero means warrior, and why these people don't respect that,
I have no idea.
Perhaps sometimes they wanna boo what they know they can't beat
deep down inside.
But right there, Chavo Guerrero is your new Cruiserweight Champion.
All hail the Guerrero.
[Michael] Earlier on tonight, we thought Jimmy Wang Yang
had won the Cruiserweight Championship as he pinned Jamie Noble.
But then there was a surprise entry as Yang was celebrating
his well-perceived victory. From out of nowhere came Chavo Guerrero.
[JBL] Yeah. He's also thought he's a resident redneck.
Not exactly long on brains, if you know what I'm talking about.
[Michael] And Chavo Guerrero, disrespectful.
[JBL] Disrespectful? Why?
Why is that disrespectful?
That was as good as Eddie Guerrero.
I should know.
I was on the receiving end of many of them.
[Michael] Chavo Guerrero
wins the Cruiserweight Championship here tonight.
[JBL] Champion of champions, Chavo Guerrero.
We have ushered in a new era in the Cruiserweight Championship
and it's led by a warrior, a Guerrero.
I'm the new champion. That's what I'm talking about.
[Michael] Chavo Guerrero wins the Cruiserweight Open, the invitational.
[JBL] And you know what gets me mad?
Guerrero was underappreciated by this LA crowd.
We got a crowd that's 50%, 60% Hispanic.
There you have right there
a great representative of the Hispanic community
and they are booing him.
You talk about a bunch of damn ingrates.
They should just say thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time.
He is the WWE Champion, John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
Cena, are you at all concerned about teaming up
against your WrestleMania 23 tag team partner, Shawn Michaels,
to take on The Undertaker
and the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista?
Concerned? I can tell that you're concerned.
You're concerned that maybe me and Shawn are gonna--
No, I'm not concerned about that.
Is it 'cause John Cena and Shawn Michaels are the best of friends
and travel the road telling stories?
No.
You've heard it. I heard it. I get it. I'm not Triple H.
Then it must be because we're the World Tag Team Champions.
And everything in the land of Tag Team Championship
is glorious and hunky dory-- No.
You've been watching. We're like The Bad News Bears.
We almost got these things by accident.
It's because tonight, in a very short period of time,
I'm gonna be staring across that ring at a Dead Man and an Animal.
And, tonight, that…
that takes my concern.
But I know why you're shaky.
I know why you're nervous. Because tonight is history.
You got the two main events at WrestleMania only 42 days away
in the same ring as partners.
Something's gotta give. You can cut the tension with a knife.
Will it bubble over? Is somebody gonna turn on somebody?
What's gonna happen? Are we gonna get a taste of WrestleMania?
I have no idea.
But I know this.
Tonight, I fight as hard with Shawn Michaels
as I will against him at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
[Finlay] My name is Finlay and I love to fight.
["Lambeg" playing]
[Michael] Well, John Cena and Shawn Michaels
showed us Friday night on SmackDown that they can work together as a team.
Will they be able to tonight?
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, Little Bastard and Finlay.
[Michael] Little Bastard is scared to death, John.
[JBL] He's not a little bastard.
He's a leprechaun, okay? He's got parents.
His parents are not Mr. And Mrs. Bastard,
therefore you cannot call him Little Bastard.
He is a-- He's afraid of little people, okay?
He's got a fear.
[Michael] Listen to yourself.
[JBL] You're the one that wondered if there was a whirlpool
under the ring back in Houston, okay? I don't know what's under that ring.
You got a whole damn calla lily fusions for all I know.
["The Horror" playing]
[JBL] I wonder if they have a litter box under that ring for him.
[Michael laughs] Look.
["The Horror" continues playing]
[JBL] What the hell is this?
Please explain this to me.
-Please. -[Michael] I can't. I can't.
[explosions]
[Chimel] And making their way to the ring, the Little Boogeyman and The Boogeyman.
[JBL] I am sitting here in the Staples Center
watching a horror movie and it's not exactly a very good one.
In fact, it's a bad one.
The hell have we got? We got a crazy lunatic that eats worms.
Now, we've got his son or something else out here with him.
Both looks like they're epileptic, eating worms as well.
They-- Explain this to me.
-Explain this to me. -[Michael] I think--
[JBL] That is the ring that I was in at WrestleMania 21
when I lost the World Championship to John Cena
and it is now billed with a freaking side show carnival freaks.
Freaks. Not one, three.
[Michael] Can I correct you about something?
[JBL] What?
[Michael] I think Little Boogeyman actually eats itch worms.
[JBL] Oh, you're hilarious.
You are just-- you're making me laugh today.
[Michael] This is supposed to be a tag team matchup.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Supposed to be Boogeyman and Little Boogeyman
against Finlay and Little Bastard, but Little Bastard is--
[JBL] He's not a Little Bastard.
Why don't you call that little freak over there,
the Little Boogeyman, a little bastard?
What do you got against an Irishman that likes to drink beer
no matter what his size and loves to fight?
-[Michael] John, that's-- -[JBL] You got something?
-You know what you are? -[Michael] What?
-[JBL] You're anti-immigration. -[Michael] Me?
-[JBL] You're xenophobic. -[Michael] Me?
[JBL] You're making fun of the Irish for no reason
because you don't understand them.
You mock what you don't understand.
What the hell is wrong with you? Little Bastard. He's a human being.
[Michael] Finlay doesn't quite know what to do here
as he starts off this matchup against Boogeyman.
[JBL] What do you mean he doesn't know what to do?
He's sitting there looking at a freak and right next to him is a freak
just like him but smaller.
There's like one and a half freaks against one Irishman.
Would you know what to do?
[Michael] No. Not at all.
I don't even know how, you know, to call the matchup
once Little Boogeyman gets involved.
And Boogeyman, nice Fireman's Carry takedown to Finlay.
Finlay handed Boogeyman his first loss a couple of weeks ago
off the distraction by Little Bastard.
Payback on SmackDown when Little Boogeyman showed up.
[JBL] Little Boogeyman? So that's your name for him?
[Michael] Yeah. Little Boogeyman.
-[JBL] He's gotta have a name. -Come on, get in there.
Why don't you go find it?
You know, you're a wartime correspondent.
You're like a--
non-heterosexual Barry Horowitz.
Go out there and find out.
[Michael] Finlay tossed back into the ring.
Boogeyman ducked out of the way. And Boogeyman--
[JBL] Why don't you do your due diligence? Why don't you do some homework?
Why don't you go over there and interview him and find out his name?
[Michael] John, that's his name, Little Boogeyman,
just like the leprechaun's name is Little Bastard.
And what a kick to the jaw.
[JBL] So when he gets on a plane,
they say, "Boogeyman, you have got-- you received your upgrade."
No, no, not Boogeyman, but Little Boogeyman.
[Michael] I have no idea.
I don't even know if these guys go the airport and fly on planes.
Finlay whipped across the ring. Boogeyman, oh, nice scoop slam to Finlay.
And Boogeyman dominating Finlay in the early going.
Perhaps, Finlay's been thrown a bit by the fact that Little Boogeyman
is at ringside.
[JBL] What the hell is this?
[Michael] It's Little Boogeyman.
Look at him go. Look at Little Boogeyman go.
And again to Finlay.
He's strutting his stuff.
-[JBL] Is that what you call it? -[Michael] Yeah.
[Michael] Well, there's nourishment.
-He is eating the-- -[JBL] It's disgusting.
[Michael] Hey.
-Little Bastard-- -[Little Bastard] Come on.
Come on.
[JBL] What in the hell are we watching?
[Michael] Little Boogeyman has got a mouthful of worms
and here's Little Bastard.
[JBL] This is Gulliver's Travels meets Disney on Acid.
[Michael] I think Little Bastard's had enough.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] The crowd loves it.
We're gonna have us one hell of a little fight.
-[Michael] And Finlay… -[JBL] Yes, sir.
-…kicked right to the side of the face. -[JBL] That's what he should do.
[Michael] What do you mean that's what he should do?
[JBL] That's what he should do.
[Michael] Little Bastard had Little Boogeyman.
[JBL] That is a great moment in the WWE.
Worms flying everywhere.
[Michael] Little Bastard had--
-[JBL] I love it. -[Michael] Little Boogeyman distracted.
Finlay took advantage.
And now Little Bastard went back under the ring.
[JBL] Add Tazz to this, we can have a three-way step Ladder Match.
[Michael] Look at this. Little Boogeyman, a small package and a kick-out by Finlay.
[JBL] That was a small package, all right.
Oh, you call that well.
[Michael] Oh, and what a clothesline by Finlay,
literally fighting from his knees.
[JBL] I've seen it all.
I thought I'd seen it all. I'm now seeing it all.
In memory of King Kong Bundy--
[Michael] Oh, there's a payback.
[JBL] The Little Boogeyman-- [laughs] And I'm enjoying it.
Keep jumping over there in his belly till he spits out worms.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] And suddenly the fighting Irishman wear out Little Boogey.
Look at this. Little armbar.
[JBL laughs] It's a little short arm scissors is what it is.
-[laughs] -Come on.
-[screams] -Tap, you little son of a gun.
[JBL] How do you deal with a guy that small?
This is fun.
Let's get, you know, a whole bunch of them
and have like a toss.
You put like a little harness on a whole bunch of these little people
and have a toss and throw them as far as you can.
[Michael] Yeah, that's really politically correct.
[JBL laughs]
[Michael] As Little Boogeyman is tossed out of the ring.
And Little Bastard, he-- Little Bastard is grabbing Little Boogeyman
and pulled him under the ring.
Go, get him in the ring.
[JBL] What the hell just happened?
[Michael] Finlay is trying to figure it out too.
Hey, it's big-- It's the big Boogeyman.
It's Big Boogey.
-[JBL] You said Big Boogey? -[Michael] Yes. Big Boogeyman.
[JBL] Boogey Sr.?
[Michael] That's good too, as Boogeyman has bounced off that steel--
that steel barricade.
Tossed back into the ring by Finlay.
Finlay is done fooling around.
[JBL] Is there like a little Michael Cole there?
-[Michael] I hope not. -[JBL] Well, me too.
He remains your size and you'd be upset.
[Michael] Finlay--
Boogeyman, shoulder to the ribs.
Did you see how Boogeyman exploded?
There's no denying Boogeyman's athletic ability, John.
None at all.
[JBL] None at all.
I have seen Finlay when he was undefeated champion of Europe for five straight years
back in the '90s,
but I have never seen Finlay in a mess like this.
[Michael] Finlay launched off the top turnbuckle by Boogeyman.
And Finlay's in trouble.
Boogeyman taking it to the fighting Irishman,
the former United States Champion.
Very unorthodox style for Boogeyman, to say the least.
[JBL] Boy, that's bright.
[Michael] He had Finlay by the throat.
Follows it up with a clothesline.
[JBL] You expect anything on him to be orthodox?
What is-- The hell is this?
[Michael] Little Boogeyman up on the second rope.
Boogeyman launching Little Boogeyman into Finlay.
-One, two-- -[Michael] And look at this.
-Little Bastard… -[JBL] It's a little save.
[Michael] …with the shillelagh in hand.
And look-- Oh, look, Little Bastard in trouble.
-[JBL] Wait a minute. Wait a minute. -[Michael] Boogeyman--
[JBL] That's not fair. You don't pick on a little guy like that.
-That's not fair. -[Michael] Well, Little Bastard--
-[JBL] You don't do that to a leprechaun. -[Michael] He's scared to death of worms.
[JBL] Of course he's scared to death. Wouldn't you be scared of Boogeyman?
And you're a full grown half man.
-What is he doing? -[Michael] Little Bastard is taking off.
[JBL] He needs to leave him alone.
[Michael] And Finlay in the ring.
Shillelagh to the skull. The referee never saw it.
-Here's the cover. -One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Finlay has defeated Little Boogeyman.
[JBL] Finlay owns two victories over The Boogeyman.
[Chimel] Here are your winners, Little Bastard and Finlay.
["Lambeg" playing]
[Michael] The indignant Finlay.
[JBL] Not only did Finlay was the first one ever to defeat The Boogeyman,
he's also the first one ever to defeat the Little Boogeyman.
How about all hail to the fighting Irish?
There right there is a man, Finlay.
[Michael] Finlay with a shillelagh to the skull.
[JBL] You gotta like that.
All the mind games, all the worms, all the chicanery going on at ringside
and the guy that stays tall is the fighting Irishman, Finlay.
[Michael] And Little Bastard is scared to death of those worms.
[JBL] Wouldn't you be? He's scared to death of Boogeyman.
I don't think it's the worms. He's scared to death of that freak.
[Michael] And watch the indignant Finlay with a shillelagh to the skull.
One, two, three.
[JBL laughs] That was fun to watch, Michael.
[music fades]
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time.
He is one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[crowd cheering]
Shawn, do you think that you can trust John Cena tonight?
No. I can't trust John Cena tonight or any night.
And when it comes to the issue of trust, I only have that with one man,
and that is Triple H.
But I did give John Cena and the world my word
that I was gonna watch his back.
So, I don't care if I have to fall on my sword, dive on a hand grenade,
get devoured by The Animal, or look The Deadman straight in the eye.
I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure
absolutely nothing happens to John Cena between now and WrestleMania.
And if you're not down with that, I got two words for you.
[crowd] Suck it.
[Michael] Well, we saw it Friday night on SmackDown, John,
that Shawn Michaels was a man of his word.
On Friday night, he had John Cena's back.
["Dead White Guys" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, being accompanied by Queen Sharmell,
from Houston, Texas, weighing in at 256 pounds,
King Booker.
[JBL] We are in the presence of royalty, Michael.
[Michael] King Booker, the former World Champion,
created an enemy in Kane last month at the Royal Rumble.
-[music fades] -[dramatic music playing]
[Booker] I will reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship
on the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania.
But I will do so by defeating 29 Superstars
on a stage that's fit for royalty,
the Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Rob Van Dam, oh, what a split kick to the jaw.
[Jerry] Look out, Booker.
[Michael] King Booker eliminated by Kane.
King Booker's dream of retaining the championship
will not happen at WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Hey, wait a minute. Booker's back in.
[Michael] Oh, wait a minute. King Booker's back in the ring.
He was eliminated. What the hell is going on?
[JBL] Kane is eliminated. Kane is out.
[Michael] Booker incensed that The Big Red Machine
eliminated him from the Rumble.
[Teddy] King Booker, it is a great honor tonight that we celebrate your dignity,
athletic prowess, and all-around excellence.
It is our privilege to present to you this key to our fair city.
[Booker] I would like to say to all of you,
it's about damn time.
All of you should bow down to your king.
-[explosion] -[Michael] Uh-oh.
Houston, we have a big problem.
[JBL] I don't think Kane is impressed by the Ancient Order of Royal Houstonians.
[music grows tense]
[Michael] And look at Kane, sending King Booker over the top rope.
King Booker's celebration has gone up in smoke.
[music fades]
All Hail King Booker!
All Hail King…
[JBL] Get up, Michael Cole, you peasant.
-[explosion] -["Slow Chemical" playing]
[JBL] What the hell?
[Chimel] And weighing in at 323 pounds, Kane.
[Michael] And here is a man, John, that you don't wanna make upset
like King Booker did.
[JBL] You talk about a horror movie that's come to life,
we've got one right here in Kane.
[Michael] Two great veterans here in WWE.
Both part of SmackDown. Both former champions.
[JBL] The King believed it was his destiny at the Royal Rumble
to get rid of 29 other people and retain his throne.
♪ The wonder of the world is gone I know for sure ♪
[JBL] Kane apparently doesn't believe in destiny and he doesn't believe in
the Ancient Order of Royal Houstonians either.
Interrupted Booker T's key to the city celebration.
You talk about wrong.
Booker T grew up a poor kid in inner city Houston.
-He becomes royal. -[Michael] Oh, will you stop?
-[JBL] King of the world. -[Michael] Will you stop?
-[JBL] King of the Ring. -[Michael] Stop.
[JBL] And he's being honored by Houston,
all the great people that have come from Houston,
Bodacious…
-[Michael wails mockingly] -…Nolan Ryan, Billy Gibbons.
[Michael] And then King Booker went out the ring
and he made fun of everybody from Houston,
-[bell ringing] -treated him with disrespect,
and got what he deserves.
[JBL] He has that right. That's beside the point.
-He has that right. -{Michael] You get the keys to the city?
[JBL] You've never done that.
You can't even get keys to your house from your wife.
[Michael] Matchup underway.
Kane versus King Booker. Two former champions.
King Booker was very reluctant to get into the ring moments ago
to start this matchup.
So let's talk strategy, John.
What kind of strategy do you use against The Big Red Machine, Kane?
[JBL] You gotta find a way that man would make a mistake.
King Booker is just as much a veteran as Kane is.
Not nearly as strong. No one is.
So, you got to wait for Kane to make a mistake
and you gotta capitalize on it when he does
because you can't match power with The Big Red Machine.
[Michael] And Kane showing you with the elbows
and the right hands to King Booker.
And, oh, big right hand to the midsection.
[Booker groans]
-[Michael] High elbow to King Booker. -[screaming]
[Michael] And the King-- listen to him screaming in agony.
[JBL] Screaming?
-[Michael] Well, what was he doing then? -[JBL] He's not screaming.
[Michael] Well, how would you describe that?
[JBL] He's grunting. He was groaning.
Same thing people do at Venice Gold's Gym here.
Same thing Arnold Schwarzenegger did.
He's grunting. Men do that.
Women scream. You should know.
Not that you ever made a woman scream.
[Michael] And Kane, the powerhouse.
King Booker launched into the corner.
Kane just wearing his opponent down.
And that is Kane's MO.
Wear your opponent down.
[JBL] Kane just keeps on coming.
No matter what he does, he doesn't allow space
and he pounds a guy until submission.
-[Michael] Elbow to-- -[JBL] Kane is a sick human being.
What he did to MVP at Armageddon was repulsive.
[Michael] Look, that was back--
[JBL] He lit a guy on fire on purpose.
That's the kind of person that Kane is.
-That is ridiculous. -[Michael] John--
[JBL] And for these fans around here to honor a monster like Kane
and vilify somebody like King Booker is beyond comprehension.
[Michael] Let's just clear one thing up, John, and the fact is
is that MVP was burned under the auspices of an Inferno Match.
It was legal. Keep that in mind.
[JBL] Kane lethally burned another human being.
You don't find anything wrong with that?
[Michael] Not at all. I mean-- Well, let me rephrase that.
I don't think anybody should be burned,
but it was under the rules of the matchup, John.
So, I mean, what would you have done?
If you were in an Inferno Match, if you had to win,
if you had to burn your opponent to win, what would you do?
Not set him on fire?
[JBL] I wouldn't have done it smiling.
[Michael] Oh, and a big elbow to the jaw.
King Booker walks right into the-- Oh, backbreaker on King.
Knee to the spine.
[groaning]
[JBL] One thing I like about sports entertainment done right,
both these two guys do it.
This isn't ballet.
This is full contact.
You get your body cut, boots knocked out, you get your arm broke, so what?
You gotta keep competing.
These two guys do Smash Mouth Wrestling
and they do it as well as anybody ever has.
[Michael] Kane is so sinister, but he's hung up on the top rope
by King Booker, the veteran.
One of the most decorated sports entertainers in history, King Booker.
Uh-oh, King Booker in trouble.
Knee to the midsection.
Reversal. Boot to the face.
And Kane is measuring the King.
[JBL] It's gonna be over quick if he hits it.
[Michael] Clothesline and King Booker knocked over the top rope.
Kane has dominated the King, really, since the get-go.
[JBL] That's what I said, Michael, if you're the King,
if you're Booker T, you've got to weather the storm.
You gotta wait for a mistake from The Big Red Machine.
-He doesn't make them very often… -[indistinct yelling]
…but a guy like King Booker will capitalize, and he does.
-Two! -[JBL] There it is.
That's your opening, King.
[Michael] Kane glanced at the referee
and King Booker was able to take advantage.
[JBL] That's all it takes.
Bam.! One instant and the King is back on top.
[Michael] And King Booker who can be relentless,
he can be as vicious as the best of them.
[counting continues]
When you talk about the year 2006, John,
you've really gotta talk about it being really the year of King Booker
here on SmackDown.
World Champion, King of the Ring winner.
King Booker gonna fly. Missile dropkick.
He doesn't leave his feet often, but when he does, it can be effective.
[JBL] How about that? Rarely ever do you see a guy that big…
[Michael] Hook of the leg, shoulders down.
There's two.
[JBL] Rarely ever do you see a guy as big as King Booker
do something that's usually reserved for cruiserweights.
Don't forget this, Kane is a monster.
Everybody knows it.
You look at the size and the matchup,
King Booker is not that much smaller than Kane.
He's a monster of a man himself
and you gotta take chances to beat a monster.
[Michael] And King Booker trying to wear Kane down.
Look at how he has the elbow right in the jaw,
right in the temple of Kane.
You take out that left arm, you take the power game away
from The Big Red Machine.
-[overlapping chatter] -[JBL] You gotta ground the monster.
You're right, Michael.
You gotta ground and you gotta keep him down.
He goes to the top rope, hits a missile dropkick,
something you see Booker T do, literally,
a couple times a year when he has to.
He pulled it out of the hat and he's got him down.
He doesn't wanna let Kane up.
[Michael] Queen Sharmell shouting words of encouragement at ringside.
"Big Red Machine" Kane trying to get back to a vertical base,
trying to alleviate some of the pressure from this hold by King Booker.
[grunting]
And look at Kane just ripping King Booker.
[JBL] That's power.
[Michael] Follows it up with a right-hand clothesline.
But has the damage been done to The Big Red Machine?
Straight power.
King Booker had that hold locked in and Kane, merely with one arm,
whipped him nearly halfway across the ring.
[JBL] This is what King Booker needs to avoid.
Tit for tat.
Here goes the monster to the top.
-Watch out, King. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Kane will fly on occasion too. -[JBL] Watch out, King.
The world is a 300-pound-plus man doing on the top rope?
[Michael] And King Booker countered.
What a counter.
A heel kick to Kane.
[JBL] That's the King for you.
-Look at this, Michael. -[Michael] Listen to this impact.
[JBL] I told you about taking chances.
You take chances, you hit it, you look great. You hit a McCovey Cove.
You don't, you're whiffed.
Kane just went for it, which I admire, but King Booker caught him.
Now cover him, King. Cover him, King.
-[Michael] King Booker into cover. -[JBL] He's got him.
-One, two-- -[Michael] And a kick-out by Kane.
[JBL] Now we're getting into any man's ball game.
They've both hit each other with home runs here, Michael.
This is what I like.
[Michael] King Booker, the former World Champion,
with a right hand driving Kane back to the corner.
[JBL] Two tough, big men willing to knock skin with each other.
We're gonna find-- we got us a hell of a fight.
[Michael] Kane blocked the right and a right hand by The Big Red Machine.
Another right by Kane, and the world--
former World Champion, John, is reeling a bit.
Missed with the clothesline.
King Booker-- both of them knocked down.
[JBL] Flying to a car crash.
A little like, corner two in Daytona today. I like it.
This is what it means for these two.
They're fighting for pride.
-[Michael] King Booker-- -[JBL] King Booker has him.
[Michael] He's got the cover, hook to the leg, and a kick-out by Kane.
And King Booker is screaming at the referee.
Open it up. One. Open up that fist. Two.
Open it. Three. Open up the fist, man.
I'm the king of the world.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] He's the king of the world.
And he's on top of the world.
And he's got the hottest queen in the whole world.
[Michael] And Sharmell loves what she's seeing out of King Booker.
[JBL] Look at the admiration.
How they-- the way she looks at her man, the King.
[Michael] Queen Sharmell has been very instrumental.
[JBL] The King is feeling it. Look at him.
He's dancing and jabbing, hitting and moving.
This is where the King gets good.
This is why you call him the King.
The King of the Ring. The former World Champion.
One of the most decorated men in all of sports entertainment.
[Michael] And King Booker is wearing Kane down.
In trouble in the corner.
[grunting]
[JBL] Trying to take The Big Red Machine for a ride.
[Michael] Can King Booker roll The Big Red Machine over into the suplex?
Oh! What a counter by Kane.
But can Kane take advantage?
-[counts] -[JBL] Kane had one misstep.
Other than that, King Booker has taken the fight to The Big Red Monster.
How many times in Kane's history have you seen a guy
able to take the fight to him?
[Michael] Not many times at all.
[JBL] This is impressive, and this is a hell of a fight.
[Michael] Kane's back to his feet, but Kane's reeling.
King Booker with a kick.
-And there's the-- -[JBL] Cover him, King.
-Cover him, King. -You got him.
[Michael] That is that tremendous flexibility we talked about, John,
from the former champ.
Finish him.
Finish it.
[JBL] Get him, King. Hook his leg, King.
-That's it. -[Michael] And a kick-out at two.
And Queen Sharmell telling the referee
it should have been a little quicker count there.
[JBL] The thing about this, Michael, you look at the King.
He's a cardiovascular wonder.
But Kane is unusual of a big man.
He's a bit of an anomaly. He doesn't tire.
He gets better the longer the match goes, same as the King.
[Michael] Kane with the right hand, trying to get back in the matchup,
driving King Booker back.
-Missed clothesline. Uh-oh. -[JBL] Oh, no.
Get out of there, King.
[Michael] And he did.
A near low blow, but the referee was right there.
So, obviously, King Booker with a kick to the gut.
[JBL] Referee very rarely in good position.
He was that time.
-There he goes. -[Michael] King Booker's
trying to put it away.
-Went for the scissors kick. -[JBL] Going for the home run.
-[Michael] Oh, what a clothesline. -[JBL] Turned him inside out.
That is a car wreck.
One.
[Michael] This is the turning point of the matchup.
-First man to his feet will gain momentum. -Two.
[JBL] First man to his feet? To hell with that.
First man to cover the other one.
Four.
-[JBL] Come on, King. -Five.
[Michael] Referee at a count of five.
If he gets to ten, this match will be a draw.
[JBL] Come on, King.
-Cover him, King. -Seven.
[JBL] Get up, Book. Get up, Book.
You gotta win, Book.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. -[JBL] Oh, no.
[Michael] Kane sat up.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] This isn't good.
[Michael] Big uppercut. The Big Red Machine building momentum.
-[crowd chatter] -[grunting]
[crowd] One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
[Michael] And Kane is not through with ten.
[JBL] What the hell? Do your job, Charles Robinson.
What the hell? You have a ten-count to break?
No. You have a five-count to break.
Would somebody please disqualify Kane?
You're not allowed to get away with that. I don't care who you are.
There are rules. There are standards.
There are things you have to obey in this society.
This guy is a freaking monster.
Somebody take control.
The hell we got a referee for?
What do we have a referee for?
[Michael] Look at this. Kane with King Booker in trouble.
Side slam.
And Kane looking to put the King away.
[JBL] You have rules to stop this.
This is why the King doesn't know where he's at right now.
The King Booker has no idea where he's at. He's helpless.
[Michael] Kane, top rope.
Oh, what a clothesline.
The second time was the charm for Kane.
[JBL] That is a sick, demented monster.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Queen Sharmell up on the apron.
Queen Sharmell with the referee distracted.
[JBL] Hey, get her back.
-Somebody get her back. -[shouts indistinctly]
Kane isn't above going after Sharmell.
[Michael] King Booker with a kick to the face
off the distraction by the Queen.
-Uh-oh. -[JBL] No.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Chokeslam.
[JBL] Find the fat lady.
-He's got it hooked. Oh, come on. -One, two, three.
-[bell ringing] -["Slow Chemical" playing]
[Chimel] Here's your winner, Kane.
[JBL] It makes me sick, Michael.
-It makes me sick. -[Michael] Why?
-Because he won the match? -[JBL] Well, he threatened Sharmell.
He looked at Sharmell.
He scared Sharmell for absolutely no reason.
[Michael] Sharmell sitting down on the apron.
[JBL] And then took advantage of her husband.
[Michael] Sharmell sitting…
[JBL] Where in the hell is there some type of order,
some type of law around here?
[Michael] Bottom line is Queen Sharmell's--
[JBL] If King Booker would've done that,
he would have been penalized. He'd been fined.
How about a little reciprocity around here?
That Kane-- What Kane did was wrong.
You don't scare a beautiful woman like Sharmell for absolutely no reason
just because you are a monster.
That is scary.
You wanna know what scary is?
Look at that monster Kane.
[Michael] No. This was scary,
the Chokeslam by The Big Red Machine with authority.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] This was after he wouldn't break
for over a ten-count in the corner.
Charles Robinson should have some guts, which I know he doesn't.
Look at that. That is a sick human being.
And Teddy Long needs to stop chasing Kristal Lewinsky
around the locker room and do something about things like that.
Something is wrong with Kane.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time.
He is the World Heavyweight Champion,
Batista.
[crowd cheering]
Batista, I wanted to get your thoughts about your Tag Team match
later on tonight.
Kristal, tonight, it's WrestleMania main event versus WrestleMania main event.
SmackDown versus Raw.
And, tonight, SmackDown is gonna beat up on Raw.
But what about The Undertaker?
I mean, how will you guys work together?
I mean, two weeks ago on Raw, he chokeslammed you.
Let's check out the footage.
[Michael] Couple of weeks ago on Monday Night Raw,
the moment of truth, The Undertaker, the winner of the Royal Rumble match,
had the opportunity to choose
which champion he wanted to face at WrestleMania,
WWE Champion Cena,
ECW Champion Lashley, or World Champion Batista.
The Undertaker made his choice perfectly clear.
[JBL] Undertaker gets to headline WrestleMania.
The opponent was the only thing in question.
And the 14-0 win streak of WrestleMania,
undefeated, and he wants to send a message.
The Deadman is coming to WrestleMania.
Are you intimidated by The Undertaker?
No.
I'm not intimidated by anyone, much less John Cena or Shawn Michaels.
-["Rockers" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What do you think of that?
[JBL] You mean the fact he's not intimidated.
-He never said he was. -[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
In the ring, at a combined weight of 369 pounds,
they're the Tag Team Champions, Paul London and Brian Kendrick.
[Michael] London and Kendrick have held those tag team titles since May.
Perhaps, the end of the road maybe tonight for the Tag Team Champions.
["I'm All About Cool" playing]
[Chimel] And the challengers, being accompanied by Cherry
from the other side of the tracks, at a combined weight of 465 pounds,
Deuce 'n Domino.
[Michael] This is a huge opportunity for Deuce 'n Domino here tonight, John.
Deuce 'n Domino had defeated London and Kendrick
on two separate occasions in non-title matchups.
They have been on a major roll since debuting on SmackDown.
[JBL] Deuce 'n Domino have owned the Tag Team Champions.
Deuce 'n Domino came out here in their third match they've had
against Tag Team Champions London and Kendrick,
who have had those championships for the better part of a year
and defeated them in the middle of the ring.
They followed it up by doing it again in the middle of the ring.
They followed it up at Singles Match by defeating them again for a third time.
Deuce 'n Domino, I think it's crazy they come out here
in this '50s gimmick, like The Lords of Flatbush.
Flatbush is a condominium right now.
But these guys, Deuce 'n Domino, are for real.
And so is Cherry.
[Michael] Cherry is Deuce's girlfriend, Domino's sister.
[JBL] It is a foregone conclusion, Michael,
Deuce 'n Domino walk out of here in their first pay-per-view ever,
the Tag Team Champions.
[Michael] You cannot say that, John.
[JBL] I can say whatever the hell I want to say, Michael.
They have owned London and Kendrick up till now.
[Michael] Well, you know the heart, the soul, the resilience
of the WWE Tag Team Champions.
-We've talked about it on occasion. -[JBL] Not saying that London
and Kendrick aren't great.
They have done a fantastic job.
I would never have believed
that they would be anything more than interim champions.
These guys have been champions.
They have held the division together.
They have been the standard bearer of this division.
But they, so far, had been dominated by Deuce 'n Domino.
I don't see any difference tonight, Michael,
-do you? -[Michael] Well, I see--
[JBL] What do you see that's so damn different?
-[Michael] I see one difference. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] This is a major pay-per-view.
It is sold out in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
London and Kendrick have defended those Tag Team titles
on numerous pay-per-views.
This is the first-ever pay-per-view appearance by Deuce 'n Domino.
[JBL] You're losing your voice. I think you've lost your damn mind.
You can put all the trappings around it if you want.
You can put it in a barn.
You can put it in a meadow.
You can put it at the Blue Oyster where you hang out. I don't care.
The fact is Deuce 'n Domino have owned these two guys.
[Michael] You see Paul London there will not be intimidated, John.
Paul London is going to take it right to Deuce 'n Domino
here tonight in this matchup.
[JBL] And the good thing about it,
when Deuce 'n Domino win the Tag Team Championship,
we're gonna see more of Sandy, Cherry, Sheri, whatever her name is,
on stage down there. I like it.
-[Michael] It's Cherry. -[JBL] Holy cow. Oh.
[Michael] London with a slap back to Domino.
WWE Tag Team Titles on the line at No Way Out.
Domino up over the top. Paul London with a leapfrog.
Oh, and he caught Domino in the chin.
Tag made. Here comes Kendrick.
Great double-team by the Tag Team Champions.
[crowd chatter]
[Paul] Good job, Brian.
[JBL] Good thing about Cherry is, she's like room service.
She's like lower end.
[Michael] Brian Kendrick up over the top. Nobody home. Domino-- oh, wow.
Brian Kendrick in control of Domino here in the early going.
And what you're gonna see out of London and Kendrick, John,
is when they get flying around the ring,
They get that high-octane offense going, they're hard to beat.
[JBL] These two guys, when they're flying around,
they're in their element.
They-- London and Kendrick have been phenomenal.
I just don't see a chance right here.
Look at this. He got his head hitting the bottom of the rope.
This is where London and Kendrick are good.
What Deuce 'n Domino need to do is just like the old APA.
You need to find a way, grab one of them by their pretty little hair,
throw them down, and beat them up.
That's how you win championships.
[Michael] Oh, and a drop toehold. Domino in trouble.
Paul London's side headlock.
-WWE Tag Team Titles is on the line. -[JBL] What happened to your voice?
[Michael] I've got a cold. Sorry.
[man] London.
Oh, and look at Paul London.
And Domino from behind.
And Deuce 'n Domino will double-team with the best of them as well.
We've seen that in the two short weeks they've been here on SmackDown.
Here's the cover, knee to the back,
and a kick-out.
[JBL] You know what is phenomenal?
Deuce 'n Domino have been here for just over a month.
[Michael] Here's the hook of the leg and a kick-out.
[JBL] They've dominated the Tag Team Champions
and now they've got the chance to walk out of the Staples Center, Tag Team Champions.
-Look at that. -[overlapping chatter]
-[Michael] Domino-- -[JBL] That's what these guys like.
They punch you in the mouth, you get a little blood,
like Saturday night.
Guys like this, Deuce 'n Domino love to fight.
[Michael] So London and Kendrick really cracked Domino in the mouth.
[JBL] Boy, that's a play on words.
You're just Bill Shakespeare when you wanna be.
Maybe you should lose your voice?
This program would be so much better
if you would just shut up and let me call it.
I think this is a note from a wrestling God other than me…
that I should be calling the entire thing.
[Michael] Knees to the spine of Paul London.
Look at him now.
[Michael] Well, Deuce 'n Domino love to trash talk.
[JBL] Oh, man.
[overlapping chatter]
Loaded like Ted Kennedy.
[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] Deuce 'n Domino, they're just like those bullies from high school.
[JBL] You should know. What's wrong with that?
-[Michael] I'm sure you were one. -[JBL] And?
I was. I locked guys like you in the locker.
[Michael] Sure you did.
[JBL] You have a point?
[Michael] No, I'm just describing how Deuce 'n Domino act in the ring.
They like to bully people along.
[JBL] You said it with contempt.
You got something you wanna tell us about getting wedgies,
getting locked in your locker in high school?
[Michael] Maybe it brought back a few memories.
[JBL] Sure it did.
[Michael] SmackDown fans trying to get the Tag Team Champions
-back into the matchup. -[JBL] So, you got wedgies
-and things like that, right? -[Michael] A few times.
[JBL] You should apologize, you're embarrassing.
[Michael] I could do that all week-- oh, wow.
[Deuce] Cover, cover him.
[Michael] Into the cover.
And Kendrick breaks up the three-count.
-You got it? -I got it.
[JBL] This is what Deuce 'n Domino need to do.
You need to ground these two guys, you need to keep them down
and you need to beat them up until you win a championship.
I know a little something about this.
This is what the APA was so good at.
[Michael] This is how you and Ron Simmons made you a living for years.
Beating people up, smashing them in the mouth.
Oh, London in trouble.
-Oh. -[JBL] Oh.
That's what I like.
That's what I like about these two guys.
Unorthodox as they can possibly be, but effective.
-You piece of trash. -You got nothing.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Paul London driven into that turnbuckle by Deuce.
It may be only a matter of moments before the Tag Team titles change hands
here at No Way Out and your prediction comes true.
[JBL] Of course my prediction comes true.
[JBL] I'm Nostra-dam-damus.
[Michael] Domino went off the tag and this is textbook tag team wrestling.
Deuce 'n Domino isolating Paul London from his corner,
-from his partner Brian Kendrick. -[JBL] Would you look at that?
Nothing pretty. That's what I like.
You keep space close with these guys.
It's the worst thing in the world for London and Kendrick
not to be able to create space.
That's what Deuce 'n Domino need to do.
Don't know where these guys came from.
I have no idea. Don't care.
-But they are a good tag team. -[Brian] Get out of there Jimmy.
[Michael] Double team again by Deuce 'n Domino.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Paul London-- -[JBL] Cover. This could be it.
-New champions. Hook the-- -Oh.
Come on.
[Michael] London kicking out at two.
I thought we're gonna crown new Tag Team Champions right there.
And look at Deuce keeping London away from his partner,
but now, showing London his partner.
It's really rubbing salt in the wound.
[JBL] Hell, yeah, they're rubbing salt in the wound.
This right here, Michael, this is competitive sport.
This is what you do.
You win as much mentally as you do physically.
Come on, Paul.
[JBL] Not sure Kendrick wants to step in there with him.
[Michael] Oh, sure seems like he wants to. He's-- They--
[JBL] It may seem like he wants to, or he won't.
I'm not sure he wants what London is getting.
[Michael] Oh, look at the cheap shot by Deuce.
[JBL] Smart. That's good strategy.
I've said it all night, Michael.
You should be listening to me instead of losing your voice.
To win tag team matchups, you isolate one person.
You don't have to beat both.
You have to beat one. Look at this.
[Michael] Cheap shot by Deuce.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Paul London lands on his feet.
Ducks underneath the chop, trying to make a tag again.
-It was almost there. -He missed. He missed. Look.
[JBL] Almost. Almost doesn't count.
[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] Paul London. Here's Domino.
Nobody home. London rolls out of the way.
Brian Kendrick wants to get into this matchup.
He needs to get in this matchup.
Deuce caught up on the second rope.
Paul London makes a tag and here comes Kendrick.
[JBL] We'll find out if Kendrick wants to be in there.
[Michael] The WWE Tag Team Champions taking it to Deuce 'n Domino now.
[Michael] Brian Kendrick off the dropkick.
-And look at how fired up Kendrick is. -[JBL] Kendrick is fired up.
I'm not sure if these fans in the Staples Center--
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] He got him. He's got him.
-[Michael] He's got him there. -[JBL] He could steal one.
[Michael] He got it. No. Two-and-a-half.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] I'm not sure if these fans here know who Deuce 'n Domino are yet,
but they're gonna know them before long, Michael.
That's what I'm talking about.
That's how you shut down the pretty boys.
That's how you shut down high flyers.
You just knock the living hell out of them.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] But there's the heart, the guts, the soul of the Tag Team Champions, John.
-Kendrick trying to stay-- -[JBL] They got all of that.
I never said that they weren't fun to watch.
I never said they weren't tough.
[Michael] Look at this.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Here we go.
[Michael] Paul London knocked off the apron.
Domino, nobody home.
-Shades of the old two-team. -[JBL] He's got it.
-No. He stole one. -[bell ringing]
[JBL] He stole one.
London and Kendrick stole one.
[Chimel] Here are your winners
and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
Paul London and Brian Kendrick.
[Michael] Are you a believer now?
[JBL] You're damn right, I'm a believer.
["New Rockers" playing]
[JBL] In the words of my former tag team partner, "Damn!"
You can talk about an upset. It's not very often,
The Champion pulls an upset. Look at this.
They're going for something all along Road Warrior,
The Doomsday Device… Cuts off London.
Does what he should do.
He misses. Roll through, one, two, three.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[JBL] And the champions retain.
Hey, hats off to London and Kendrick.
These guys have been through hell and they've come back and through it all,
they have been the standard bearer for the WWE Tag Team Division.
I didn't think these kids had a chance tonight,
but hats off to London and Kendrick.
Impressive.
[Michael] I tell you, what a night it's been here at Los Angeles,
sold-out at the Staples Center for No Way Out.
And it's coming up next, ladies and gentlemen,
ECW Championship on the line.
Lashley takes on Kennedy.
Everybody wants to come to SmackDown. Everybody wants the rub.
We got the very best of ECW, Bobby Lashley against Mr. Kennedy.
We know a lot about Kennedy,
but we know very little about the ECW World Champion, Lashley.
Let's take a look at the champ, Lashley.
[pensive music playing]
I always wanted to be successful at everything.
-Look, what's that? -That's a microphone.
Bobby is my only boy.
[Bobby] My dad was never there.
[Jessica] He was not the typical kid. He had things to do
and they were more on the lines of getting ahead.
[music grows upbeat]
[Bobby] You gotta do something. You gotta set some goals.
You gotta go for something.
[Wes] I wish I could pinpoint a weakness.
[laughs] There's really-- There's really not any.
I was making grown men cry in college.
He's kind of a strong wind.
He loves to get things done.
[Bobby] That's the key to success.
I believe, work harder than everyone else.
He's a guy that needs to be on a poster.
I can't believe I've made it all the way up there.
Less than one percent of the people in the world have a physique like him.
[Bobby] This is where I did my training when I wrestled for the Army.
When I first saw him, I said, somebody call the police
because this is gonna be bad. [chuckles]
[Clara] He was such a small, skinny…
He was real tiny.
He's my baby.
[Jessica] I really had no idea
that this little kid was gonna be so good in so many things.
It was like his little secret.
[Bobby] Having the title, I have to be the one
that people turn on the TV to watch.
Man, you're getting too comfortable with that belt over there.
-[laughter] -[music fades]
[Kristal] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome my guest at this time, Mr. Kennedy.
Tonight you face Bobby Lashley for the ECW World title.
What are your thoughts on Bobby Lashley's recent success?
My thoughts on Bobby Lashley…
are pretty much kind of similar to my thoughts
on everybody here in LA.
Phony… wannabes.
-[crowd booing] -Yup.
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Oh, you hear that?
They're booing. You hear that?
They're booing, because they disagree with me.
But let me ask you this,
how many of you people out there came to LA
to be rich and famous?
And see, you walk the walk, you talk the talk
and you do all of the things that are necessary to achieve that,
but it's gotten you absolutely squat.
Because you had a dream. I…
I had a dream. She had a dream.
And we're standing here
and you're sitting out there…
…watching, uh, paying.
See…
Bobby Lashley, tonight… Bobby Lashley is a phony as well,
because, you know, he thinks he can beat me, but the thing is…
the thing is I've already beaten Bobby Lashley
and I'm gonna beat him again tonight.
It's gonna be really something else when I…
when I'm able to stand in the center of that ring…
[sniffs]
…and declare to the world
that the winner of the match
and new ECW
World Heavyweight Cha--
[crowd cheering]
I got one word for you.
Halitosis.
[crowd cheering]
[pants]
[rock music playing]
[JBL] Well, Mr. Kennedy's breath might stink,
but his career certainly didn't.
What Bobby Lashley fails to realize is Mr. Kennedy has defeated him.
Mr. Kennedy has defeated seven,
that's half dozen plus one
for those keeping score at home, World Champions.
The fastest rising star in SmackDown history
is Mr. Kennedy.
And Bobby Lashley wants to come over here
and think that he can show what he's earned on ECW.
-Don't give a damn about ECW. -[bell ringing]
-[JBL] This is SmackDown. -[Chimel] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Making his way to the ring from Colorado Springs, Colorado,
weighing in at 273 pounds,
he's the ECW World Heavyweight Champion
Bobby Lashley.
[JBL] And this is what I've said all along, Michael.
I just don't understand it, we're saying all this about Bobby Lashley.
Is he a stud? Yes. Did he serve his country? Yes.
The three-time All American.
Been the Kansas Hall Of Fame, same day--
the same day that Barry Sanders did.
Is all that true? Yes.
But the fact that Mr. Kennedy is very simple.
[Michael] Oh, look at this. Look at it, from behind,
Mr. Kennedy attacking Lashley from behind.
[JBL] And Lashley is sick and tired of it too.
Where's Kennedy B-roll?
Where's Kennedy vignette?
Kennedy served our country in the Army.
Why is he not being featured on this?
It's one thing more for Teddy Long keeping the man down.
[Michael] He was interviewed. He was interviewed, Kennedy was.
[JBL] "He's interviewed." We didn't show this great video package
and going back and visiting his mother and visiting his sisters.
You know why? It's because Teddy Long has been trying to keep Kennedy down.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] Why else would he bring
ECW star, Bobby Lashley in here?
[Michael] Because Kennedy asked him to.
Kennedy asked for this matchup
-Friday night on SmackDown. -[JBL] Since SmackDown.
Why does Lashley have this great video?
Why does Mr. Kennedy not?
He's defeated seven World Champions.
I never forget. You talk about No Way Out,
one thing Lashley won't bring up
is that the very first No Way Out he was out, I ended his undefeated streak.
[Michael] Well, Lashley also won the United States Championship
-from you too on the night you were fired. -[bell ringing]
[JBL] I wasn't gonna bring that up.
[Michael] ECW Championship matchup underway,
Lashley and Kennedy.
[JBL] And this is what I like.
This is what I like in wrestling.
This is Darwinism at its best.
Two of the best young men with brightest futures that we have
in the entire WWE, going at it.
[grunting]
[Michael] And there's the power and strength from Lashley,
the ECW Champion.
-And that is what Lashley is-- -[JBL] Look, I'm impressed with him.
Remember, I'm the first one that had Bobby Lashley
for a championship match right here at No Way Out, two years ago.
I am the first one who was in any type of meaningful match
with Bobby Lashley.
I said the same thing about him that I said about John Cena.
This guy is going to be a Superstar.
I've never ever said anything negative about Bobby Lashley in that respect.
-[Michael] It can-- -[JBL] What I'm saying is
where in the hell is the praise and the accolades for Mr. Kennedy?
[Michael] Well, Mr. Kennedy has got a lot of praise and accolades
and he was trying to run away from ECW Champion Bobby Lashley.
[JBL] Wasn't trying to run away from, he's getting a breather.
You got a monster like that, this genetic freak Bobby Lashley.
Wouldn't you take a breather too?
No, you wouldn't know because you wouldn't be in that position.
I have. That's why I'm calling this match.
[Michael] Lashley, the ECW World Champion taking it to Kennedy since--
Kennedy tried to ambush him at the beginning of this match.
[JBL] Kennedy is doing what he does best and that's take advantage.
One thing you don't have
on AAU wrestling rat, is a poke in the eye.
Bobby Lashley is ECW World Champion,
but Kennedy is the fastest rising star on SmackDown.
[Michael] Big back body drop by the champion.
ECW Championship on the line.
Kennedy whipped across the ring and Lashley knocking Kennedy down.
[JBL] And the thing I'm worried about is this, and Teddy Long has done it again.
He's so infatuated with Kristal. He's not running the shop like he should.
What if that-- What if Kennedy wins the ECW title?
Does that mean we lose him to ECW,
or is he gonna stay on our show?
This guy is the future of SmackDown, Mr. Kennedy.
What in the hell would Teddy Long have a chance of this guy,
-Mr. Kennedy, leaving our show? -[crowd booing]
[JBL] I mean, to hell with him. Kudos that Bobby Lashley is here.
He's the best ECW has.
He carries the freaking show over there, but we can't afford to lose Mr. Kennedy.
[Michael] This is the power and strength we talk about from the ECW Champion.
The delayed vertical.
[JBL] He may have him early. It's for the championship.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] I think Bobby Lashley is gonna realize
he's stepping in the ring with greatness that he has Mr. Kennedy.
Bobby Lashley did an impressive thing beating the Big Show,
spearing the Big Show, taking that ECW World title.
He took the United States Championship from a wrestling God, that's me.
But now, he's got a guy who is flatly on a roll, Mr. Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy has defeated seven, Michael, count them,
seven World Champions.
And he's got another one on the ropes.
[JBL] Mr. Kennedy has a date with destiny.
Back it up in there, he's in a corner. Back it up.
[JBL] Today could be that date.
The thing Kennedy has to stay away from, Michael, is Bobby Lashley's strength.
That's the problem.
[Michael] Big clothesline by Lashley.
You're looking at two of the young great Superstars here in the WWE
right here in this matchup.
[JBL] Torture Rack. And when you're that strong…
-[Michael] Oh, rake him in the eyes. -…it is a Torture Rack.
[Michael] Behind the referee's back,
-a rake to the eyes and right to the knee. -[JBL] Look at that.
Look at that. That is smart by Mr. Kennedy.
-Took advantage of Bobby Lashley. -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] That'll knock your bite cuspids out.
Bobby, welcome to SmackDown.
[crowd member] Come on, Kennedy.
[JBL] It's Darwinism, Michael.
Old guys like me come and we go.
What the future-- but look, there he is, a cover.
Kennedy can be--
the future belongs to what is in the ring right now.
You look at WrestleManias in the future,
you look at television shows in the future,
you look at brands in the future,
what you're gonna see is Kennedy and Bobby Lashley.
And he's got him.
Legs don't bend that way.
[Michael] And remember, if Lashley taps out,
the ECW Championship will change hands.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Kennedy may finally have a shot at World Championship
and may finally walk out World Champion.
You know what gets me about Kennedy?
He's defeated seven World Champions.
He's got one world title shot and he almost capitalized on it.
If the referee had been awake,
Kennedy would be the World Champion right now instead of Batista.
[Michael] That was at the Royal Rumble last month.
Lashley with the right hand is trying to get out of this predicament.
[JBL] And how smart is this?
Kennedy's got that pressure on that leg,
and one thing that Bobby Lashley has to his advantage always
is his athleticism, is his strength.
Kennedy, even at his young age in wrestling
has an experience factor over Bobby Lashley.
He's simply more maniacal.
And Bobby Lashley better find a way out of this
or Bobby Lashley is gonna be walking out of here
a bit lighter than he walked in.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Lashley is out of it, but there goes Kennedy.
And this is what Kennedy does best.
He's like a piranha.
He finds the weakness.
He goes after it and doesn't let up.
Look at this.
Pressure on that knee, pressure on that ankle, staying after it.
You see Kennedy in a match and you see him going after anything that is open.
-You take advantage of what they give you. -How about it, Lashley? What do you say?
[JBL] Go in there with an open game plan
and find the weakness of your opponent.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Bobby Lashley better be ready for getting used to fighting
from underneath which I'm not sure he ever did
when he was a three-time All American, but he is today.
Pull him off the ropes.
Come on, out of there. One.
-[JBL] Look at Kennedy. -Two.
-[Michael] On the knee. -[JBL] He knows he got a four-count.
-Hey, hey, hey. -[JBL] He knows he's got a four-count.
He got a four-count to break it. Here we go.
-Could be a new champion. -One, two.
-Two. -[crowd booing]
[Michael] Kennedy wondering what he has to do
to put the ECW Champion Bobby Lashley away.
He's targeting the knee, John, but it hasn't done the job yet.
[JBL] Hasn't done the job yet, Michael.
[chuckles] It's a long way from over.
We started that goal and we're a long way from… Whoa!
[Michael] And when you take the knee out, you take away the power game.
[JBL] Take away the power game and everything Bobby Lashley has.
Bobby Lashley has all of those suplexes. He has all those wrestling moves.
And don't forget, Bobby Lashley, even at this huge size that he is,
he's about the quickest guy in all of WWE.
Forget ECW.
Bobby Lashley, the only guy that can even compete with them
on athletic basis is Shelton Benjamin
and Bobby Lashley has 30 pounds on him.
You take away that quickness from Bobby Lashley,
you take away his game.
You can't coach speed, Michael.
You have a guy that messes up and he covers it by athleticism.
That is what you're taking away from Bobby Lashley.
And Kennedy is doing the right thing.
-Two, three, four. -[JBL] Stay on that leg.
Got the count of four.
[Michael] He used the full five-count almost.
[JBL] Kennedy senses it.
He senses finally his date in the sun.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Look at Lashley. He can't plant the leg.
Can't throw a full right hand.
-[JBL] Leg went out. -[Michael] The leg gave out.
And it allowed Kennedy to take advantage again.
[JBL] And it's back to Kennedy to it.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] Cover.
-Get it, Kennedy. -One, two.
[Michael] Kick-out at two again by Lashley.
Kennedy, perhaps frustration's starting to build now.
[JBL] Frustration starting to build. He's no-- he knows Bobby Lashley.
the guy has the resume of freaking Barbaro.
The guy is not gonna go out in the first part of the match.
You wear the guy down.
You take out his leg. That's what happened to Barbaro.
[Michael] Kennedy…
Pull out of that corner.
Come one, back up from him.
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] This is classic.
This is the way of decimating an opponent.
One, two, three.
[JBL] Get out your notebook and take some notes.
All of you young guys in the back,
anybody out there who wants to be a sports entertainer,
look at this in lesson.
Here we go. New champion.
Two.
[Michael] Watch the viciousness of Kennedy.
Right back to the injured knee.
[JBL] Do you wanna know what it takes to be a champion?
This is what it takes to be a champion.
You walk into an arena that is full of people…
You walk here with the light so bright with gold on the line
and you do what you have to do.
You stay with your game plan, no matter what.
Look at Kennedy.
Took a shot to Bobby Lashley's ribs
just to let him know he's still there.
This is textbook.
Some people call it vicious, Michael, I call it competitive.
And you look at this.
You weakened the leg. You're able to go out to the head.
You're able to go out with your body, and there he is again.
He's got a four-count to break and he knows it.
This is aggressive.
This is Mr. Kennedy in his element.
This is Kennedy at his very damn best.
I love it.
Bobby Lashley may rule the day that he wanted to come to No Way Out.
[crowd booing]
Get off your foot. Two, three.
[Michael] Lashley…
oh, with the right hand, and here comes the champion.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd jeering]
[JBL] Going for the throw.
Going for the throw. Look at that.
Knee him in the thigh, kick him in the thigh.
That's it. Game plan.
You see what I'm talking about?
[Michael] Oh, DDT.
[JBL] Pin him, Kennedy.
Walk out here champion, boy.
He's got him.
-[Michael] For the ECW title. -[JBL] One, two--
-No! -No, sir. Two.
[JBL] You see what I'm talking about? The leg opens up to DDT.
Bobby Lashley now is going for anything.
The leg opens up the head.
The leg opens up the body
because Bobby starts to concentrate on what's hurt
and that leaves Kennedy to pick him apart which Kennedy is doing.
-[crowd booing] -[JBL] And what these fans don't like,
what these fans are booing right now, is the simple fact
that their hero, Bobby Lashley, is getting his ass handed to him.
Kennedy told him,
"There's a reason these people sit in the seats
and they're paying money to see in person like Mr. Kennedy."
Because they're not good enough to be there themselves,
and quite frankly, that pisses them off.
Kennedy is simply that good.
Kennedy may have Bobby Lashley tap out.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd jeering]
[Michael] And Lashley, what a counter.
[JBL] It's a counter, but he still not up.
[JBL] Here he goes.
Mr. Kennedy is feeling it.
[Michael] With that reverse Samoa drop, almost.
[JBL] He's weakened the legs.
He's weakened Bobby Lashley.
Kennedy feels it coming home.
He sees the barn and he's sprinting for it.
The date with destiny could be today, Michael.
New champion coming up.
Here comes the Kenton Bomb.
-[Michael] Oh. -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] What a counter.
[crowd chattering]
-[JBL] I got to give it-- -[Michael] Bobby Lashley capitalized.
[JBL] I got to give it to Lashley on that. Look at this.
This was a home run shot.
Bobby Lashley gave him a throw, he made a counter,
but Bobby Lashley is the worse for wear.
-There is nothing left in Bobby's tank. -[counts]
[JBL] As much as he can dig down,
and we've seen him dig down for months,
nothing against Bobby Lashley, but Mr. Kennedy tonight
has executed a perfect game plan
for an animal like Lashley.
He's taken away that leg.
He's taken away his mobility and he's taken Bobby out of his game plan.
Now stay true to it, Mr. Kennedy, and you walk out of here ECW Champion.
[Michael] Oh, can Lashley get back in it?
[JBL] Here's Lashley's chance.
Here he is, that T-Bone suplex, Hiroshi Hase made that famous.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] But can he? Has he got the power to do it? Bobby didn't.
Bobby's trying to pull one out the hat.
Got the leg hooked.
Kennedy kicked out.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Bobby Lashley better figure out that "Mystery Known" as Mr. Kennedy,
or Bobby Lashley's going back to ECW a little bit lighter than he came.
Here's the Torture Rack
made by a guy who wasn't near the full package, this guy is.
[Michael] Oh. What a backbreaker.
-Lashley with the cover. -[JBL] He might have him.
-He's got him up. -[Michael] Hooks the leg.
-[JBL] Two. Come on, Kennedy. -[Michael] He's got it.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] There you go, boy, dig.
Dig, Kennedy.
[Michael] Almost an unreal comeback from Bobby Lashley.
[JBL] Kennedy's been to boot camp, too.
We got two army vets that are going at it, tooth and nail.
This is what championships are made of, when you get tired, when you get hurt.
Sometimes it's simply the guy who digs down deeper than the other one.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Cover-- -[JBL] Get him, Kennedy, he's got--
he set the leg hooked. One--
-Two. -[JBL] No, come on.
[Michael] Lashley kicked out again.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] We could see a guy-- oh, come on.
[JBL] Come on, referee.
Come on, referee.
-No. -[Michael] Referee Mickie.
Mickie Henson inadvertently knocked down.
[JBL] Not in a match this important.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] He's got the leg.
He's got him.
Mr. Kennedy going.
Where's Mr. Kennedy going?
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Kennedy.
Don't get disqualified, Kennedy.
Come on. Use your head, boy.
Kennedy, no.
-Referee's back turned… Oh, he's doing it. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Referee never saw it. -[JBL] Now get rid of the chair, Kennedy.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Lashley's gonna… Lashley's got the steel chair.
[crowd chatter]
[man] Do it, Lashley.
-[JBL] Stop him. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Referee Mickie Henson… -[bell ringing]
…calling for the bell.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Lashley got disqualified.
Where's Lashley going?
This hothead. Look, this was a fair fight, what the hell is Lashley doing?
[crowd exclaiming]
[JBL] Why is Lashley doing that? The title can't change hands on a DQ.
That's why Bobby Lashley hit him with the chair.
Bobby Lashley did this on purpose.
-[Michael] I don't think so. -[JBL] I do.
I watched the damn thing right in front of me.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Why is Lashley doing this?
The hell is he trying to prove? You had a fair fight.
Kennedy's handed his butt to him and Lashley now goes nuts.
[overlapping chatter]
[JBL] There's intensity and then there's just crazy.
What the hell is Lashley trying to prove?
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Why would he do this to Kennedy?
Somebody, for God's sake, stop the man.
[overlapping chatter]
[JBL] Mr. Kennedy was about to walk outta here
the ECW Champion, and Bobby Lashley snaps.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] I don't get it.
I don't get it.
And these people applaud?
Why?
Because Mr. Kennedy didn't walk out ECW Champion?
Look at that.
Boy, I hope you're proud of yourself, Bobby.
That's not how we do things on SmackDown.
Now take your balled-up self and go back to ECW.
["Reality" playing]
[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE Superstar,
The Miz.
[music fades]
[crowd chatter]
Mizfits, I want you to forget about all those competition shows
like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance,
Dancing with the Stars, and Nashville Stars,
because tonight is the first-ever WWE Diva Talent Invitational.
Hoorah.
[crowd] Hoorah!
Divas from SmackDown, ECW, and Raw are going to be competing
to show off their talents
and impress the WWE fans.
The Diva with the biggest crowd reaction will be the winner.
So, let's get this started
with ECW's Extreme Exposé.
-[crowd cheering] -["31 Flavors" playing]
♪ We got 31 flavors ♪
♪ Give 'em what we got ♪
♪ Meanstreak is hot Serving ice cream on your block ♪
♪ Give 'em three scoops With a cherry on the top ♪
♪ Mike's the new flav ♪
♪ He's the **** knock, knock ♪
♪ We got 31 flavors ♪
♪ Sell 'em what we got ♪
♪ The streak's on the rise And we aimin' for the top ♪
♪ Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lime ♪
♪ Give 'em brainfreeze Make ya numb, freeze ya mind ♪
♪ We make 'em freeze Like a cherry slushy ♪
♪ We make 'em smile like a new puppy ♪
♪ I'm like diamonds Yeah, they wanna touch me ♪
♪ It's my flow and my cash That's why they love me ♪
♪ Yeah, the team thick, baby Tough like rugby ♪
♪ Meanstreak to the death Yeah, they ride for me ♪
♪ Mike G, good look I got your back homie ♪
♪ Three scoops of some chocolate With some almonds on it ♪
♪ Mike switch up the beat now I'm back on it ♪
♪ Got this girl hot Drippin' like bomb pops ♪
♪ I'm on her neck Lickin' slow **** nonstop ♪
♪ Hit the *** Now we floatin' like root beer ♪
♪ Banana splits Whip cream, cherries everywhere ♪
♪ Thirty-one flavors, baby Yeah, we got it here ♪
♪ If you want it Gotta pay for it, baby dear ♪
♪ This ice cream's expensive This is Mike's year ♪
♪ We got 31 flavors ♪
♪ Give 'em what we got ♪
♪ Meanstreak is hot Serving ice cream on your block ♪
♪ Give 'em three scoops With a cherry on the top ♪
♪ Mike's the new flav He's the **** knock, knock ♪
♪ We got 31 flavors ♪
♪ Sell 'em what we got ♪
♪ The streak's on the rise And we aimin' for the top ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Miz] Extreme Exposé.
[crowd cheering]
And the next Diva in the invitational is from SmackDown.
["Sliced Bread" playing]
Jillian!
[JBL] Starting to like ECW, Michael.
Bobby Lashley may be the biggest thing on ECW, and he deserves to be.
He's the champion, but these three ladies… Wow, are they hot!
[Michael] What about your former image consultant?
[JBL] Smoking, just smoking.
Hopefully, not a lot of smoke, but just, you know, smoke-- smoking.
Hopefully, she's not gonna sing, but she's got a lot of talent.
What do you think I kept her around so long?
Look at her. She's like Britney Spears with hair.
Oh, my God. This is my big break.
I am about to wow everybody here in the audience
and all of the Hollywood music executives that came just to see me.
[crowd chatter]
You know, the Grammys were right here just one week ago in Los Angeles.
And the big winners were, uh,
Mary J. Blige and, um, Dixie Chicks.
But, seriously… [chuckles]
…that was only because I wasn't signed to my record deal yet.
But that's all about to change,
because tonight, I have written my own song.
-And-- -[crowd booing]
Come on. And I'm gonna perform it live.
It's a Jillian original
for all of you. Okay?
But first…
First, I have to warm up just a little bit, okay?
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Oh.
[off-key]
[crowd chatter]
[off-key]
[vocalizing]
[crowd chatter]
If we could just get the treble up just a little bit, please?
[vocalizing]
Maybe a little more bass this time, okay?
Just a little more bass.
[vocalizing]
[JBL] I'd rather have a root canal.
I think I'm ready, okay?
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] "Oh, my," as you would say.
[off-pitch] ♪ You know you want me ♪
♪ You can't take your eyes away from me ♪
[crowd chatter]
♪ All the boys, they wanna get with me ♪
-[Miz] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa… -[Jillian] ♪ I'm the hottest-- ♪
Jillian, Jillian.
You're like the chick version of William Hung.
-Are you freaking kidding me? -[JBL] Why?
You have absolutely no idea what talent is,
and none of you do, either.
You think--
You think that this is not a talent,
and you think that the Extreme Exposé is talent?
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Yeah.
They couldn’t even be my backup dancers!
[crowd booing]
I have more talent than Brooke,
Layla and Kelly Kelly all together.
In fact, I have more talent
than all of the Divas in this contest tonight.
What? What, Candice is gonna come out?
Candice is gonna do her little "Go Daddy" dance?
Seriously, it's not like we haven't seen that one before.
And Maria? Maria's gonna come out, little Ms. "Kiss Cam",
and she's gonna have two girls kiss.
Nobody wants to see that. Okay?
[crowd cheering]
And-- And Ariel? Oh, my gosh!
I don't even have anything to say about that freak, okay?
So, as far as I'm concerned,
all of those girls are just…
talentless bitches!
[crowd booing]
[JBL] She took my firing a little tough.
[crowd cheering]
-[JBL] Uh-oh. -Oh, what are you gonna do?
-Here they come now. -[JBL] Here comes Go Daddy.
What are you gonna do? [chuckles]
Gonna show us your "talent", huh?
Come on, show us your "talent".
'Cause you don't have any talent.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] We got us a talented cat fight, Michael.
We got Go Daddy, Britney Spears with hair.
We got the ECW Extreme dancers.
This is what I call a talent contest.
I like it.
This is fun.
I never liked The Miz before, but if he brought all this, I love it.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] I guess Charles Robinson is in the talent contest.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Think they're taking this a little, uh, too extreme, pardon the pun.
[crowd chanting] Let them fight!
[JBL] I'm liking this.
Quit breaking them up, Charles. You're a Diva like them.
They got more testosterone than Charles and Chris combined.
["Light a Fire" playing]
[Miz] Ladies and gentlemen, the Playboy cover girl, Ashley.
[explosion]
♪ You better hold on tight ♪
[JBL] Wow.
♪ 'Cause I'm gonna love you nice ♪
♪ I'm gonna do it right ♪
♪ Let me light a fire in you tonight ♪
[JBL] March 12th, Playboy comes out with our Ashley on the cover.
Now that is talent, Michael.
I can't wait.
♪ My eyes have never seen Someone who looks like you ♪
[JBL] Uh-oh.
Oh, my gosh!
♪ Of my hand loving you ♪
[JBL] Oh, my gosh.
♪ Because I know I do ♪
♪ Every day and every night ♪
♪ And I know I'll lose control ♪
[JBL] Those little bunnies never looked so good.
[Miz] And the winner
of the first ever WWE Diva Talent Invitational,
the Playboy cover girl, Ashley.
[JBL] Now that's talent. Those cute little ears never looked so good.
Oh, my God.
Oh. I’ve always wanted a pet bunny.
I can't wait for Easter.
♪ Let's fan the flames up high ♪
♪ Let's burn it to the ground ♪
[Michael] We are in Hollywood, the sold-out Staples Center,
Seventeen thousand, one hundred thirty-four fans jam-packed
for the finals pay-per-view stop on the Road to WrestleMania.
And, John, up next, the biggest main event in SmackDown Tag Team history.
[JBL] WrestleMania opponents are now partners tonight, Michael.
The Road to WrestleMania is gonna be like Daytona today.
There's gonna be a car crash before the finish line.
[Michael] And it all started at the Royal Rumble match last month.
[dramatic music playing]
[Michael] We are down to two men.
[Jerry] Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker,
one of these men are going to WrestleMania.
[dramatic music continues]
-[Jerry] Oh, whoa. -[Michael] Undertaker…
-[JBL] Whoa. -…has eliminated Shawn Michaels.
Undertaker is going to WrestleMania.
[dramatic music continues]
[Ross] For the first time in his illustrious career,
The Undertaker has won the Royal Rumble match.
[JBL] Don't know which title he goes after, but we know this.
He headlines it, and he's never lost in WrestleMania.
[explosions]
[Michael] Who will The Undertaker face in WrestleMania?
Will it be John Cena, the WWE Champion,
or will it be ECW's Champion, Bobby Lashley?
Or will it be the World Champion Batista?
[tense music playing]
[Ross] I think he just signified that it will be Batista.
And I could not help but to notice
that leaves the WWE Champion John Cena without an opponent for WrestleMania.
[Ross] This is a Triple Threat match to determine the number one contender
for the WWE title.
Those three men, Michaels, Orton and Edge,
to determine who will face John Cena for the WWE title at WrestleMania 23.
-Oh. The kick. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Ross] The Superkick.
Shawn Michaels has done it.
Shawn Michaels is going to WrestleMania.
[tense music continues]
I'm gonna give you a match you've never dreamed of seeing,
'cause you, John Cena,
you're gonna be teaming up with Shawn Michaels
in a Tag Team match against Batista and The Undertaker.
[JBL] Four World Champions, two current World Champions,
Tag Team Champions, all coming to No Way Out,
biggest tag team matchup in history.
[Jerry] This is chaotic. They're all against each other.
[Ross] All hell is breaking loose.
[upbeat music playing]
[Ross] For these four men, there will be No Way Out
on their Road to WrestleMania 23.
[music fades]
♪ Are you ready? ♪
["Break It Down" playing]
♪ 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]
♪ Degenerate into something, fool ♪
♪ We just got tired of doin'… ♪
[JBL] What an ovation for The Showstopper, the main event.
One of the most electric,
one of the most charismatic champion I ever witnessed
up in here over a decade, Michael.
I have seen Shawn Michaels live
in that great Iron Man match with Bret Hart
up until now when The Showstopper believes he has one more title running in.
-And frankly, Michael, I do, too. -[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
In the ring from San Antonio, Texas,
is one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[explosions]
♪ D-Generation X ♪
[JBL] And Shawn Michaels, quite frankly, he's got a very capable tag team partner.
He's one of the Tag Team Champions with John Cena, but he wants Triple H.
[Michael] John Cena, the WWE Champion,
Shawn Michaels, a partner tonight, opponent at WrestleMania.
At WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels will headline the event for a fifth time.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Krrr, Amadou! ♪
[Chimel] And his partner from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 248 pounds
is one half of the World Tag Team Champions
and the WWE Champion,
John Cena.
[JBL] Nobody, Michael, nobody gets the crowd on their feet,
there is not a person sitting in this arena, like John Cena does.
Whether you like him or you not, you can't ignore him.
It was this arena, Michael, in WrestleMania 21,
where he first won that World Championship from me
and since then, he has been the guy.
His movie, his album, he believes he is the guy on Raw,
and it's Shawn Michaels who should pass the torch.
Shawn Michaels says he's still the guy.
We will find out at WrestleMania.
What we're gonna find out right now
is if these two ego maniacs can get along.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Talk about high octane.
["I Walk Alone" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Yeah! ♪
[Michael] The Animal is fired up tonight.
[JBL] Remember, Michael, it was this building as well in WrestleMania 21,
that Batista first became a World Champion as well.
[explosions]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Making his way to the ring from Washington, D.C.,
weighing in at 290 pounds,
is the World Heavyweight Champion,
Batista.
[JBL] And while Batista may have the skills to matchup
with The Undertaker at WrestleMania,
and he does,
there is no more fordable-- formidable challenger at WrestleMania.
Can you believe it?
If you're the champion, you're finally on the top of the hill.
You're on Everest,
and the guy looking up at you is undefeated.
The Phenom is going to WrestleMania
to see if he can keep his undefeated streak alive.
And if he does, The Undertaker ends the reign of The Animal.
♪ The weight of the world Is falling on my shoulders ♪
[song ends]
[JBL] Batista is survey-- surveying his competition.
He better worry about the fact
whether he can get along with The Undertaker.
You can feel the tension, Michael.
You can cut it with a knife.
[crowd chatter]
["Rest in Peace" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] And from Death Valley, weighing in at 305 pounds,
The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[explosion]
["Rest in Peace" playing]
[JBL] Look at this, Michael, you have three World Champions,
two current World Champions all standing in awe,
all standing in respect to the legacy that The Undertaker brings to the ring.
You wait all your life, Michael.
Everything you have, everything in your soul,
everything in your heart, you want to headline WrestleMania.
Everything I have to this day, all the money I've made,
I would give it up to do it one more damn time.
And these two teams have to compete as teams
with partners that are their opponents at the biggest dance of them all.
["Rest in Peace" continues playing]
[music ends]
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] You gotta wonder, Michael, the question on everybody's mind…
-[bell ringing] -…sitting in this arena,
looking worldwide on pay-per-view,
are all these opponents at WrestleMania
that are teammates respectively,
are they going to double-cross each other?
I think the question may be, when will they double-cross each other?
[Michael] WWE Champion John Cena
locking up with the World Champion Batista,
this is the main event of No Way Out
in front of 17,000 plus at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
And remember, what happened, uh, in what has been a wild week here
both on Raw and SmackDown, John.
Remember back on Raw Thursday night,
Batista delivered a Batista Bomb to John Cena.
On SmackDown Friday night, John Cena delivered an FU to Batista.
[JBL] Michael, this is the Road to WrestleMania.
It starts at the Royal Rumble,
but the Road to WrestleMania this year is about to have a car crash.
[Michael] John Cena, the WWE Champion, with a big right hand to Batista.
These two men, they came up
in the sports entertainment business together.
They've become huge Superstars on their respective brands.
[JBL] And they won championships on the same day at WrestleMania 21
in this very building, Michael.
[Michael] Oh, Batista.
[JBL] Batista wanting to be the guy-- He said weeks ago, months ago,
he wanted to be the main event in WrestleMania.
Well, now he has the opportunity.
[Michael] And there's the strength of the champion,
driving Cena to the mat. Here's the cover,
And a kick-out at two.
[JBL] But more importantly than that, Michael,
you've got legacies at stake, you got history at stake.
People are gonna talk about this matchup for years to come,
and the winner of this, Michael-- You talk about bragging rights.
It's not just Raw versus SmackDown,
it's champions versus champions.
[Michael] Shoulder first into the steel post goes Batista.
Remember, Mr. McMahon said this is the first time we've ever seen this match.
This match will probably never ever happen again.
Cena backing Batista in the corner, the big right hands by the WWE Champion.
[JBL] Cena's firing up.
He's been everything you want in a champion and more.
[Michael] Let's not forget, John,
that Shawn Michaels and John Cena are the current World Tag Team Champions.
[JBL] But first WrestleMania I was at
was when Shawn Michaels rappelled out of that ceiling.
I thought, I've never seen anything like that in my life.
The Heartbreak Kid since then…
-[Michael] Oh! -…has never been better.
[Michael] And a kick by Batista to the ribs.
The Animal looks to be in a zone here tonight,
the World Champion.
[JBL] The thing about it is, Michael, no matter who you tag in…
[Michael] Oh, what a clothesline!
Here's the cover by Batista.
Hooks the leg… kick-out at two.
[JBL] WrestleMania, Michael, Batista may be one of the few guys ever
that can match power with The Undertaker.
-And here he comes! -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Listen to this crowd.
Watch Batista's clothesline.
[Michael] Physicality of Batista, and here's The Undertaker.
[JBL] These guys wanna send a message.
They wanna send a message to the other team,
they wanna send a message to their own partner.
[Michael] Well, they've been sending messages to each other all week.
Thursday night on Raw,
it was The Undertaker delivering the chokeslam to Shawn Michaels.
Friday night on SmackDown, Shawn Michaels, the Sweet Chin Music to The Undertaker.
[JBL] Michael, I never believe I've witnessed a moment in person
like I witnessed at the Royal Rumble.
It was history happening directly in front of me.
It was something you're gonna tell your kids about.
The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels… And here they are again.
-And it's Undertaker! -[Michael] Old School.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Undertaker, 14-0 at WrestleMania.
[JBL] And look at this matchup.
Remember the Hell in a Cell they were in?
Remember these guys beating the hell out of each other?
Just like they're doing right now.
That was ten years ago, and they're still doing it.
And not only that, Michael,
The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, still the best in the business.
[Michael] The main event in WrestleMania, both of them, John.
[JBL] What a record.
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] This is history.
Two legends going at it,
not when they're past their prime,
but right when they're at the pinnacle of it.
[Michael] There's the strength of The Undertaker tossing Shawn Michaels off,
but The Heartbreak Kid right back on the attack.
[JBL] Shawn Michaels, one of the most tenacious individuals ever.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Boot to the skull by The Undertaker.
[JBL] And he's got it, this could be quick.
[Michael] A kick-out by Shawn at two.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Feeling each other out, Michael.
We got four World Champions, two current World Champions,
the Tag Team World Champions,
all in the ring, all on the apron at the same time.
[Michael] Batista earlier tonight says
he was not intimidated by Michaels and Cena.
He's not been intimidated thus far in this matchup.
[JBL] I don't think he's intimidated by The Undertaker either.
[Michael] Batista with a scoop slam.
Missed with the elbow, Michaels rolls out of the way,
looks to make a tag, and he does.
And here comes Cena.
[crowd cheering, jeering]
[JBL] Cena raises a reaction.
Love him or hate him, everybody has an opinion on John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] And look at this matchup.
Something we haven't seen very many times,
the Deadman versus John Cena.
How great is this matchup tonight?
[Michael] Oh, the big knee!
That's 300 pounds, like a freight train.
[JBL] And Undertaker to have him.
[Michael] Shoot the half, here's the cover…
kick-out by Cena.
[JBL] Undertaker's feeling it.
He's in his groove.
[Michael] John Cena-- Look like Undertaker was going for Old School again.
And Cena with the right hands.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] I knew when I faced John Cena--
I knew when I tried to get the championship belt in an I Quit match,
that John Cena would one day carry this company.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Dangerous territory, and Cena paid for it.
But John Cena right back on the attack.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Long way down.
[Michael] What a superplex!
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Took as much out of Cena as it did Undertaker.
It's a long way down carrying a lot of people,
both men down.
This is what I like, Michael.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Undertaker sat up.
[JBL] I like that a lot.
[Michael] John Cena back on the attack.
You gotta like Cena taking the offense to The Undertaker.
[JBL] I like Cena, period.
The guy's everything in a champion you want him to be,
but so is Undertaker, and he's never, ever been better.
[Michael] Here comes Shawn Michaels off the tag.
Cena and Michaels working well as a team here.
[JBL] Michaels said that he had--
you have his word that he's gonna back up John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Kip up by Michaels.
Shades of the Royal Rumble match.
-Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Shawn Michaels right to the knee,
Undertaker with a chokeslam in mind.
Look at that.
[JBL] Look at the power of The Undertaker.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Oh, my God, where is he gonna go?
[Michael] There's never been anybody like The Undertaker.
[JBL] There's never been anybody close to The Undertaker, Michael,
up into the ring with all of them I know.
The Undertaker is just a different cut.
[Michael] And Batista, with a--
Dropping Shawn Michaels headfirst on the steel steps.
[JBL] Both teams are working well together.
The question is, how long will they?
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] And if they do, this place is still gonna explode.
[Michael] What a right by The Undertaker.
[JBL] Not sure Michaels knows where he is.
[crowd chattering]
-[JBL] The Undertaker got the cover. -[Michael] There's the cover.
John Cena breaks up the possible three-count.
[JBL] And look how this crowd is just watching, Michael.
People are on their feet, people's eyeballs are glued.
They're not sure who to cheer for.
They like The Undertaker, they like Shawn Michaels.
People are watching one hell of a competition right now.
[Michael] Batista--
How aggressive is the champ tonight.
Hooking the leg, shoulders down--
-kick-out. -Come on, HBK.
-[JBL] He said he wasn't intimidated. -[John] Come on.
[JBL] I'm not sure that boot in the face didn't-- wasn't here
to send a message to The Undertaker.
[Michael] Listen to that, kick to the jaw.
[John] Get out of the corner!
Three. Tag.
[Michael] And here comes The Undertaker, Batista's WrestleMania opponent.
And, yeah, they're working very well as a team.
[JBL] How would you like that, Michael?
You're stuck in a corner, you got Batista beating on you,
and somebody tags out, and here comes The Undertaker.
It's a no-win situation.
[John] Come on.
[JBL] It's the beauty of this matchup.
[Michael] John at WrestleMania, how in the world
is Batista gonna combat The Undertaker? How do you do it?
-You've been in the ring with the man. -[JBL] I've been in the ring
with Undertaker, I've been in the ring with Batista.
Look, if anybody can do it, it is Batista.
The main thing Batista better not do…
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Oh!
Undertaker caught up on the top rope.
[John] Come on!
[JBL] The one thing Batista better not do and that is upset The Undertaker,
the guy takes it to a different level.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Undertaker trying to make it back to his feet.
Shawn Michaels trying to make it to his partner John Cena.
Come on.
Come on, Shawn. Come on, Shawn.
[JBL] We're seeing matchups, Michael, that are absolutely dream matchups.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Shawn Michaels "The Heartbreak Kid".
[JBL] It never happened before and not likely would-- never will happen again.
It is history in the making.
It's like the old days of WCW, WWE.
You never thought you'd see champions matchup and fight.
What we're seeing tonight, Michael,
the main event at WrestleMania getting after it.
-[Michael] Here's the cover. -[JBL] There's the cover.
[Michael] Shoulders down-- They have a kick-out.
[Charles] Get him over there, come on.
[Michael] And Batista tags in again.
Hey, he tagged you out.
[JBL] So far, Undertaker and Batista functioning a lot better as a team
than Shawn Michaels and John Cena.
[Michael] Batista clothesline after clothesline to The Heartbreak Kid.
And there's a third.
-Cover. -[JBL] Cover, he's got it.
[Michael] He's got the legs, shoulders down--
-Shawn Michaels kicks out again. -[John] Come on, you gotta fight.
You gotta fight. Come on.
-[crowd chattering] -[John] Come on.
[JBL] That's smart.
If you got Shawn Michaels down, you wear him out.
Last thing you want is a fresh John Cena coming in this.
Come on!
[JBL] We are watching, Michael, the very best of SmackDown
and the very best of Raw.
You've got four World Champions going at it.
Kudos to Teddy Long.
Though I despise him for putting this match together,
rather Vince McMahon, because Teddy Long couldn't do it.
[John] Come on, hurry up.
[JBL] I give Shawn Michaels credit.
I have seen him do this year after year, match after match.
He's back to his feet, he always comes back for more.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] DDT.
Hit him with a DDT on Batista, what a counter.
I have no idea where Shawn Michaels pulls a DDT out of his hat,
but he did it nonetheless.
That's The Heartbreak Kid, he is The Showstopper.
You can never count The Heartbreak Kid down.
And he makes his tag to Cena,
we're gonna see this place implode.
Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Cena's feeling it.
Cena's on fire.
Watch him.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Wow.
He's got him. He's got the hook.
That'd have been victory for certain.
The Undertaker making the save.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I told you, last thing that Taker and Batista wanted in
was a fresh Cena.
Well, that's what he's got.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I hate it when he does this, but if Cena is feeling it.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Look at this crowd, Michael.
They're on their feet.
[crowd cheering and booing]
You can't see me.
[JBL] Here we go, Five Knuckle Shuffle.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] FU.
He's going for the FU, it's a--
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] That would have been it.
[woman screams]
[JBL] I have a feeling, Michael, we're breaking down.
Last thing you want is to be in The Undertaker's arms.
It's not like flying into mommy, it's a dangerous place to be.
-[crowd cheering] -[speaks indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Here we go, Batista Bomb.
If he hits it, it's all over.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] What a miraculous save by Shawn Michaels.
Batista hits that, that's the ballgame.
[crowd] Cena! Cena! Cena!
Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena!
[JBL] And now the tide's turned.
Shawn Michaels is tenacious, Shawn Michaels is resilient,
but when Shawn Michaels gets on top, he's just good a finisher as there is.
Enough now. Two.
[JBL] Shawn Michaels isn't a multi-time World Champion,
a multi-time main eventer at WrestleMania
because he doesn't know how to beat someone up.
Batista is in a world of trouble.
It's all fair in love and war.
I don't think there's any love here, but we're damn sure seeing a war.
Stomp on the face.
Get in!
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Cena and HBK, working together,
could be the beginning of the end, cover, one, two--
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] But Batista is getting more down, that's the point.
Cena has got him, Cena is on top.
I've been on the receiving end of Cena's offense,
it's not the place you wanna be,
and believe me, it's not the place Batista wants to be.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Wow, that'll take your head off!
That's it, one, two--
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] What a knockdown, drag-out fight, look at this.
-Look at this. -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] That's not a Clothesline from Hell,
but it damn sure is close.
This is what I like, Michael,
four World Champions are fighting for pride.
They're fighting to send a statement to the other team,
to everybody watching worldwide, and most importantly, to their partners.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Batista has no idea what hit him.
Shawn Michaels got the cover, he's got the win.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Yeah, talk about a great matchup. These guys are going at it.
Both guys, both teams wore down.
This is what I like, Michael.
This is what we knew would happen. Who's gonna win?
It's gonna be up to the team to hit a home run,
plain and simple.
Shawn Michaels got a front facelock,
he's simply trying to wear him down, smart.
They've beaten Batista up, they wore Batista down,
now you're simply gonna lay on him.
You're gonna put-- cut off his oxygen.
You're gonna make Batista work from underneath,
something Batista is not used to doing.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] And here we go again, and Batista gets to The Undertaker.
Here comes a fresh John Cena.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] And listen how this crowd responds.
Everybody in this arena has an opinion of John Cena,
good, bad, indifferent, you can't deny him.
Batista's bleeding.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Batista's busted open.
And…
Is that left eye of Batista?
That eye-- that blood gets into your eyes,
it's the worst place in the world to get a cut.
Cena doing the exact same thing Shawn Michaels was doing,
what a team that they are working out.
Front facelock.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] But Batista is in the wrong corner.
He's trying to tag the wrong guy.
Has no idea where he's at.
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] It's like I've said all night, Michael. Look at this.
He's right in the middle of the ring!
It's all over.
Find the fat lady and make her sing.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[JBL] Did he tap?
It's the STFU, and Cena has got it cinched in in the middle of the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] We may see a tap out here in No Way Out!
It's something I don't think anybody would suspect.
Batista's bleeding, Batista's tired, Batista is beat up,
and Batista, most importantly, is stuck in a hold he can't get out of.
That'll break it up.
You stay here.
[JBL] Undertaker not taking a chance.
We wondered if these two teams will work together, and so far they have.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] And worked together quite well.
Shawn Michaels. He's known as a high flyer,
and when he does it, he's the best of them all.
Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Ballgame! He's feeling it.
Shawn Michaels first won a title in Anaheim just a few miles from here,
to a second to The Undertaker, the audacity,
the temerity of Shawn Michaels.
-And he hits to strike up the band. -[crowd counting]
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I will be damned. What a matchup!
Strike up the damn band anyway.
We're about to explode here at the Staples Center.
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] Here we go.
A fresh Undertaker which is not what you want.
And he's working 'em both over.
The Deadman is feeling it.
[JBL] Snake Eyes.
You better get out of the way, Shawn.
Hello, welcome to Mr. Boot.
[crowd chattering]
[JBL] The duck. Here he comes.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] If Shawn Michaels and Cena wanna find a way to get out of here,
they better find a way to stop Undertaker because right now,
he's wanna kick more ass than a donkey farm.
Undertaker, pure on fire.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Spinebuster.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I think we have our answer.
[JBL] Cena going for the ride.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I'll be damned. What the hell?
What the hell?
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] What in the hell?
Batista said payback is a bitch.
It damn sure is.
But why here? Why now?
Why would he do that?
Batista's in there watching his own partner.
He is watching the damage that he just caused.
He's left The Undertaker,
the two World Champions by himself and down.
The hell is wrong with you, Batista?
Damn it, man!
Batista said payback is a bitch.
Well, I guess the hell it is.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Undertaker is defenseless.
[JBL] He's defenseless.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Cena FU.
-[crowd counting up] -[bell rings]
♪ Your time is up My time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me… ♪
[Chimel] Here are your winners, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels
and the WWE Champion,
John Cena!
[JBL] Batista is one competitive son of a bitch.
And quite frankly, I like it.
The Undertaker takes a shot at Batista,
Batista says, "The hell with you."
"WrestleMania is mine, 14-0, bring it."
That championship belt is all that it is, Michael,
you live your life to have that,
you live your life to have like, WrestleMania,
when the lights are on bright, and the dance is for real.
And look at this, look at this.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Wow.
["I Walk Alone" playing]
♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger ♪
♪ A place where no one follows me ♪
♪ I walk alone ♪
[JBL] He told Undertaker, "Someday, somewhere, payback is a bitch."
He waited for his opportunity,
and he did it right here in the middle of Los Angeles
in front of a sold-out crowd.
I told you, the Road to WrestleMania was about to have a car crash.
Batista has sent a message, has sent word to The Undertaker.
I said you shouldn't piss him off.
That is exactly what Batista did.
In Batista's mind, "14-0, bring it."
Look at this.
♪ And I said ♪
♪ I walk for miles Inside this pit of danger ♪
[JBL] It's the championship, against the undefeated streak,
The Deadman, The Phenom.
Get ready, Detroit. Get ready, WrestleMania.
Because all hell is gonna break lose.
Batista, Taker, WrestleMania.
[Batista yelling]
[music fades] ng]