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00:00:00Sir, we promised you a great main event here.
00:00:02Oh my God!
00:00:03Andre!
00:00:04The Child!
00:00:05WrestleMania!
00:00:06Hulkamania is running wild!
00:00:07Oh my God!
00:00:08Run!
00:00:09He missed the bell!
00:00:10Oh my God!
00:00:11Oh no!
00:00:12It's not over!
00:00:13The world is watching!
00:00:22For 20 years, the road to WrestleMania has begun here.
00:00:29Men have entered with a dream.
00:00:31Shawn Michaels is going to WrestleMania!
00:00:35Left with a legacy.
00:00:37Stone Cold!
00:00:38Stone Cold is going to WrestleMania!
00:00:41And taken their passion.
00:00:43It's over!
00:00:44The Game!
00:00:45The Game!
00:00:46To the grandest stage of all.
00:00:49The road to WrestleMania has begun here at the Royal Rumble.
00:00:54Tonight, who will seize the dream?
00:00:58One of these men is going to WrestleMania.
00:01:01No bigger opportunity than the main event of WrestleMania.
00:01:04This is your chance to dance with the lights over us.
00:01:07Royal Rumble.
00:01:08The most star-studded Royal Rumble ever.
00:01:10We're on the road to WrestleMania.
00:01:11It's every man for himself.
00:01:13Deep inside these burning buildings, voices dying to be heard.
00:01:18There are no alliances.
00:01:19There are no friendships.
00:01:2030 men on the top rope.
00:01:22What a man that's gonna be.
00:01:25It is my destiny to go to the Royal Rumble
00:01:28and become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
00:01:31Look at the look in the eyes of The Animal.
00:01:33There'll be no escaping for Kennedy at the Royal Rumble.
00:01:38I am the Impact Player.
00:01:41I'm leaving the ECW World Champion.
00:01:46Umaga versus John Cena.
00:01:48Last man standing.
00:01:50I've never backed down from a fight in my life.
00:01:53And I'll be damned if I start tonight.
00:01:58My God, don't do this.
00:02:00Umaga at the top.
00:02:10Oh, God.
00:02:12Umaga on a helpless, defenseless John Cena.
00:02:17There is no way you're walking out of the Royal Rumble WWE Champion.
00:02:24Umaga.
00:02:35The road to WrestleMania begins tonight.
00:02:40And now, RAW, SmackDown, and ECW present
00:02:45the 20th Annual WWE Royal Rumble.
00:02:54Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,
00:02:56to the 20th Annual Royal Rumble.
00:02:59To our global audience,
00:03:01tonight, highlighted by three championships at stake.
00:03:05Plus, the most star-studded Royal Rumble match in history.
00:03:11I'm Jim Rollins.
00:03:13And I'm John Cena.
00:03:15And I'm Umaga.
00:03:17Welcome to the 20th Annual Royal Rumble.
00:03:20The most star-studded Royal Rumble match in history.
00:03:23I'm Jim Ross.
00:03:24Alongside Jerry The King over here ringside.
00:03:26And we'll be handling the Raw Action King.
00:03:29Oh, you're right.
00:03:30What an atmosphere this is tonight.
00:03:32I want to know who's going to be the last man standing
00:03:34and who's going to seize their dream.
00:03:36And now, let's throw you over to our SmackDown colleagues,
00:03:38Michael Cole and JBL.
00:03:40Thanks, guys.
00:03:41We are ready for Batista versus Kennedy
00:03:43for the World Championship.
00:03:44Are you ready, partner?
00:03:45The 20th Annual Royal Rumble.
00:03:47Are you kidding?
00:03:48Stars are going to be made.
00:03:49The lights are on bright.
00:03:51Let's dance.
00:03:52ECW here as well.
00:03:53Joey Styles, a pass.
00:03:55Thank you, Michael.
00:03:56A proud night for ECW indeed.
00:03:58Extremis will compete in the Royal Rumble matchup
00:04:01for a championship opportunity at the grandest stage of them all,
00:04:05WrestleMania.
00:04:06Notwithstanding that, for the first time in history,
00:04:08the ECW title will be defended right here at the Royal Rumble.
00:04:13This cap team contest is scheduled for one fall.
00:04:16Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California,
00:04:19at a combined weight of 433 pounds,
00:04:23they are the team of Mercury, Melina, and Nitro, MNM.
00:04:30Well, she's out there, baby.
00:04:32She's out there.
00:04:33She's out there.
00:04:34She's out there.
00:04:35She's out there.
00:04:36She's out there.
00:04:37She's out there.
00:04:38She's out there.
00:04:39She's out there.
00:04:40Well, certainly, ladies and gentlemen, this is a personally charged issue,
00:04:45as Chewie Mercury is not gonna be happy until one or both the Hardys suffer
00:04:49the same fate as Chewie Mercury suffered at Armageddon last month,
00:04:54at the last SmackDown pay-per-view.
00:04:57And you remember that fate?
00:05:01Well, JR, smashed in the face by that ladder, that steel metal ladder.
00:05:07And, you know, I've been around this profession for a long time, and
00:05:10I've never seen an injury quite like that, worst I've ever seen.
00:05:15And we haven't seen too many entrances like this.
00:05:18Best I've ever seen, man.
00:05:21I took you back, ladies and gentlemen, last month to Armageddon.
00:05:25It was a multiple team.
00:05:27This is hard to watch.
00:05:29Look at this.
00:05:29There you see Mercury, that ladder pumping him right in the face.
00:05:34It broke Mercury's nose severely.
00:05:38It cracked a facial bone or two.
00:05:39Look at that.
00:05:40That's what we're talking about.
00:05:41That was a tables, ladders, and chairs match, and
00:05:43that ladder right into the face of Chewie Mercury.
00:05:47And look at the result.
00:05:48Wow. Mercury's eye already had swollen shut.
00:05:51He was taken to a medical facility for stitches and to have his nose reset.
00:05:56And there you see Chewie Mercury wearing that facial mask,
00:06:00that protective mask, in this contest tonight.
00:06:03But you can still tell by the look on his face, he wants revenge.
00:06:06And from Cameron, North Carolina at a combined weight of 461 pounds,
00:06:12Matt and the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff, The Hardy.
00:06:17Well, as we mentioned-
00:06:19Whoa.
00:06:20Chewie Mercury certainly obsessed in injuring either Matt or
00:06:25Chewie Mercury, and he's done it again.
00:06:30In injuring either Matt or Jeff Hardy, and
00:06:34that was Eminem's intent on Friday Night SmackDown.
00:06:39About a week ago, King.
00:06:43I don't watch this.
00:06:44Matt Hardy gets a victory, but paid dearly afterwards.
00:06:49But then it was Johnny Nitro from Raw entering the contest,
00:06:54an enziguri that took Matt Hardy down.
00:06:58Now, the protective mats, those thin mats were pulled back,
00:07:02exposing the concrete floor.
00:07:04And right here you see, bam, Matt Hardy's face drilled into the concrete
00:07:10with a snapshot from Eminem.
00:07:12Well, it didn't break Matt Hardy's nose or do the damage that Eminem wanted to do,
00:07:18but he did suffer, Matt did suffer a dislocated jaw.
00:07:21And you just have to wonder, well,
00:07:22exactly what kind of condition he is in here tonight.
00:07:25This is a unique match in that Matt Hardy and
00:07:28Chewie Mercury are both from the SmackDown brand.
00:07:33Jeff Hardy, the reigning Intercontinental Champion, and
00:07:36of course, Johnny Nitro, a former Intercontinental Champion,
00:07:39representing Monday Night Raw.
00:07:41Melina will be at ringside in this one fall tag team matchup.
00:07:46Don't worry about Melina being at ringside.
00:07:49She wants you to come over here and sit by me.
00:07:52She wants you to come over here and sit by me.
00:07:55Uh-oh, look out, here we go.
00:07:56And it's Matt Hardy and
00:07:57Johnny Nitro starting it out in this one fall match to kick off the 20th edition
00:08:02of the Royal Rumble, tag made, a quick tag made, and Nitro in.
00:08:07Between these two teams, they have held the tag titles on nine different occasions.
00:08:13Headline, look at Hardy trying to cover up that jaw, still bothering Matt Hardy.
00:08:17It has to be, there's no way you heal from a dislocated jaw in this length
00:08:23of time, and Mercury going right to work on that obvious Achilles heel,
00:08:28if you will, King, on Matt Hardy.
00:08:30You're right, Mercury trying to go to work at it.
00:08:32So far, Matt Hardy doing a pretty good job, I think, of blocking those blows.
00:08:37And he's gonna have to do that if he wants to survive.
00:08:39There's one right to the jaw.
00:08:40Nitro, a former three-time tag champion and
00:08:43former Intercontinental Champion, got the tag.
00:08:45Hardy trying to fight out of the corner of Eminem,
00:08:48which would well serve the elder of the two Hardy brothers.
00:08:52You're right, Matt needs to get out of there as quickly as possible.
00:08:55Poor Matt's been sucking soup through a straw for the past week.
00:09:00And you gotta wonder how that's gonna affect Matt Hardy's stamina and
00:09:03strength, not being able to eat solid food for well over a week.
00:09:07And Hardy going, there's hard body shots.
00:09:10And Mercury covering his face, and rightfully so,
00:09:13as Matt gets a tag to the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy.
00:09:18Nice move.
00:09:20Jeff Hardy doesn't do anything normally, I can tell you that cover,
00:09:24after that mule kick over the top rope.
00:09:27You'll see some very unique and
00:09:28extraordinary offense by all four of these men, quite frankly.
00:09:32And Hardy now trapped in the Eminem corner,
00:09:34which seems to be the strategy thus far of Mercury and Nitro.
00:09:39Well, that's why these guys, Eminem, have been so successful.
00:09:43That's probably the best strategy you can have in tag team wrestling.
00:09:47Well, watch out here.
00:09:49And Mercury, tiny drop, finds his mark.
00:09:52Much to the chagrin of Molina and Johnny Nitro.
00:09:55And Jeff Hardy follows up, a lateral press.
00:09:58And Jeff Hardy got a long two-count, a near fall, out of that combination offense.
00:10:05And Matt Hardy, I saw him rubbing his jaw there,
00:10:07does accept the tag, comes right back in.
00:10:09Three, two, one, now.
00:10:13Nice tandem offense by the Hardys.
00:10:15Jeff, however, is the legal man.
00:10:18Nice leg sweep, taking down Mercury.
00:10:21And Mercury, very protective of his face, can't blame him for that.
00:10:24Well, you might say, oh, what's left of his face.
00:10:27And Mercury got that suplex, quickly rolls outside to avoid further punishment.
00:10:33And it's Matt Hardy and Johnny Nitro, the two legal men here.
00:10:37A raw referee, Jack Dole, signed the contest.
00:10:41And a swinging neckbreaker.
00:10:44Again, Hardy advantage, hook in the far leg.
00:10:46And the Hardys seem to have the offensive advantage,
00:10:49more often than not, here in the early going of this one-fall match.
00:10:53Well, you know how quickly that can change, just how quickly.
00:10:56Oh, man, there you go, right there.
00:10:57Straight right hand to that injured jaw of Matt Hardy.
00:11:01And a quick tag, opportunistic tag.
00:11:04Nitro did the damage, and now Mercury can't wait to get involved.
00:11:08And another shot right to that jaw.
00:11:10It's as if Hardy's jaw's got a bullseye drawn on it.
00:11:13Well, you saw the look on the face of Nitro when he connected.
00:11:17He knew he'd done the damage.
00:11:21That's how hard that Joey Mercury was touching Matt Hardy in the jaw.
00:11:27Bag made.
00:11:28Looked like he may have hurt that hand,
00:11:29because he made a quick tag after he nailed Hardy with that right hand.
00:11:32And certainly nothing wrong with the right hand of Johnny Nitro.
00:11:36And again, most of the action offensively for Eminem in their corner.
00:11:41Hard European uppercut game.
00:11:43Matt is going to have to get out of the corner.
00:11:45If he wants to continue on in this match,
00:11:48he's going to have to try to somehow protect that jaw.
00:11:50Oh, my goodness.
00:11:51Shot on the outside, behind the referee's back.
00:11:54To the side of the head, had to do more damage to that dislocated jaw.
00:12:00Another cover, a cover in the hand, coming down for a three from Doan.
00:12:04Hardy got his shoulder up as Nitro forced the issue there after the cheap shot on the outside.
00:12:10Check this kick out one more time.
00:12:13Referee's back turned and then wowed.
00:12:16And that was a clean shot.
00:12:19A clean shot right on that injured jaw of Hardy.
00:12:23Matt Hardy finding back up, reestablishes vertical base.
00:12:27But man, Nitro, those knees to the solar plexus does the damage again.
00:12:31And there's a trend that has-
00:12:33I think that knee went right to Hardy's face or his jaw.
00:12:36Oh, no, this is not good.
00:12:38Double team.
00:12:40Right to the face again.
00:12:41And Matt Hardy may look worse than Joey Mercury by the time this is over.
00:12:46Mercury with a cover.
00:12:47Got a scream of joy from Melina.
00:12:50And another count.
00:12:52I haven't made a lot of women scream, so I can't tell you.
00:12:55And there's a takedown.
00:12:56Here we go, right there, a right hand.
00:12:58Hey, open it up.
00:13:00A right hand again, right to the head.
00:13:02And Hardy trying to cover up as best that he can.
00:13:05But it's obvious the game plan.
00:13:07Oh, man.
00:13:08Hard, short, clothesline.
00:13:10That may be it.
00:13:12Everything that Matt Hardy has suffered from has been from the shoulders up.
00:13:17And there's another cover.
00:13:19And another near fall.
00:13:20And now, King, it may be just a matter of time because it looks like Matt Hardy is-
00:13:25How many bullets can Matt Hardy dodge here?
00:13:28Well, I don't know, but these four men put on one of the most
00:13:31amazing tables, ladders, and chairs matches that I've ever seen.
00:13:34And that's led up to this.
00:13:37Can you tell me, JR, have you ever seen a worse injury than
00:13:40the Joey Mercury suffered in that match?
00:13:41I really haven't, King.
00:13:42That was sickening.
00:13:44And this kid's luck, his career wasn't ended there.
00:13:47And Matt Hardy trying to fight back.
00:13:49A blatant pull of a hair.
00:13:51Referee admonishing Nitro.
00:13:53But the damage and the results are there for all to see.
00:14:01Mercury measuring Matt Hardy.
00:14:03And Mercury may have hesitated a half a count too long.
00:14:07And Hardy counters with a right hand.
00:14:09Here's a tag.
00:14:09Hardy may have hurt his hand hitting that protective mask.
00:14:12Tags on both sides.
00:14:14Jeff Hardy and Nitro got their tags.
00:14:17And Jeff Hardy has kicked the pace up a couple of notches.
00:14:24Face first, a face buster.
00:14:26Almost a modified suplex.
00:14:28The float over, the cover.
00:14:29And Johnny Nitro and Jeff Hardy,
00:14:32who had a hellacious cage match at New Year's Revolution.
00:14:35Look at this!
00:14:37Whispering the wind.
00:14:38And Jeff Hardy caught the high wrist.
00:14:40And there's the cover, the three.
00:14:42No!
00:14:42Mercury interrupted the three count.
00:14:46Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy in.
00:14:51Matt Hardy in illegally.
00:14:53Suplexing Mercury.
00:14:55And it's Jeff and Nitro, the legal men.
00:14:57And Matt Hardy in illegally.
00:15:00Good tag team strategy.
00:15:01Double team while you can.
00:15:04Oh, JR.
00:15:07Oh, my God.
00:15:07Hey, they're about to hurt me, JR!
00:15:09Here we go!
00:15:10The Hardys.
00:15:12How long has it been since we've seen this?
00:15:13Oh!
00:15:15Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute.
00:15:16Nitro got his knees up
00:15:18and drove them into the abdomen of Jeff Hardy.
00:15:22And the key point is that Matt Hardy's got a lead.
00:15:25He's not the legal competitor.
00:15:27Well, Matt Hardy hit his leg drop
00:15:29right on the head.
00:15:30Watch this.
00:15:31This is like a half and half success for him.
00:15:34Half not.
00:15:38Nitro gets the tag.
00:15:40Mercury's got to recover here.
00:15:42But Jeff Hardy got the air driven right out of him
00:15:46coming off that top rope.
00:15:49Nitro hurt himself as well,
00:15:50but Jeff Hardy is really at a disadvantage.
00:15:53And Mercury has an opportunity here
00:15:56to finish business.
00:15:57To take care of his business here with Jeff Hardy.
00:16:01Elena trying to help, I think, resuscitate
00:16:04Johnny Nitro over here.
00:16:05Oh, wow.
00:16:08That knee buried to the midsection again.
00:16:10And there's a cover.
00:16:12Nitro looking for a three count.
00:16:14Jeff Hardy kicked out Nitro
00:16:15with a somewhat unorthodox cover there.
00:16:17But Hardy got the air knocked out of him.
00:16:19And again, you'll see Nitro going right back
00:16:22to that solar plexus and abdomen
00:16:24to not let Jeff Hardy continue to breathe
00:16:26in and out freely.
00:16:29M&M's in there.
00:16:30M&M has a victim.
00:16:32This time, Jeff Hardy back in the corner.
00:16:35You got to give M&M credit.
00:16:37These guys had a...
00:16:39Obviously, like you said,
00:16:40their game plan was to isolate one of the Hardys.
00:16:42They didn't really care which one it was.
00:16:45Oh, man, look at this.
00:16:46Keep the Hardy in their corner
00:16:48and work him over.
00:16:49So far, it's working.
00:16:50Nitro with a knee.
00:16:51Putting a bar leg and Jeff Hardy using
00:16:55what we are assuming is just about
00:16:57what's left in his tank.
00:16:59Hard shot again to the torso.
00:17:02All started with that high wrist
00:17:03that Jeff Hardy paid for.
00:17:06The knees of Nitro a few minutes ago.
00:17:08And there's some nice tandem offense
00:17:10by a very talented M&M.
00:17:12Nitro holding onto his jaw.
00:17:14Here we go.
00:17:15That leg drop from Matt Hardy
00:17:16may have dislocated the jaw of Johnny Nitro.
00:17:19Huge crowd here tonight in San Antonio, Texas.
00:17:26Over 16,000 selling out the AT&T Center
00:17:31here in the Alamo City.
00:17:33Standing waist lock.
00:17:35Hardy elbows his way free.
00:17:37Nice cradle.
00:17:38A booty to the knee!
00:17:40And Hardy got a near fall from that cradle.
00:17:43And look at Joey Merchant.
00:17:44We'll be right back to where we left off.
00:17:46On the sternum and the abdomen of Jeff Hardy.
00:17:49No wasted motion by M&M.
00:17:51No, Joey Mercury just, he comes up clubbing.
00:17:54Just those big clubbing right hands.
00:17:55He don't really care where he hits you.
00:17:57No, this is not going to be good for Jeff.
00:18:00The double T and the cover.
00:18:04The cover and Matt Hardy in to try to interfere.
00:18:08Hopefully he's got his hands full.
00:18:09I can tell you with this one with
00:18:11literally five participants.
00:18:13You can't forget Molina on the outside.
00:18:17Nitro again and punishing the Intercontinental champion.
00:18:21These two have had some tremendous contests
00:18:23over the Intercontinental championship.
00:18:25And a body scissors and a reverse chin lock.
00:18:29Modified reverse chin lock.
00:18:31That body scissors is the main application here.
00:18:34Trying to squeeze the breath and the strength.
00:18:37And he's got it.
00:18:38He's got it.
00:18:38He's got it.
00:18:39He's got it.
00:18:39He's got it.
00:18:40He's got it.
00:18:40He's got it.
00:18:41He's got it.
00:18:41He's got it.
00:18:42He's got it.
00:18:42He's got it.
00:18:43He's got it.
00:18:43He's got it.
00:18:44He's got it.
00:18:45He's got it.
00:18:45He's got it.
00:18:45He's got it.
00:18:45He's got it.
00:18:46I'm not sure, Jeff.
00:18:46Hardie's got it a good full deep breath since he
00:18:49got that air originally knocked out of him several moments ago.
00:18:53And Hardy, again, using his elbows.
00:18:56You've got to admit, obviously, the strategy of Eminem
00:19:00was to slow down the Hardy's.
00:19:01And to this point, it has worked.
00:19:03Hardie's are like a fast, breaking basketball team.
00:19:06They like to kick the pace up.
00:19:08And right now, Matt or Jeff is trying to get to Matt, his brother.
00:19:15Struggling with all the strength he's got, look at that.
00:19:18And Mercury doing a nice job keeping his body between the Hardy brothers.
00:19:24So close there, but no tag.
00:19:25Referee's right in position to see a tag if there is one.
00:19:28Nitro flying that chancery.
00:19:32And now grabbing that belt for a little additional leverage.
00:19:37Ref, what's the belt there?
00:19:39There you go.
00:19:41There's a tag.
00:19:43Matt Hardy is-
00:19:44Wait, the ref, it's a tag.
00:19:46The ref doesn't see it.
00:19:50Joey Mercury had the ref distracted.
00:19:52And more importantly, perhaps, M&M assaulting Jeff Hardy after,
00:19:57I stress after, they pull Hardy back into the M&M corner,
00:20:01as far from the Hardy corner as you can possibly get in the squared circle.
00:20:06The ref missed the mugging over here.
00:20:09Well, just as anything else, officials can make a bad call or not see it.
00:20:14And Mercury's gotta be careful, he's got a break on four.
00:20:16He'll be disqualified on five, and
00:20:18that would not accomplish, I don't think, what M&M is seeking here.
00:20:22No, I don't think Joey Mercury's worried about breaking the hold.
00:20:25He wants to break some noses.
00:20:27He would love to rearrange the faces of either Jeff or Matt.
00:20:32Tag has been made.
00:20:34And this time, M&M went back to the well and it backfired on him.
00:20:40And Jeff Hardy, well, for a moment there, caused the separation.
00:20:45Hardy trying to get to his corner, desperately trying.
00:20:48Hardy with a meal kick.
00:20:49There's a tag.
00:20:50And that tag was seen with legal time.
00:20:54Matt Hardy leveling M&M again in this one-fall match.
00:21:00The kickoff for 20th annual Royal Rumble.
00:21:04High elevation.
00:21:05Nice back body drop by Matt Hardy, who has taken over offensively.
00:21:11Reverse elbow and a drop elbow on Mercury Nitro now going for the right.
00:21:17And Hardy follows him in.
00:21:19Whoa, look at that, a combination pulled off and clothesline.
00:21:23And now Matt Hardy, looking for the win.
00:21:26And that was about as close as you're gonna get.
00:21:30Without getting the three count.
00:21:34All right, what's Matt gonna try here?
00:21:38Hardy in the second row.
00:21:40And draws the corner of the elbow to the back of Nitro's head.
00:21:43Will that be enough?
00:21:44There's a count on him.
00:21:46Nitro arching his back off the canvas to get his one shoulder.
00:21:51Melina's about to have a nervous breakdown over here.
00:21:54Kicked to that bad jaw again by Nitro.
00:21:58Jeff Hardy intervening.
00:22:00Looked like a snapshot opportunity for Eminem.
00:22:04And Jeff Hardy.
00:22:05Look at Jeff.
00:22:05The poetry in motion by the Hardys.
00:22:11Great teamwork by the brothers from North Carolina.
00:22:14Jeff again, nobody home.
00:22:18And look at the half-nasal, a roll-off.
00:22:20Whoa.
00:22:22That was only two.
00:22:24Another near fall in a hugely competitive match between four
00:22:28outstanding young superstars.
00:22:31Side effect by Matt Hardy.
00:22:33And now Matt Hardy seems to be sitting in the driver's seat.
00:22:38It is.
00:22:42Crystal feet by Matt Hardy.
00:22:44Mercury and illegally with the.
00:22:47Look out.
00:22:50Mercury and Matt Hardy.
00:22:51There was a tag mate.
00:22:52There was a tag mate there.
00:22:53Jeff Hardy.
00:22:54Hardy's an illegal man.
00:22:56Swung Tom Bond.
00:22:58Jeff Hardy, the legal man.
00:22:59Over the four line, and the three count.
00:23:02Here are your winners, the Hardys.
00:23:09The Hardys win, and look at Melina.
00:23:11She's about to cry.
00:23:14There will be no celebration in the camp of Eminem tonight.
00:23:18And SmackDown's Matt Hardy, Raw's Intercontinental Champion,
00:23:23Jeff Hardy come to the Royal Rumble and leave with a victory.
00:23:28Well, let's check it out one more time.
00:23:33Matt started this thing off with a nice twist of fate.
00:23:36That put Johnny Nitro down, but then Mercury comes in.
00:23:40Watch this.
00:23:41Joey Mercury drives Matt out of the ring, but there's the tag.
00:23:43You saw the tag.
00:23:44Referee saw the tag, and Jeff Hardy saw opportunity.
00:23:49A high-risk opportunity.
00:23:52The hang time, the height, the elevation, the velocity.
00:23:58And a victory for Matt and Jeff Hardy.
00:24:03Boy, you don't get a better look at why they call those high-risk maneuvers.
00:24:08Well, folks, let's take it back to the general managers of Raw and
00:24:12the special representative of SmackDown Raw, John the Coachman.
00:24:16And of course, SmackDown's Theodore Armand,
00:24:18who will be administering the Royal Rumble match drawing here tonight.
00:24:23Boy.
00:24:32It's gonna be just like it was last year.
00:24:33SmackDown 2006, SmackDown 2007.
00:24:36Teddy, you're crazy.
00:24:38Raw's gonna dominate like we do every other day.
00:24:41And speaking of dominating.
00:24:44Coacher.
00:24:45Edger.
00:24:46Hi, Mitch.
00:24:47I'm Kelly Kelly, and I'm an exhibitionist.
00:24:52And the official Royal Rumble match tumbler.
00:24:55Mm-hm, mm-hm, you're the tumbler.
00:24:58Isn't that cute? Bless your little heart.
00:24:59That must be really, really difficult work.
00:25:02Let me ask you a question, Kelly Kelly.
00:25:04Did your parents name you twice, so you wouldn't forget your last name?
00:25:07Is that what happened there?
00:25:09Yeah.
00:25:09Well, at least that is my real name.
00:25:11I don't know, hold on.
00:25:13Kelly, baby, don't you worry about Edge.
00:25:15He's a little upset after last week.
00:25:20Yours truly threw him over the top rope.
00:25:26Now, if you'll excuse me.
00:25:33You know what, man?
00:25:34If need be, I will do the same thing tonight.
00:25:42Man, what are you doing?
00:25:45Listen, listen.
00:25:47I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
00:25:50Tell me you didn't just say that.
00:26:12When we were young, we dreamed of this day.
00:26:18WrestleMania, where we get to show the world what we're about.
00:26:25That I am more than just a pretty face.
00:26:29That I'm king of the world.
00:26:33That we're all grown up.
00:26:37We're gonna give a big shout out and a thank you to Rise Against the Drones,
00:26:42the official World Rumble theme song.
00:26:45Very fat, as the kids say.
00:26:46You know, that's what they say.
00:26:48Is that what they say?
00:26:49Something like that.
00:26:50I hadn't heard that.
00:26:52But as you said earlier, Taz, this is a historic night for the first time ever.
00:26:57The ECW world title defended right here, by Rise Against the Drones.
00:27:02And let me tell you, yo, this is the first time you're seeing
00:27:04world title defended right here at the Royal Rumble.
00:27:08And in my opinion, it's gonna resemble
00:27:09two speeding semis in a head-on collision.
00:27:12Well, there's no doubt about that.
00:27:13A lot of similarities between these two men,
00:27:15but the question I have is,
00:27:16can the proud, most powerful champion, Bobby Lashley,
00:27:20turn back the challenge of the ultra-intense
00:27:22and vicious challenger named Tess?
00:27:26That's the question I have.
00:27:27And he's ready to fight!
00:27:38There is nobody at ECW more dominant than Tess.
00:27:43I am a winner.
00:27:46I am the Impact player.
00:27:50I'm better than Rob Van Dam.
00:27:51I'm better than Bobby Lashley.
00:27:53I've been overlooked for a shot at the ECW world title.
00:27:57The following contest is a triple threat match for the ECW World Title.
00:28:07Whoever gets the pinfall submission first is the champion.
00:28:10RBD may be feeling froggy.
00:28:12Was he gonna hit it?
00:28:13Oh!
00:28:14Five star frog split!
00:28:16Big Ben went over Lashley and chose to hit test.
00:28:24Oh!
00:28:25Man!
00:28:26What a spear by Lashley!
00:28:28Damn near broke RBD in half!
00:28:30Oh!
00:28:32One!
00:28:33Two!
00:28:34Three!
00:28:35It's over!
00:28:36Wow!
00:28:38Whoa, whoa, whoa!
00:28:39Wait, wait, wait!
00:28:40Hold on a minute!
00:28:41Test is holding Lashley's title!
00:28:42Tonight's just about making another impact.
00:28:45What the hell's he doing?
00:28:46Oh!
00:28:47Test just KO'd the champion Bobby Lashley!
00:28:52I am the Impact Player!
00:28:55This is mine!
00:28:58Not yours!
00:29:00This is mine!
00:29:02Mine!
00:29:03Do you hear me?
00:29:04This is mine!
00:29:06This is mine!
00:29:07My guaranteed test will be the new ECW champion!
00:29:16Shades of Joe Namath on the huge guarantee.
00:29:20Test claims he is going to be the new ECW world champion,
00:29:24but that may be easier said than done, even for Test.
00:29:29This is not a set forward fall.
00:29:31It's for the ECW world title!
00:29:34Introducing first, the challenger,
00:29:36from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing 285 pounds, Test!
00:29:43Well, Test claims himself to be the Impact Player.
00:29:46I go with him, and I believe it.
00:29:48I'm down with it.
00:29:49I talked to Test earlier, Joey.
00:29:51He is amped up for this opportunity right now.
00:29:54Test had better be, but Test not only calls himself the Impact Player,
00:29:58also calls himself God's gift to ECW,
00:30:01and the most ruthless competitor we've ever seen in ECW.
00:30:06And Test had better be if he wants to take the championship
00:30:10from the powerful Bobby Lashley.
00:30:15Here comes the champ!
00:30:22And his opponent, from Colorado Springs, Colorado,
00:30:25weighing 273 pounds, he is the current ECW world champion,
00:30:32Bobby Lashley!
00:30:36Second generation U.S. Army Sergeant,
00:30:38Bobby Lashley exploded into ECW just three months ago,
00:30:42and speared his way through the 500-pound big show.
00:30:45Well, you know, you gotta realize something with Bobby Lashley.
00:30:49Full of confidence, full of passion, full of ability.
00:30:53Very explosive, is the ECW champion, one of a kind.
00:31:01Speaking of explosive...
00:31:05I'll tell you, Joey, not many men consider a three-time national champion
00:31:09in a sport of wrestling, a four-time All-American,
00:31:12a two-time all-forces champion,
00:31:14a silver medalist in a military world championship.
00:31:17That is pretty heavy, man.
00:31:19And a college sports hall of famer.
00:31:21As you said, Lashley dethroned the 500-pound big show
00:31:26to win the championship, and since then, Lashley has steamrolled...
00:31:30Joey, hold on, that's what it's all about, baby, right there.
00:31:33If you don't want that ECW title, then get the hell out of here.
00:31:36That's what it's about.
00:31:37Speaking of that title, we saw Tess drive the actual title belt
00:31:41into the skull of the champion
00:31:44at the conclusion of that triple threat match-up.
00:31:47Yeah, well, you know what?
00:31:48That was two weeks ago, and Tess attempted to walk out
00:31:51with a championship that wasn't his,
00:31:53but if Tess can get the victory here,
00:31:55and I'm pointing out the obvious,
00:31:56Tess might leave San Antonio in the Royal Rumble,
00:31:59new ECW champion.
00:32:04Tess had the opportunity to be in the ring with Lashley
00:32:06just a few days ago.
00:32:08Knowing that Tess has more experience in the ring than Lashley,
00:32:11the question is, did Tess learn more from that encounter
00:32:14than Lashley learned about Tess?
00:32:16Well, I said at the end of that broadcast, and I'll stand by it,
00:32:19Tess will reload, and I'm telling you,
00:32:21I think Tess might have reloaded.
00:32:23I think he's ready to go.
00:32:24No knock on our champion.
00:32:26There's no doubt Lashley's loaded full with credibility.
00:32:29Whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:32:30And Lashley is going to be disrespected.
00:32:32Lashley just spearing Tess just moments into this matchup,
00:32:35and Tess looking to get out of touch.
00:32:37And now if you're Tess, you don't want to be ridden right now.
00:32:39You want to get rid by Bobby Lashley.
00:32:42You don't want Lashley on top of you.
00:32:44Did you just say get rid?
00:32:45Yeah, get rid. Get rid of him.
00:32:46Get rid of him.
00:32:47Get rid of him. Get rid. You get it.
00:32:48I got it. You got it. I think so. Got it.
00:32:50Yeah, but you're not going to be on your back
00:32:53with somebody who's got the amateur wrestling credentials
00:32:56of a Bobby Lashley.
00:32:57Well, that was my point.
00:32:58But now, I was translating to English.
00:33:00Tess pulling it down on Lashley.
00:33:02Illegal maneuver right there.
00:33:03Got a five count to break it.
00:33:04Oh, and Tess is going to use every bit of that five count,
00:33:07about four to seven, eight seconds before he breaks.
00:33:09You know, Joey, last Tuesday night,
00:33:11a side fight, a match with a non-title match.
00:33:14This one's for all the marbles right here.
00:33:16Both these competitors, I got the feeling,
00:33:18are going to up the game.
00:33:19And we see it on the early goings of this match.
00:33:21Oh, no question.
00:33:22Totally different story when it counts,
00:33:24when it's for the championship.
00:33:26Well, you don't want championship.
00:33:28Again, both these men have some similarities
00:33:30in size and power.
00:33:31Oh, watch out.
00:33:32Nice!
00:33:33Speaking of power.
00:33:34Well, that's a T-Bone suplex right there,
00:33:36textbook by the ECW champion.
00:33:39Very impressive.
00:33:40And Lashley just waiting on the challenge.
00:33:42Let's take another look at this.
00:33:43Watch this throw.
00:33:44Watch the hips.
00:33:45Popping the hips.
00:33:46Got that upperclaw.
00:33:47Beautiful throw by Lashley.
00:33:48Back to live action this time.
00:33:49A delayed vertical suplex.
00:33:50Look at the power of Bobby Lashley.
00:33:52Oh, my God.
00:33:53One-handed.
00:33:54Oh, a little bit of one-handed there.
00:33:55And all the blood rushing to the head of the challenger,
00:33:57Tess, which also can't help his equilibrium,
00:33:59I would assume, before he comes crashing down.
00:34:01Yeah, that means he would lose his balance.
00:34:03They are on the same page.
00:34:05Well, now right now, Tess trying to regroup out there.
00:34:08And you can't blame him to do that.
00:34:10You got to try and slow down the momentum.
00:34:12Oh, wait a minute.
00:34:13And now Lashley going right on after Tess.
00:34:16Oh, very smart of Lashley.
00:34:18Don't let the man regroup.
00:34:19Don't let the challenger regroup.
00:34:21Everybody knows it's no secret, well-documented,
00:34:23that Tess has always got some shenanigans up his sleeve.
00:34:27Lashley going right on after Tess.
00:34:29Through the challenger, back in the ring,
00:34:31a very aggressive choice.
00:34:32Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
00:34:33And I don't care how big and thickly muscled
00:34:36Bobby Lashley is,
00:34:37when human flesh and muscle intended
00:34:40meets a steel ring post,
00:34:41the man loses every time.
00:34:43Absolutely.
00:34:45Watch this impact here.
00:34:47Check it out.
00:34:48Oh, my God.
00:34:50A normal man wouldn't even get up from that.
00:34:52Lashley, oh, he's almost up.
00:34:55Lashley far from normal.
00:34:57A genetic freak.
00:34:59And now it's Tess throwing Lashley back.
00:35:01Look at Tess!
00:35:02Wants the capitalized cover!
00:35:03Look at the leg!
00:35:04This could be it!
00:35:05You see right here, Lashley, again,
00:35:07with the wherewithal to kick out of that.
00:35:09Lashley excellent off his back.
00:35:11That's that amateur background of his.
00:35:13Now an arm bar by Tess.
00:35:15You gotta watch.
00:35:16If you can take away an arm,
00:35:18a wing, as they say in wrestling,
00:35:20on a guy like Bobby Lashley,
00:35:22if you test, you eliminate a lot of his ability
00:35:24to do those explosive suplexes,
00:35:26and half his power would be gone.
00:35:28That's an excellent point,
00:35:30and that could very well be a result
00:35:32of Bobby Lashley careening into that steel ring post
00:35:35and Tess like a shark that smells blood
00:35:37going right after Lashley
00:35:39if, in fact, Lashley is injured from hitting the steel.
00:35:42I was trying to point out earlier,
00:35:43both these men have a lot in common
00:35:45as far as size and power and quickness and intensity,
00:35:48but Lashley, the champion,
00:35:50very humble, very soft-spoken,
00:35:52but when that bell rings, folks,
00:35:54he turns it up a notch big time,
00:35:56becomes a freak in there.
00:35:58Yeah, and directly opposed to Tess,
00:36:00who is not humble by any means.
00:36:01No, he's not.
00:36:02May be the most conceited athlete in the ECW line.
00:36:04You know what? There's nothing wrong with that.
00:36:06You know what? You could back it up, do it.
00:36:08Right in that same shoulder, by the way.
00:36:09The shoulder.
00:36:10The shoulder to hit the steel post.
00:36:12Tess on top. We got a pick-up.
00:36:14He might have a separated shoulder, Lashley,
00:36:16possibly a dislocation.
00:36:19And that may be the break, literally,
00:36:20that Tess was looking for in this matchup,
00:36:22but again, Tess right back to that wing,
00:36:24as you pointed out.
00:36:25Yeah, pulling back that rotator cuff.
00:36:27I'm telling you what, I've had shoulder injuries.
00:36:29That hurts like hell, man.
00:36:31It's tough. It's tough to come back from that.
00:36:33Who knows the answer to that,
00:36:35if there is one, in the shoulder of the champion, Lashley.
00:36:38You know, Tess not only calls himself ruthless,
00:36:41but relentless as well,
00:36:42and Tess displaying that right now
00:36:44all over that shoulder of Lashley.
00:36:46Can't blame Tess. Like the man or not,
00:36:48you've got an injury, you're going in,
00:36:50you've got an opportunity to become ECW champion.
00:36:52History being made right here, Joe.
00:36:54As we said earlier, first time ever the ECW title
00:36:57is being contested at the Royal Rumble.
00:36:59Right here at the 20th annual Royal Rumble
00:37:01with over 16,000 fans looking on here in San Antonio.
00:37:05Tess doing a great job right now,
00:37:07keeping Lashley down,
00:37:08keeping Lashley from trying to, you know,
00:37:10keep him on the mat, out, stop him,
00:37:12not get him out, wrestle him.
00:37:14That's great by Tess.
00:37:15This is what you don't want.
00:37:17You don't want Lashley in a vertical base.
00:37:20Uh-oh.
00:37:21Because Lashley will send to airborne.
00:37:23Like that.
00:37:24And that was pretty much all Lashley.
00:37:26Uh-oh, watch out.
00:37:27Lashley with the good arm from the right side,
00:37:29damn near decapitating Tess.
00:37:31And now going downstairs is Lashley.
00:37:33How quick is this Lashley for a three-point stance?
00:37:36The impact into the abdomen of Tess.
00:37:39Explosiveness on the part of Lashley
00:37:41to create so much impact in such a short distance.
00:37:44Uh-oh.
00:37:45And look at this.
00:37:46Can he get him up?
00:37:47No.
00:37:48That shoulder, man, that shoulder.
00:37:49It might have went out.
00:37:50That shoulder went out.
00:37:51Yeah, the left shoulder just couldn't support
00:37:53the 275-pound Canadian Tess.
00:37:56Oh, you're trying to.
00:37:57Oh!
00:37:58There's a big move right there by 15-year-old Lita.
00:38:02Whoa, that was close.
00:38:05Frustration by the challenger,
00:38:07audible frustration.
00:38:09Watch this boot.
00:38:12Oh!
00:38:13Holy smokes.
00:38:15Not a good way to spend a sunny Sunday night in Texas,
00:38:18I'm telling you.
00:38:19Now, Tess, despite being frustrated,
00:38:21has to follow up.
00:38:23I mean, you can see the wheels turning inside the head of Tess.
00:38:25If the big boot was plan A, what's plan B?
00:38:28I don't know if it's going to matter.
00:38:29Can Lashley come back from that boot?
00:38:32Uh-oh.
00:38:33Uh-oh.
00:38:34What's this?
00:38:35Now Tess was looking to plant Lashley.
00:38:38And again, Lashley pops those hips
00:38:40with that belly-to-belly.
00:38:41Oh!
00:38:42Followed up by that tight clothesline.
00:38:44And again, from the right side, Lashley utilizing the shoulder
00:38:48that didn't get smashed into the merciless steel ring post.
00:38:51That's what Lashley does so well.
00:38:53He's explosive, short, quick, sudden burst of energy.
00:38:57Got to watch Tess, Mike.
00:38:58Got to freeze up to five here.
00:39:01Tess got blasted, Joey.
00:39:03You can ask Tess to come along with Lashley's right arm.
00:39:06Wait a minute.
00:39:08He's going to count eight right now.
00:39:09A little rough here.
00:39:10Oh, come on.
00:39:11What?
00:39:12Look out.
00:39:13Look out.
00:39:14Oh.
00:39:15Come on.
00:39:17Uh-oh.
00:39:18Lashley is not satisfied.
00:39:20Uh-oh.
00:39:21With a count-out victory.
00:39:22He's up off.
00:39:25Lashley going right on into the count.
00:39:27This match is the result of a count-out.
00:39:29And still ECW world champion, Bobby Lashley.
00:39:36You would think the proud champion, Lashley,
00:39:38is not going to be satisfied with a count-out victory here.
00:39:41Well, would you be if you were him?
00:39:42Hell no.
00:39:43Well, you're damn right.
00:39:44Look at Lashley going to pound here on Tess.
00:39:47Lashley's going to make sure that Tess remembers this matchup
00:39:50regardless of what the official outcome was.
00:39:53And look at this.
00:39:54Again, the power.
00:39:55Bobby Lashley, ECW champ, has got Tess.
00:39:59What the hell?
00:40:00Oh.
00:40:01And you never know that Tess weighed 275 pounds.
00:40:06Look at the intensity of the ECW champ.
00:40:11Wow.
00:40:13Bobby Lashley showing great resilience
00:40:17after going shoulder first into the ring post
00:40:20in the early moments of the matchup.
00:40:22Basically, one arm with the right hand.
00:40:24Tess decided he didn't want any more of that.
00:40:26He tried to get out of dodge.
00:40:28Uh-uh.
00:40:29It didn't happen.
00:40:30You could run, but you couldn't hide.
00:40:32Tess got caught and got whooped.
00:40:35Wow.
00:40:36This is what happens.
00:40:37This is how to count out.
00:40:39Tess took the opportunity to bail out of here.
00:40:43And then after Tess tried to get out of dodge,
00:40:46look at that.
00:40:47Running power slam by the ECW champion,
00:40:51the very credible and very powerful Bobby Lashley.
00:40:56Well, Tess will remember this matchup
00:40:57not only because he walked away from a championship opportunity,
00:41:00but because in the end, Tess once again got planted
00:41:04by the ECW world champion, Lashley.
00:41:13John, take a deep breath.
00:41:19Just take a feel of your abdomen.
00:41:21Doc, Doc, I get it.
00:41:24I understand your concern,
00:41:25but I gotta go out there tonight and have this match.
00:41:27There's no way you can win.
00:41:29I don't know what the hell's going on here.
00:41:31Excuse me a second, Doc.
00:41:34I mean, I don't want to interrupt anything
00:41:37like you interrupted me last Monday on Raw.
00:41:40And abdominal injury, huh?
00:41:44Any chance of you not competing tonight?
00:41:46Any chance of you forfeiting the WWE championship here tonight?
00:41:49Not a chance. I'm fine.
00:41:51You're fine?
00:41:52I'm fine.
00:41:53I don't think so.
00:41:56You know why?
00:41:58Why?
00:42:00Because you can't see me.
00:42:05And I can't see you.
00:42:08After tonight, I can no longer see you as the WWE champion.
00:42:14And after tonight, I sure as hell...
00:42:17Well, I just don't think I'm gonna see you as the last man standing.
00:42:25Go about your business, Doc.
00:42:27Good luck.
00:42:38On February 18th,
00:42:41the superstars of SmackDown will realize
00:42:45they have
00:42:47no say.
00:42:49No way out.
00:42:50No control.
00:42:52No way out.
00:42:53No choice.
00:42:54No way out.
00:42:57Because there is no way out.
00:43:03No Way Out.
00:43:05Live Sunday, February 18th on Pay-Per-View.
00:43:09That is the next time we are on Pay-Per-View.
00:43:11But ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are deep in the heart of Texas.
00:43:14SmackDown in the middle of the Lone Star State.
00:43:16Sold out in San Antonio for the Royal Rumble.
00:43:20And coming up next, the World Heavyweight Championship is on the line.
00:43:24JBL from SmackDown, a match we've been waiting for.
00:43:27Batista to defend against Mr. Kennedy.
00:43:30Once again, SmackDown is headlining a Pay-Per-View.
00:43:33Mr. Kennedy has defeated six world champions in the past 12 months.
00:43:37He finally gets a chance to do it when the championship is on the line.
00:43:41It is the hungry world champion, The Animal Batista,
00:43:45ready to unleash against the number one contender,
00:43:47the challenger, Mr. Kennedy.
00:43:50Kennedy beat the clock to get here tonight.
00:43:57Over the past two weeks, 16 SmackDown superstars
00:44:01had the ability to compete in the Beat the Clock Sprint.
00:44:05And the man with the fastest time would go on to the Royal Rumble
00:44:10to face World Heavyweight Champion, Batista.
00:44:17No one could beat my time.
00:44:20Not even the all-powerful Undertaker.
00:44:27Chokeslam! Look at this!
00:44:30Mr. Kennedy just pulled Miz out of the ring.
00:44:32And the referee has seen none of this transpire, John.
00:44:35The Undertaker has 20 seconds to get him back.
00:44:37Undertaker back into the ring.
00:44:39We get a win-win situation.
00:44:40Referee's come to. Going for the Tombstone.
00:44:43Tombstone! Come on, Undertaker!
00:44:45Where's the cover?
00:44:46But he knows the clock!
00:44:48I was just doing what each and every one of you would have done.
00:44:54I was just protecting my best interests.
00:44:59You see, I am the fastest rising superstar in the history of the WWE.
00:45:07I have defeated six world champions.
00:45:13I've already proven that I have the physical ability.
00:45:17Hey! What a cheap shot!
00:45:20Batista with a spear! Batista spear-kicking!
00:45:24I've already proven that I have the mental tools necessary.
00:45:31The Phenom in the ring! And Kennedy ducked!
00:45:34Kennedy ducked and heads out of dodge!
00:45:38So therefore, it is only fitting this Sunday at the Royal Rumble,
00:45:46the winner of the match and new World Heavyweight Champion,
00:45:57Mr. Kennedy.
00:46:09Kennedy!
00:46:11And for the first time in his young career,
00:46:14Mr. Kennedy will battle for the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:46:21The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
00:46:24and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:46:29Introducing the challenger from Green Bay, Wisconsin,
00:46:33weighing in at 235 pounds, Mr. Kennedy!
00:46:40The lights are on bright, Michael. It's time to dance.
00:46:44Ladies and gentlemen, what you see before your very eyes
00:47:04is sports entertainment,
00:47:10is the next World Heavyweight Champion,
00:47:18is Mr. Kennedy!
00:47:33Kennedy!
00:47:48Just like my home, Michael, New York, so damn good,
00:47:51you gotta say it twice. It's Kennedy, Kennedy.
00:47:56It's Kennedy, Kennedy.
00:48:00Come on!
00:48:22They are on their feet in San Antonio
00:48:25for the World Heavyweight Champion,
00:48:28the Hungry Batista.
00:48:34They are on their feet, Michael,
00:48:36but those are about to see a world championship,
00:48:38something you get to see very few times in your life,
00:48:41but something the people of San Antonio know something about.
00:48:59And from Washington, D.C., weighing in at 290 pounds,
00:49:06is the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista!
00:49:14Ladies and gentlemen, back in November of last year
00:49:17at Survivor Series, Batista completed nearly a year-long comeback.
00:49:21He returned from injury to win the World Heavyweight Championship,
00:49:24and earlier today, the champion told me, Josh,
00:49:27that he will do everything in his power, not only tonight,
00:49:30but down the road and hopefully to WrestleMania
00:49:33to keep the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:49:35You know, I personally don't give a damn what the champion said to you.
00:49:38I don't give a damn who you talked to today.
00:49:40For the last year, while Batista's been doing this great big comeback,
00:49:44Mr. Kennedy, the amelioration of Mr. Kennedy has been incredible.
00:49:48He has defeated world champion after world champion,
00:49:51He has defeated world champion after world champion,
00:49:54screwed by Teddy Long, and he's finally got this opportunity.
00:49:58He has deserved for months to fight for it all.
00:50:01And that is what it's all about, the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:50:04Look at him, look at him, transfixed on that championship belt.
00:50:07He knows damn well how much that means to anybody
00:50:10who ever dreamed of being in that ring.
00:50:13Mr. Kennedy and Batista squaring off for the World Heavyweight Championship
00:50:17to be the top dog on SmackDown,
00:50:19and arguably in all of world wrestling entertainment.
00:50:22SmackDown's the cream of the crop, Michael.
00:50:24You're the top dog on SmackDown.
00:50:26You're the top person in the world.
00:50:27And Batista cannot wait to get his hands on Kennedy.
00:50:29We thought it was gonna happen Friday night.
00:50:31Remember, a couple of weeks ago, John,
00:50:33Mr. Kennedy slapping Batista out here at ringside,
00:50:36and I believe angered the animal to a point
00:50:39that we had not quite seen Batista at before.
00:50:42You're not giving Mr. Kennedy credit.
00:50:45It's mind games, Michael.
00:50:46Even at his young professional age,
00:50:49Kennedy's been playing mind games.
00:50:51He tried it with The Undertaker.
00:50:52Look at him.
00:50:53That's mind games.
00:50:55And Kennedy went right for the knee,
00:50:57trying to bring the finger down,
00:50:58and Mr. Kennedy hammering away on Batista.
00:51:01Kennedy is indeed becoming the total package.
00:51:04And here's a quick cover by Kennedy,
00:51:06and a kickout with the title on the line.
00:51:08You made mention of Mr. Kennedy
00:51:10and the six champions he defeated last year,
00:51:12Rey Mysterio, King Booker.
00:51:15Chris Benoit, The Undertaker, Kane,
00:51:19and this man, Batista, on two separate occasions.
00:51:22Unprecedented.
00:51:23Oh, thumb to the eye by Kennedy.
00:51:25No hesitation.
00:51:27You give Kennedy an opening,
00:51:29Kennedy takes the opening.
00:51:30And that is typical style of the brash,
00:51:32young, cocky, and confident Kennedy,
00:51:34but he ran into a boot of the champion.
00:51:36What do you mean, typical style?
00:51:37Typical style that he does whatever he has to to win.
00:51:40If he does, that's good.
00:51:42And Batista looking to use the power game.
00:51:44And a suplex delivered to Mr. Kennedy.
00:51:47Quickly into the cover for the champion.
00:51:48Shoulders down, kickout at two
00:51:50by the number one contender.
00:51:53And Batista in pursuit of Mr. Kennedy
00:51:57as we take another look at the boot off the jaw.
00:52:03And Mr. Kennedy bounced off the barricades
00:52:05out here in ringside.
00:52:07And trying to be the champion,
00:52:09knee forced into the steps.
00:52:10And Mr. Kennedy early on, JBL,
00:52:13seems like he may be targeting the knee of the champion.
00:52:16Mr. Kennedy is targeting an opening, Michael.
00:52:19Look at it.
00:52:20Batista gives him an opening,
00:52:21and he takes it.
00:52:22That is the making of a champion.
00:52:24That's the gentrification that you have seen
00:52:26in Kennedy this past year.
00:52:28Off the apron, Batista,
00:52:30a right hand to the back of the neck of Kennedy.
00:52:33Favoring that left leg.
00:52:34Referee Nick Patrick at a count of seven,
00:52:36champion back in the ring.
00:52:37Did you see moments ago how Mr. Kennedy
00:52:39quickly got in the ring to break the ten count?
00:52:41He realizes he cannot win the championship.
00:52:45It's got to be done in the ring
00:52:47by pinfall or submission.
00:52:49Kennedy has defeated six world champions,
00:52:51but not for world championships.
00:52:53He understands the only way.
00:52:55Listen to me, dammit.
00:52:57Don't interrupt me again, smartass.
00:52:59That is the only way to defeat Batista tonight
00:53:02is to get that gold.
00:53:04That puts you in the Hall of Fame.
00:53:05That gets you the chicks.
00:53:07That gets you the money.
00:53:08That gets you headlines and pay-per-views.
00:53:10Mr. Kennedy right back to the knee.
00:53:12And it's been well documented, JBL,
00:53:14when Mr. Kennedy can target a body part,
00:53:17he will be relentless and rabbit on the assault
00:53:19throughout the matchup, and that's what he's doing here.
00:53:22Just what I said.
00:53:23Just exactly what I said.
00:53:25I'm sitting out here with a damn parent.
00:53:27And if you take the knee out of the equation,
00:53:29it takes the power game away from the champion.
00:53:32This is smart.
00:53:33Watch this. Right to the knee.
00:53:34One thing you're right about, Michael,
00:53:36from the beginning, Kennedy had that knee in mind.
00:53:38You go after that leg.
00:53:39You take out the Batista bomb.
00:53:41You take out the sidewalk slam.
00:53:43You take out the animal's power.
00:53:45This is smart.
00:53:46Mr. Kennedy full force body onto the knee.
00:53:50You almost heard the animal writhing, crying pain
00:53:54as Kennedy delivered the blow again to the knee,
00:53:57again to cover, shoulders down,
00:53:59world championship on the line,
00:54:01and a kickout by the champion.
00:54:02I think you almost hear somebody cry.
00:54:04People almost see it.
00:54:06People will see it materialize.
00:54:08That's why you watch your monitor
00:54:10when you call the match.
00:54:11And look at Mr. Kennedy.
00:54:13Mr. Kennedy trying to wrap up Batista,
00:54:16and he does, and he turns the animal over in his stomach.
00:54:18He's got him.
00:54:20It's a mission maneuver.
00:54:22Batista, the champion in trouble.
00:54:23He's got the leg.
00:54:24Hopper extending.
00:54:25There's no way for Batista to go
00:54:27unless he can get to the ropes.
00:54:30Batista needs to get to the ropes.
00:54:31The champion in trouble.
00:54:33Will the champion tap out?
00:54:34He does.
00:54:35Mr. Kennedy will become world champion.
00:54:37How great is this?
00:54:38We're under five minutes in a world championship match,
00:54:41and already Batista is injured.
00:54:43And Kennedy using the rope for leverage.
00:54:45Referee Nick Patrick didn't see it.
00:54:47Now he's going to force Kennedy to break the hold.
00:54:50Watch it in the ropes, Mr. Kennedy.
00:54:52And you heard Nick Patrick say,
00:54:53I caught you on the ropes.
00:54:55It was a five count, Michael.
00:54:57It's like the IRS.
00:54:59What they don't know doesn't hurt them.
00:55:01I believe Mr. Kennedy is beginning to bleed
00:55:03from one of the nostrils.
00:55:06Kennedy continues the assault on the left knee
00:55:08of the champion, the animal Batista, in trouble.
00:55:12Will this be Mr. Kennedy's night?
00:55:15Mr. Kennedy has worked all year.
00:55:17Look at it.
00:55:18Oh, and a driving knee.
00:55:20That's how you win a world championship.
00:55:23You go to the leg, he worries about the leg,
00:55:25and you knock his damn head off.
00:55:27Growing in confidence at every move in this matchup,
00:55:30Mr. Kennedy has got the champion literally on the ropes.
00:55:33And again, drives a knee into the temple of the champion.
00:55:36Broken nose or not.
00:55:37Cover, hook of the leg.
00:55:38Will this be it here too?
00:55:40Two and a half.
00:55:41Batista kicked out.
00:55:42This is the night that Kennedy has looked forward
00:55:45to all of his life.
00:55:46You grow up there in Green Bay, the city sucks.
00:55:49You don't have anything to live for.
00:55:50You get in the world wrestling entertainment,
00:55:52you got a shot at the world championship.
00:55:54This is Kennedy's dream.
00:55:56Mr. Kennedy trying to roll Batista over on his stomach.
00:55:58Can he roll him on his belly?
00:56:00It looks like almost a half Boston Crab here
00:56:02as he continues the pressure on the knee.
00:56:05The leg of Batista.
00:56:07Again, a submission maneuver,
00:56:09dragging the champion more to the center of the ring,
00:56:12keeping him away from the ropes where he can break the hold.
00:56:14Not only that, Michael, you're in that half Boston Crab.
00:56:17The guy that has got the move put on him cannot breathe.
00:56:21You see Mr. Kennedy with the blood coming from the nose,
00:56:24seeming to relish it, seeming to enjoy it,
00:56:27realizes the champion.
00:56:28He feels it. He feels it.
00:56:30Maybe moments away from tapping out
00:56:32with a world title on the line.
00:56:34You dream of getting in a championship match,
00:56:36you finally get there, Michael,
00:56:37and you realize you've been punched in the mouth.
00:56:39I know very well about that, and you realize,
00:56:41you know what, damn it, I belong here.
00:56:43That is what Kennedy is going through right now.
00:56:46He's realizing he belongs in this match,
00:56:48and he can be tonight the world champion.
00:56:52The champion Batista's face told the entire story
00:56:54as he crawls desperately toward the ropes
00:56:56and again Kennedy pulls him back to the middle of the ring.
00:56:59And who thought this would happen, Michael?
00:57:01Under ten minutes into the match,
00:57:03Batista's already crawling to try to avoid a submission.
00:57:07What a great counter by Batista.
00:57:09Batista rolls Kennedy up, may hold here.
00:57:11Shoulders down and a kick out by Kennedy.
00:57:13The champion almost surprised Kennedy.
00:57:16Batista with Kennedy up on his shoulders.
00:57:19How is Batista doing it?
00:57:21Although Kennedy slips up the back end.
00:57:23And again back to the hamstring, the back of the knee.
00:57:26Every time Batista builds any momentum,
00:57:28Kennedy's there again.
00:57:30I told you, Kennedy allows any opening there is.
00:57:33You cannot create any distance with Kennedy.
00:57:36Oh, look at this, Batista with a spine buster.
00:57:38That could be the opening the champion needs.
00:57:40Oh, wait a minute, back to the knee.
00:57:42Maybe that was all Batista had left.
00:57:44Could he have injured the knee on that spine buster?
00:57:48The knee was injured before that, Michael.
00:57:51That's what they're going after.
00:57:53That's what they're going after, look at it.
00:57:55Did he injure the knee more? That's the question.
00:57:57The main thing, Michael, whether he injured it more or not,
00:58:00is Batista is not able to do a move and follow up on it.
00:58:04This is a world championship match,
00:58:06and Batista may have blown out his knee.
00:58:08And normally what happens after that spine buster,
00:58:10Batista gets set for the Batista Bomb.
00:58:12He wasn't able to do it there because of the injured knee.
00:58:14This is Kennedy's game right now.
00:58:16And back to the smart knee goes Kennedy,
00:58:19who won the Beat the Clock Challenge
00:58:20in controversial fashion to be here tonight.
00:58:22But that kick may have a look in the animal.
00:58:24The animal with the clothesline.
00:58:26Trying to fight off pain, trying to fight through pain.
00:58:30Back body drop.
00:58:32The animal can't move, though.
00:58:35Batista storming into the corner.
00:58:37He moved pretty well there.
00:58:39And Batista trying to bring Kennedy up.
00:58:42Slamming Kennedy, maybe without full force,
00:58:45but perhaps effective enough.
00:58:49And Batista, as Kennedy missed with a wild left hand,
00:58:52up on the shoulder of Batista, the champion.
00:58:55Look at those elbows on the wall.
00:58:58Batista, maybe moments away.
00:59:00What an in-your-face.
00:59:02He threw the King Tom Bomb right back at Mr. Kennedy.
00:59:05He's calling for it.
00:59:07Batista better end it in a hurry
00:59:09because Batista is not at full speed.
00:59:11Thumbs up, thumbs down.
00:59:13Going for the Batista Bomb.
00:59:14Kennedy's in trouble.
00:59:16Batista setting up the challenger.
00:59:18And Kennedy went to the knee again.
00:59:20And an elbow to the back of the head of the referee.
00:59:23And a blatant low blow.
00:59:25Mr. Kennedy neckbreaker.
00:59:27And Kennedy's in trouble.
00:59:29One, two, three, four.
00:59:32Get up, Nick Patrick.
00:59:34Come on, give it five, six, seven, eight.
00:59:37Come on.
00:59:39You've got to be kidding me.
00:59:41This is a world championship match.
00:59:44Kennedy had it.
00:59:47And Kennedy begging referee Nick Patrick
00:59:49to get back to his feet.
00:59:51A boot to the face.
00:59:52And a knee to the knee.
00:59:53Get him, Kennedy.
00:59:54Get him, Kennedy.
00:59:55Here's the cover.
00:59:56One, two, three.
00:59:58Batista kicked out.
00:59:59He got him.
01:00:00He did.
01:00:01Batista kicked out at two and a half.
01:00:06What in the hell?
01:00:09Mr. Kennedy thought he had the champion.
01:00:12And Batista kicked out.
01:00:14Kennedy!
01:00:15Kennedy!
01:00:16Kennedy!
01:00:17And Kennedy slamming away to the back of the neck of Batista.
01:00:21Lipped into the corner.
01:00:22Here comes The Animal.
01:00:24Walked into the boot, but he caught him on the other side.
01:00:28Get him, Kennedy.
01:00:29Kennedy ran into a clothesline.
01:00:33The Animal from out of nowhere.
01:00:37Going for the Batista Bomb.
01:00:39Kennedy's up.
01:00:40Kennedy's down.
01:00:41Batista Bomb.
01:00:43Hook of the leg.
01:00:44Here's the cover.
01:00:46Batista.
01:00:47It's a tainted champion.
01:00:48Dammit.
01:00:49Dammit.
01:00:50Dammit.
01:00:51Here is your winner and still World Heavyweight Champion, Batista.
01:01:02Kennedy was robbed.
01:01:04Dammit.
01:01:05Referee got knocked down.
01:01:06I give it to Batista.
01:01:07He had the guts to do it.
01:01:09But the match was over, Michael.
01:01:11The match was a tainted championship by Batista.
01:01:14That gold right there should be going to Kennedy.
01:01:16And dammit to hell, Kennedy should be going to WrestleMania as the World Champion.
01:01:21This is a travesty.
01:01:23Dammit.
01:01:24The referee was inadvertently knocked down.
01:01:26But Mr. Kennedy used a low blow to keep Batista down.
01:01:30But nonetheless, the bottom line is this.
01:01:32He covered him for a ten count, Michael.
01:01:34After a low blow.
01:01:35He covered him for a ten count.
01:01:37The bottom line is this.
01:01:38Batista is the World Heavyweight Champion.
01:01:40Batista took everything Kennedy threw at him and more.
01:01:44And Batista retained the World Heavyweight Championship here tonight.
01:01:48Here's referee to Patrick.
01:01:52Getting knocked down inadvertently.
01:01:54Now look at this.
01:01:55Look at this.
01:01:56Get out of Stockton.
01:01:57One, two, three, four, five, six.
01:02:02Keep counting.
01:02:03And then the animal exploded.
01:02:06That should be over right here, Michael.
01:02:09Well, it was over.
01:02:10This should never happen.
01:02:13Batista retains the World Championship.
01:02:16One, two, three.
01:02:18A courageous effort by the champion.
01:02:20Somebody call the San Antonio Sheriff.
01:02:22Because Kennedy was robbed tonight.
01:02:28Kennedy wasn't robbed.
01:02:30He was beaten by a game champion.
01:02:32By the World Heavyweight Champion.
01:02:34The animal Batista.
01:02:35No, he was beaten because Nick Patrick had his head up his ass
01:02:38and laid down when he ignored a damn World Championship count.
01:02:43I guess you didn't see the low blow.
01:02:45I saw the low blow.
01:02:47So what?
01:02:48You get hit in the mouth.
01:02:49You get hit low.
01:02:50That's what happens in World Championships.
01:02:52Kennedy, after a year of being six World Champions,
01:02:55had a shot with the Lights on Friday.
01:02:57He danced his ass off.
01:02:59And he deserves to be walking out with that gold right now,
01:03:02going to WrestleMania.
01:03:04And the smile on his face as he left the ring
01:03:07told the story for Batista, the animal,
01:03:10retaining the World Heavyweight Championship
01:03:13here at the Royal Rumble.
01:03:26It's just as the cards predicted.
01:03:33It's time to feast.
01:03:39Teddy, there are some freaks in ECW.
01:03:42I'll be John Brown.
01:03:43Wait a second.
01:03:47What does he want?
01:03:48What does he want?
01:03:50Stop. Stop him.
01:03:51Give him a chair.
01:03:52Give him a chair.
01:03:55It's all right.
01:03:56He wants to pick a number.
01:03:57Give him a chair then.
01:03:58There you go.
01:04:01Buddy.
01:04:06I hope there's not a small number in there.
01:04:16He bit my hair, Teddy.
01:04:31Ah!
01:04:43Hey, he's got more than one ball.
01:04:45Khali.
01:04:46Khali, you can only take one ball.
01:04:52Just one.
01:05:01Wow.
01:05:03These are the biggest balls I've ever held.
01:05:11Damn!