The WWE intro plays, followed by:
Fireworks burst into the air, lighting up the stage as the crowd roars in retrospect of a great pay-per-view...
"Welcome to a temperamental episode of SmackDown! Fresh off a heated Judgment Day, tempers are still flaring, egos are bruised and we have one heck of main event!"
A graphic swings onto camera, showing a 60-minute Ironman Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. "The former champ went to GM Teddy Long and used his rematch clause. The Show-Stopper wants to prove all of these fans, including you and me, wrong tonight. It's a ballsy move in my eyes, Cole."
"You can't question HBK's heart, partner, but he's battling a Deadman tonight. It'll take more than heart to win back the championship..."
"I'm sick of all these people talking out their heads; I've never understood a damn thing that they said..."
Batista makes his way out through the curtain, posing on stage to a bombardment of fireworks. Blast after blast. "Damn, Cole! I think that entrance epitomizes how Batista feels after a tough loss last night at Judgment Day..."
"I think you're correct, Tazz, but we'll see how he fares against a superstar that won last night."
"ONE OF A KIND!" shrilly rings through the arena. "Rob Van Dam, Cole! Ready to kick your damn head off! Mr. Thursday Night back in action, ready to repeat his victory over SmackDown!'s resident superhero, the Hurricane, last Sunday at Judgment Day!"
Rob Van Dam's speed flusters Batista, whose anger is making him sloppy tonight. After a powerful slam, it seems that the tide has turned for the Animal, but Van Dam puts on a flurry of martial arts kicks and acrobatic escapes, using the ring as his own trapeze circus tent. "Y'know what he's thinking, Cole. Rolling Thunder! Look out! Lightning bolts coming down at ya!"
Batista absorbs the blow, grimacing in pain as Van Dam's smaller but still heavy frame crashes into him. The referee counts, not seeing Batista's foot as it stretches over the bottom rope.
"That's why he's Mr. Thursday Night, Cole!"
"Let's take a look at the replay, partner!"
Meanwhile, Batista is clearly upset, stamping his foot and nearly taking a murderous turn at the referee, who doesn't know what he did wrong. The replay alerts Cole and Tazz of the mistake made by the referee, but Van Dam is already gone. "Oh, man, Cole. Tonight not starting well for the 300 lb Animal, eh?" Cole agrees in a worried voice. "I hope Batista walks it off for once. It's no secret that the GM has had enough of his dastardly antics..."
"I'd be pissed too, Cole, but that's how the cookie crumbles. Glad it ain't me! Ha!"
****************************************
During a commercial break, a recap video plays to convince viewers to order the replay of Judgment Day, showing The Undertaker's narrow victory in the Fatal 5 Way match.
Then a video plays, showing the brawl between Ric Flair and newcomer, Carlito, who didn't see eye to eye after Flair's loss for the Tag Team Titles at Judgment Day.
"I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool." Carlito makes his entrance, smirking at the booing crowd who instantly hates him, tossing an apple up and down in his hand.
"WOO!" The crowd makes it clear who they favor in this one, the Nature Boy sporting a fabulous robe on his way down to the squared circle he knows so well.
"Nature Boy looks a bit hot under that robe, Cole, and I ain't talking temperature! Ha!"
"He has a right to be, Tazz. What insolence shown by Carlito at Judgment Day. It was uncalled for."
"Slow your horses, Cole. Let the two men settle it in the ring..."
Flair punishes the brash punk with some old-school style, showing him who the real "dirtiest player in the game" is, but Carlito jabs a finger into Flair's eye after Flair heatedly yells at the referee, who cowers away, taking his eyes off the action. It winds up being enough of a distraction for Carlito to sneak behind Flair and nail the Backstabber for his 2nd straight SD! win.
"Carlito one-upping the Nature Boy?"
"Exactly, Tazz. By cheating his way to a victory."
"Eh, that's how it is, Cole. Flair knows that. Second straight win for the new fella."
Backstage, the once-again new United States Champion, Rey Mysterio, walks into a somewhat dejected Eddie Guerrero's locker room. "Hey, Eddie... no hard feelings about last night, right?" He holds out an enclosed fist. Eddie shrugs, frowning momentarily, before smiling up at his masked pal, despite their competitive rivalry. "Right, ese..." Eddie bumps fists with the San Diego Sensation and stands up, a spark of glee entering him, the Eddie of old has returned. "We cool, holmes!" Rey nods, smiling back at his friend, who embraces him merrily.
"So, I heard you're locking up with Christian tonight."
"Got that right, holmes. I'mma show him what Latino Heat is all about, vato! Orale!"
"Alright, bro. Well, good luck. I'll see ya later, alright. I gotta run. My match is next..."
Rey Mysterio enters to massive applause. He interacts warmly with the fans, slapping outstretched hands and presenting a spare mask to a youngster in the crowd. "Gotta love Mysterio, Tazz! Making this night a special one for that young fan!" Tazz heartily agrees. "Representing the US well, eh, Cole? He's wearing that gold well."
Speaking of gold, Shelton Benjamin makes his way out, fresh off a victory over Charlie Haas at Judgment Day, looking to upset the high-flying lucha libre master tonight!
It's a close match-up, with Benjamin wowing the crowd with his own uncanny athleticism in contrast to Mysterio, who never gives Shelton a breath for safekeeping whatsoever! "Looking to fly!" But in a repeat of match with Shawn Michaels from years past, Benjamin superkicks the 619 speed devil on the way down, making for an instant classic moment. 1 - 2 - 3!
"What a match, Cole! And what a kick! Jeez! Mysterio's head's gotta be ringing after that one!"
****************************************
Backstage, Rob Van Dam is taking off his ring gear in the locker room when a condescending Chris Jericho struts into frame, speaking cynically to Mr. Thursday Night. "You call that a victory, Van Dam? Huh? That was pathetic. But that's what losers do, run away when a bull is on their toes. Losers... like... you, Van Dam." RVD doesn't like what he is hearing and stands up, gets in Jericho's face, and says he doesn't know what Jericho is talking about, that he beat Batista fair and square, 1-2-3. "That's what I do best, 'Y-2-J.' Ya wanna find out personally?"
Jericho merely chuckles, cockily as always, outmatching Van Dam's own confidence as he walks away. Van Dam shakes his head as the cameras fall back onto Michael Cole & Tazz at ringside. "The hell was that about?" Tazz remarks, but Cole can only throw up his hands in ignorance. "Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank everyone in the WWE universe that ordered Judgment Day. It was a huge success and we owe its success to the loyal fans of WWE." Tazz butts in abruptly. "And loyal fans of SmackDown!, Cole. Those numbers had to hurt RAW's chances to put on a better product, eh?" Cole wants to agree, half-nodding his head, but before he can verbally respond, Eddie Guerrero's music plays as a low-rider arrives!
"Latino Heat, Cole! Back to his old self after a tough loss at Judgment Day!"
Photo stills show of the astounding ladder match between Guerrero and Mysterio at the PPV.
"Go!"
"If you close your eyes..." Christian makes his way down to the ring, not shy enough to keep his newly earned tag team championship belt backstage as it fits perfectly around his waist. He slaps it with a smug grin on his face, waving to his "peeps", who must be imaginary as the crowd boos him something fierce. In a close match, Christian shocks the arena as he lands a Killswitch for the upset victory over the fan favorite Guerrero.
"Captain Charisma looking good. New championship belt, same old style. I like it, Cole!"
"At least he didn't cheat his way to a victory tonight. I wish I could say the same for that title around his waist..."
"Aw, c'mon, Cole. Don't be a stick in the mud. Christian got a great win tonight over one of SmackDown's finest!"
****************************************
After a commercial break, The Undertaker is seen backstage, meditating in the darkness, a dark silhouette getting a popular rise out of the crowd, the gold sheen of the title belt nearby.
"I wonder what's brooding in the Phenom's mind tonight. Other than tearing HBK's head off in a guaranteed rocket-buster!"
"Nobody could say, Tazz, but that man--" The camera cuts to HBK, lacing up his boots backstage. "Might just find out, for better or worse."
IF YA SMELL!!!!!
"Well, this guy can't be thrilled about not regaining the title HBK sneaked away from him way back when, but the most electrifying man in sports entertainment is lookin' pumped!" There is a passion in the Brahma Bull's eyes tonight, one of hunger and conviction. The Hulkster steals the crowd from The Great One next, using "I am a real American" like he did at the PPV.
"And the opponents..." Tony Chimel is left to wonder, as the participants have not been disclosed prior to the show.
"Oh, gawd... not again, Cole. Can't these guys just stay away?"
"I'm as surprised as you are, partner. But Hassan looks to have recovered from that throat injury at the hands of the World Champion two weeks ago."
"I wish he'd stay injured. Ha! And what's the deal with this creepy music? I can't stand it, Cole!"
The Rock and Hogan overpower Hassan and Daivari, which makes for some crowd-pleasing moments. They're the bad guys everybody loves to see get what's coming to them, but in their steely and wily fashion, they pull a fast one and use the ropes to get a cheat of a win over the two crowd favorites! "See what I told ya, Cole? These guys ain't good for nothing!"
****************************************
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is time..." Cole lastly informs the television audience at home, as a gong rouses a hushed frenzy from the crowd. It sounds again, and druids come out from the stage, marking the Phenom's first official title defense. All of them are wielding torches that ignite the dark arena. The gong sounds again and a shadowy figure appears on the stage.
Tazz and Cole stay silent as the energy of the crowd continues to rise, with a dark mist shrouding the arena floor.
The Undertaker's music finally begins to play. Once he makes his way down to the ring in his slow menacing gait, Tony Chimel says, "From Death Valley, the NEW World Heavyweight Champion... The... Under... Taker!" The Undertaker glides into the ring, removes his hat and turns on the light with his demonic mystical talents. After a moment of awe, a guitar plays.
"Here comes the bitter former champ, Cole."
"Look at HBK, Tazz. Not even acknowledging the boos from the crowd..."
"They didn't bother him at Judgment Day, and they ain't bothering him now, Cole! That man, HBK, is in the zone... deep in the zone."
"So is that man, Tazz..." The camera turns to The Undertaker and what follows is an hour-long grudge match that puts the audience on the edge of their seats, at home and in the arena.
Only five minutes left, and HBK is playing catch-up, down 6 falls to 2. He outwrestles the Demon from Death Valley and earns a sneaky point after a backslide pinfall. "The score is now 6 to 3." Tony Chimel informs the crowd. The ominous atmosphere, desperate with panic for the Heartbreak Kid, who knows he's under the wire now, grows a bit tenser. HBK aims Sweet Chin Music, but The Undertaker dodges and sends Michaels flying out of the ring, who gets catcalled by the audience, but he is still deaf to their abuse. He winces in pain and climbs into the ring, eager to shred the distance of points with god as his witness. But the Undertaker is still fearsomely protecting his championship reign, which has yet to blossom due to this grueling affair; he is not going to let Michaels come back without one hell of a resistance. But Shawn Michaels steals the show, reversing the Last Ride into Sweet Chin Music for a 4th point.
"Trims the Deadman's lead down to 2, Cole."
"But time is running out for the Show-Stopper, partner..."
In the thrilling final two minutes, the Undertaker nearly tombstones HBK into oblivion but is knocked into the referee, which makes the Phenom stumble back. He dodges Sweet Chin Music and tries for a big boot, but Michaels ducks and rolls up the larger man for a dangerous 5th point, which edges the lead to only one! The final minute has HBK pulling out all the stops, trying a moonsault with little time to spare. "30 seconds, Cole, near fall!" The Undertaker sits up, enraged. HBK hurls himself at the Deadman and nails a hurried elbow drop.
"He's tuning up the band for a quick--and I mean, quick--encore performance!"
"The champion slowly regaining his footing..."
"Sweet Chin Music! Here it comes!"
But The Undertaker ducks his head and scoops the Heartbreak Kid into the air, easily over his shoulder and drives him into the mat for a devastating, show-stopper stopping Tombstone Piledriver. Clasping Shawn's hands together over his chest, the Demon from Death Valley sticks out a wicked tongue and rolls back his eyes, scoring a decisive 7th fall as time expires.
"What is there to say, Cole? HBK gave everything he had, but one key reversal put him out of his misery!"
"That it did, partner. What a terrific, come-from-behind effort by the one and only Show-Stopper, but it was to no avail."
"Look at that sick dude! I love it!" A final replay precedes the one-knee celebration by The Undertaker who has retained his championship.
"Who is going to be able to stop The Undertaker, Cole? Who?"
The Undertaker turns to Shawn Michaels, who has recovered to his feet, but his spirits have only plummeted further. The Phenom extends a hand, a show of respect, but HBK slaps it away and makes a shoving gesture towards the crowd as he exits the ring, shouting to himself. The Undertaker's celebration resumes as SmackDown! closes to an omen of purple lights.
No comments:
Post a Comment