WWE Backlash 2004 - Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit (Triple Threat Match, World Heavyweight Championship)
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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, still to come tonight, and it cannot get any bigger,
00:04any better, any more dramatic than the final encounter Triple Threat Match for
00:09the World Heavyweight Title Game.
00:11And certainly earlier tonight, we saw the arrival earlier of a good lady.
00:17For the first time in WrestleMania history,
00:21the world title on the line, where Triple Threat rules.
00:27HBK and Chris Benoit will challenge the world's heavyweight champion Triple H.
00:34Three men with one goal.
00:36This is gonna boil down to a willpower, JR, who has the will to win?
00:42All these men are battered, they're hurt, they're bruised, two are bloody.
00:48Come on, it's counter attack.
00:50No, counter, the crossface, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:55The crossface, will Triple H tap out, the title's on the line.
01:00Benoit ripping it down, no, it's over, it's over, no.
01:06Chris Benoit's 18-year odyssey has culminated
01:10by winning the world's heavyweight title at WrestleMania 20.
01:16WrestleMania 20 was definitely the biggest night of my career.
01:25People said it was the greatest match in WrestleMania history.
01:31And now with Backlash, it'll become the greatest rematch of all time.
01:38Three guys believe honestly in their hearts that they're the best,
01:44three of the greatest of all time, all with something to prove.
01:50Benoit, that he is more than just a one-hit wonder.
01:55Shawn Michaels, that he is still the icon.
01:59And Triple H, that that world heavyweight championship still belongs to me.
02:06So now it's time to separate fact from fiction.
02:11Once you step into that ring, the only person that you can rely on is yourself.
02:16Because only one of us can walk out the world heavyweight champion.
02:21Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, and Triple H in one ring at the same time.
02:25The final encounter for the world heavyweight championship.
02:32Three men with one gun.
02:33And all with something to prove.
02:37Who has the will to win?
02:39For a rematch of the greatest WrestleMania main event of all time.
02:44At Backlash, it's going to be the final encounter.
02:51Well, time to play the game.
02:57Time to play the game.
03:13It's all about the game, and how you play it.
03:16It's all about control, and if you can take it.
03:19It's all about you, and if you can play it.
03:21It's all about play, and who's gonna make it.
03:25I am the game, you don't have to play me.
03:27The following triple threat match is scheduled for one fall.
03:30And it is for the world heavyweight championship.
03:34Introducing the challengers.
03:36First, from Greenwich, Connecticut, weighing in at 265 pounds, Triple H.
03:45You can describe this eight-time world champion in many ways.
03:51In my view, he's got the animalistic instincts of a hearty race.
03:55The technical wrestling knowledge of a Jack Frisco.
03:59And the confidence of a nature boy, Ric Flair.
04:04And he's damn hard to beat.
04:09Now, that is an understatement.
04:12He's the game.
04:13And when it comes to the world heavyweight championship,
04:16this man will be absolutely ruthless.
04:20And will do whatever his body will allow him to do to leave Backlash.
04:27The nine-time world heavyweight champion.
04:32He's the king of a thousand, and a thousand of rounds.
04:39The king of a thousand, and a thousand of wrestlers that have preceded Triple H in this
04:45franchise.
04:47Only four men have won more world titles than Triple H.
04:51If he wins tonight, he ties to a nil.
04:55And you will undoubtedly tell us who those two are later on, won't you?
05:00Maybe.
05:01Indeed.
05:02From San Antonio, Texas, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels.
05:18Well, ladies and gentlemen, Shawn Michaels.
05:21Can be called a lot of things.
05:25A showstopper.
05:26A heartbreak kid.
05:29Perhaps tonight he'll be called the Minister of Offense.
05:35But somehow, deep down in my gut, I don't think he's gonna be called the World Heavyweight
05:45Champion at the end of the night.
05:47Shawn Michaels has a warrior's soul.
05:51Triple H and Michaels, there is no stronger, no more heated rivalry, in my view, in this
06:03business than Michaels and the Game.
06:09But there's nothing more heated than this man's passion for the world championship.
06:13Triple H.
06:15Uh-oh.
06:17And making his way to the ring, Edmonton, Alberta's own, weighing in at 224 pounds,
06:29he is the World Heavyweight Champion, Drew Benoit.
06:37A standing ovation for the Heavyweight Champion of the World from his hometown crowds here
06:45in Alberta.
06:47And there's Chris' kids.
06:49Of course, they're residing down in Atlanta.
06:51But Chris grew up here in Edmonton.
06:53Moved here from Montreal when he was 11 years old.
06:59Boy, what an entrance.
07:01And I can't wait for all this adulation and all of those smiles to be wiped off the face
07:07of his family when Chris Benoit loses the World Heavyweight Championship here tonight.
07:13Benoit, this is what it's all about, ladies and gentlemen.
07:19To be the World Heavyweight Champion after an 18-year journey.
07:25Oh, look at this.
07:27A lot of confidence in Benoit.
07:29He's got the whole crowd advantage here.
07:33Coming right in the face of two icons, first Michaels and now Triple H.
07:39As it was said to both men, you will not, by God, take this crown from me here tonight.
07:47Yeah, that remains to be seen.
07:51Tell me about the odds again, J.L.
07:53What about those odds we've been hearing about?
07:55The odds are not good for Benoit to retain.
07:57That's right.
07:59And one reason is because the first man to score a pinfall or submission leaves as champion.
08:05Chris Benoit doesn't have to be involved in the decision to lose the coveted heavyweight championship of the world.
08:13That's right.
08:15Triple H had the same odds against him at WrestleMania.
08:17And he lost the World Heavyweight title to Chris Benoit in the Crippler Crossfits.
08:23The odds are definitely against the champion retaining.
08:27Well, that's okay.
08:29Hey, it's not that bad to be a one-hit wonder.
08:31I guarantee you, folks, these three will leave nothing in the locker room tonight.
08:37We're going to get everything they've got.
08:39Here we go!
08:41And Benoit throws a first blow, and it's on the game.
08:43And Shawn Michaels is running in.
08:45Wait a minute, they're double teaming the game.
08:47Benoit nailing Michaels.
08:49Benoit has.
08:51Double teaming Triple H again.
08:53Now they're working together.
08:55This is not right.
08:57Triple H back body drop.
08:59Isolate the game.
09:01And that'll be Michaels and Benoit.
09:03Oh, I wouldn't mind seeing that in the clothesline.
09:05The game up over the top.
09:07Well, you're about to get your wish.
09:09Oh, man.
09:11I think that was a tooth flying.
09:13Michaels retaliates to the top.
09:15That's Benoit right back.
09:17This is going to be intense.
09:19This is going to be grueling.
09:21And the physicality.
09:23Oh, there's an example.
09:25There's an example of physicality in this one tonight.
09:27These guys are literally trying to chop each other's heads off.
09:33Oh!
09:35Both feet up.
09:37And a knockdown by the World's Heavyweight Champion.
09:41I don't know.
09:43If I'd have been Benoit, I don't think I'd have brought my family here
09:45and set them on the front row.
09:47I swing a neckbreaker by Shawn Michaels.
09:49With the odds against me like they are against Benoit here.
09:51Triple H is playing back in the ring.
09:53And a right hand to the face.
09:55And another right hand.
09:57Shawn Michaels down.
09:59Trying to take over on the game.
10:01It is doing so thus far, anyway.
10:07Whoa.
10:09Michaels reverses with a high knee.
10:11Perfectly executed high knee by the game.
10:13Get Benoit. Get Benoit.
10:15The game guaranteed that Benoit would not lead Backlash.
10:17The World's Heavyweight Champion tonight.
10:19You know, the odds really aren't in your favor.
10:21You know, the odds really aren't in Triple H's favor, either.
10:23Because without a doubt...
10:25Look at that beautiful move.
10:27Disposed of.
10:29Leaving Michaels and Triple H one on one.
10:31And remember, Benoit can be on the outside.
10:33He doesn't have to be involved in the decision.
10:35If Michaels pins Triple H,
10:37Michaels is the champion.
10:39Or vice versa.
10:41Exactly.
10:43Or an atomic drop.
10:45Great right.
10:47Knocking down the game is Shawn Michaels.
10:49I don't want to say the odds are just as much
10:51or maybe even more against Triple H in this match.
10:53Because, you know, we've already seen
10:55that Benoit and Shawn Michaels
10:57are going to double team and team up
10:59and be buddies to go against Triple H.
11:01I don't think they're buddies, Keith.
11:03And, oh, Michaels sent early.
11:05Whoa, look at that.
11:07Michaels knows it, felt it,
11:09has experienced it, able to counter.
11:11Says, no, not this time.
11:13And both Michaels and Triple H
11:15double teaming Benoit,
11:17keeping the champion out of the ring,
11:19making it just one on one here.
11:23Oh.
11:25Oh, no, here we go.
11:27And that released German Suplex
11:29on the back of Michaels.
11:31Another one for the game.
11:35Look at Benoit, that waist lock.
11:37And Michaels trying to find out of it.
11:39Triple H couldn't connect with a clothesline.
11:41And Michaels connects to the top.
11:43Benoit on Michaels and on the game.
11:45This action is so fast and furious,
11:47it's hard to tell who's doing what to who.
11:49Benoit now sets the game for the ride.
11:53Backside grab by Benoit.
11:55And a table turn here.
11:57Hard chop by Shawn Michaels.
12:01And another chop by Michaels.
12:03Michaels certainly has
12:05an undeniable passion
12:07that all the greats possess.
12:09Oh.
12:11Oh.
12:13No athlete I know ever had more passion
12:15than Shawn Michaels, who's now on the outside
12:17of the ring in a bad way.
12:19It's now down here at this point.
12:21It's Benoit.
12:23There's a crossface. A triple crossface.
12:25This is what won Benoit
12:27the title of WrestleMania.
12:29Shawn Michaels on the apron.
12:31Benoit saw it.
12:33Wanted to dispose of Michaels quickly.
12:35Well, he knew that Michaels was gonna come in
12:37and disconnect that crossface.
12:39Michaels is not gonna let
12:41Benoit get a victory over anybody.
12:43Michaels back, ramming into that security wall.
12:45Again, holding that arm.
12:49Benoit thinking about it.
12:51Going right back down to Michaels.
12:53One more time.
12:55Trying to incapacitate Shawn Michaels.
12:57He's the world's champion.
12:59Michaels with a history of lower back problems.
13:01That's gotta be the strategy
13:03of all three men in this type of match.
13:05Benoit taking a chance, King.
13:07High risk.
13:09He gave Triple H a little too much time
13:11to recuperate.
13:13Triple H
13:15stepping up that second rope
13:17and Benoit fighting back with those
13:19sharp, tight,
13:21headbutts.
13:23Look at those headbutts by Triple H.
13:25I haven't seen him use a headbutt in a long time.
13:27This is for all the marks.
13:29World's heavyweight title on the line here.
13:31You're gonna see all the stops pulled out tonight.
13:33Look at those headbutts.
13:35Triple H using his head as a battering ram
13:37against Chris Benoit.
13:39Triple H a pontiff of pain here.
13:43This crowd chanting,
13:45let's go Benoit.
13:47There he goes!
13:49Benoit dropped completely out of sight.
13:51And Michaels
13:53has got Triple H
13:55in an electric chair move.
13:57Michaels taking Triple H down
13:59in the electric chair.
14:01We call Triple H the pontiff of pain,
14:03but look at this.
14:05And he went straight to the floor,
14:07right in the face.
14:09Benoit took a $2 stake, we said,
14:11but man, he may be out of it.
14:13Arm over, could be, and loose!
14:15Wait a minute.
14:17Referee Mike Gilda got a long two-count.
14:19John Michaels
14:21had no doubt.
14:23Talked to him earlier today.
14:25He has an overwhelming will
14:27to once again be the heavyweight champion
14:29of the world.
14:31I tell you something, I love these
14:33You don't even have to beat the champion
14:35to become champion.
14:37It's a great concept.
14:43Big, big trouble here.
14:45John Michaels is always
14:47one second away from kicking
14:49your head off with sweet Ken music.
14:51And again, a face buster.
14:53A mid-time face buster
14:55by Triple H. The Game scored
14:57with the face buster.
14:59You know, it would suit these two,
15:01if it would just roll down in between them two.
15:03That's how much they dislike each other.
15:05Whoa, whoa, whoa.
15:07What an opportunist!
15:09That doesn't look good like this one.
15:11Right off the top turnbuckle.
15:13Oh!
15:15He can do it!
15:17Triple H!
15:19It's over!
15:21It's not over.
15:23And it would have been over, in my view,
15:25if Triple H hadn't interrupted that count.
15:27But that's what triple threat matches are all about.
15:29Yes, it is.
15:31And that's gonna boil down to be the difference
15:33between Triple H and Chris Benoit,
15:35in my opinion.
15:37The Game is just so much smarter.
15:39That's why they call him the Cerebral Assassin, JR.
15:41Right hand by Benoit again.
15:43Oh, man.
15:45And Triple H fights right back
15:47with a knee to the solar plexus.
15:49Another forearm by Benoit.
15:51A lot of physicality.
15:53That might hurt.
15:55You can get excited about Benoit all you want to.
15:57And I'm not taking anything away from his athletic ability,
15:59but he's a one-hit wonder, JR.
16:01What happened in WrestleMania will never happen twice.
16:03Well, you know, you might be right.
16:05And that's why we're having this match.
16:07That's right about Hurricane Earl, wasn't it?
16:09Well, that was big.
16:11And the Irish hit back.
16:13Oh!
16:15Benoit dropped down.
16:17Michaels leaped over.
16:19And the referee was right in a harm's way.
16:21Now what?
16:23Now what is right?
16:25Why not?
16:29Oh!
16:31Referee takes a big shot from HBK.
16:33Referee walked right in the line of fire.
16:35And now we got no official.
16:37Michaels knocked to the outside by Benoit.
16:39Triple H back in the ring.
16:41And Triple H now.
16:43Oh!
16:45The opportunity is lost!
16:47Triple H looking for the 28.
16:49Benoit gonna try to fight.
16:51What's he gonna do here?
16:53Benoit trying to fight.
16:55I have those legs of Triple H that put him in.
16:57The Sharpshooter, I'm not sure.
16:59Of course it's the Sharpshooter.
17:01What do you think he's going for?
17:03Oh, there it is!
17:05He turned the-
17:07Oh, no!
17:09The Sharpshooter!
17:11Bret Hart's Sharpshooter is here in Edmonton.
17:13Oh!
17:15Oh, no!
17:17The crossface.
17:19Benoit went from the Sharpshooter
17:21on Triple H to the crossface
17:23on Shawn Michaels.
17:25He's getting locked in.
17:27But there's no referee.
17:29Michaels being tortured.
17:31But he's not tapping a pitbull like Benoit.
17:33Ripping at Shawn Michaels.
17:35But there's no referee in sight.
17:37And I think Benoit just now realizes that.
17:39You know,
17:41if the General Manager's on top of this game,
17:43we might have another referee out here.
17:47Well, at least he came out here
17:49and stopped the whole building from getting set on fire earlier.
17:51I'm sure he's watching this somewhere.
17:55Well, we've got no referee, and the world's title's at stake.
17:59Good grief. Uh-oh.
18:01And now, a double leg takedown.
18:03Wait a minute. Wait a minute here.
18:05Oh, look at this!
18:07Look at this! Sharpshooter!
18:09Shawn Michaels using the Sharpshooter
18:11here at Backblast.
18:13How fitting is this?
18:15Oh, my God!
18:17Earl Hemmer!
18:19Oh, my God!
18:21You know what this means?
18:23Earl Hemmer asking Benoit if he wants to give up.
18:25Is this Deja Vu all over again,
18:27or what?
18:29Tap out!
18:31Ring the bell! Ring the bell!
18:33Benoit fighting,
18:35sucking his guts up
18:37with everything he's got.
18:39Ring it, Earl! You've done it before, too! Ring it!
18:41Michaels sending back with a Sharpshooter.
18:43Benoit being tortured.
18:45Triple H coming to-
18:47Michaels let go of the hold
18:49to defend himself
18:51against the Game.
18:53This crowd here in Canada,
18:55I think they just collectively wet themselves.
18:57Look at this. They're in shock.
18:59Shawn Michaels.
19:03Again, with an overwhelming
19:05will to win.
19:07Here we go! Here we go!
19:09And Benoit barely able to kick out.
19:11Michaels a count away from
19:13becoming the world's champion again.
19:19Earl Hemmer has not endeared himself
19:21to these fans.
19:23Or is that a chance for Shawn Michaels?
19:25Been hearing that chant for seven years, almost.
19:27Oh, give it up!
19:29Get over it!
19:31I think Shawn Michaels
19:33is taking this personally.
19:35Oh, now Todd's taking that
19:37attention, too.
19:39Let me tell you people something!
19:41Shawn Michaels, angry,
19:43and he's gonna take it out on your hometown hero
19:45right there! You're about to see it!
19:49Oh, and the Crossface!
19:51Benoit Kerberer, Crossface Todd!
19:53The Crossface!
19:55And Michaels is terrified on Earth!
19:57Don't tap! Don't tap!
19:59Michaels is gonna tap!
20:01No! Oh, Triple H!
20:03God almighty, Triple H.
20:05What a collision!
20:07Michaels was about to tap out.
20:09Yeah, I had to believe
20:11Michaels was about to tap out when
20:13Triple H interrupted the whole
20:15proceedings. Thank goodness for Triple H.
20:19Man, the cerebral assassin.
20:23He's the smartest man
20:25in that ring, I can assure you that.
20:27I think Triple H
20:29needs this title
20:31to professionally survive
20:33in his own mind.
20:35Look at this fight. This is a fight
20:37a hometown crowd trying to get
20:39behind Benoit, but then it's not
20:41silence from a Triple H DDT.
20:43Come on, hometown crowd, let's hear you chant now!
20:45Come on, I don't hear you!
20:47I don't hear anybody saying anything!
20:49The cover by The Game.
20:51The cover! Will it be?
20:53Benoit!
20:55Michaels laying motionless,
20:57Benoit able to kick out. Come on, JR, let's see if we can
20:59get this crowd chanting, let's go, Benoit!
21:01Look, it's dead silence!
21:03They know he's a
21:05one-hit wonder. Triple H has silenced
21:07this crowd. They've seen
21:09Benoit choke before many times.
21:13What a shot.
21:15Man, what intensity here.
21:17Another shot of Benoit's wife
21:19sitting around. I'm sure she's seen him choke
21:21many times.
21:25Triple H being
21:27Triple H being
21:29chanted, you tapped out, just like
21:31he did at WrestleMania. At the
21:33hands of Benoit and the
21:35Crossface. Triple H may never
21:37live that down.
21:39Triple H is doing some tapping right now,
21:41but he was tapping on the head
21:43of Benoit.
21:45Benoit, man, he's
21:47a rabid Wolverine.
21:49He's like a four-wheel drive truck with a heart.
21:51He just never stops.
21:53And over the top
21:55went Triple H.
21:57The great velocity, the power of
21:59Benoit, the leverage.
22:01Benoit trying to hook up for those
22:03back suplexes, but Michaels
22:05countered into the clothesline,
22:07knocking down the champion. There's a cover.
22:09Michaels again.
22:11One second away was Shawn Michaels
22:13from becoming the world's heavyweight champion.
22:15You know, Shawn can take this thing, JR,
22:17but listen to this crowd.
22:19There's a real uneasiness when you've got
22:21the combination of Shawn Michaels, that referee,
22:23Earl Hefner, in the ring, and their
22:25hometown boy, Benoit.
22:27Benoit has been a
22:29great success story, leaving Edmonton
22:31with $20 in his pocket
22:33to travel down the country to train
22:35in Stu Hart's dungeon. He comes back to his
22:37hometown as the heavyweight champion
22:39of the world right now.
22:41Now Benoit's in trouble. Triple H
22:43is in trouble, and the one man in the
22:45ring is Shawn Michaels.
22:47Well, Triple H
22:49didn't have it so easy when he was growing up either,
22:51you know. He got picked up
22:53at his private academy by his chauffeur.
22:55He had to endure
22:57the triggers of KODO training.
22:59Look at this crowd!
23:01They need to shut up!
23:05Oh, they've done it. Now they've made
23:07Shawn Michaels angry, and he's gonna take it out
23:09on Benoit. Oh, look out!
23:11Oh, my God!
23:13Michaels missed Benoit and Triple H!
23:15He went right over their heads
23:17to Michaels, and
23:19Michaels has crashed and burned
23:21at the Rio's denounce table.
23:23My God almighty.
23:25Michaels looking for everything
23:27in one move. If Michaels
23:29had hit that crossbody, this
23:31match could well be over.
23:33I think it is over for Shawn Michaels.
23:35Benoit looking at Michaels showing
23:37perhaps some empathy, I don't know,
23:39but Triple H capitalizing on it.
23:41Well, let's see this one more time.
23:43Shawn Michaels going for both the game
23:45and Benoit. Like he said,
23:47he definitely crashed and burned.
23:49Oh, my God!
23:51Michaels is effectively taking himself
23:53perhaps out of this matchup.
23:55Face first on the steel steps.
23:57Triple H has taken Benoit out of the matchup.
23:59Triple H has just found himself
24:01right behind the wheel
24:03of a world championship vehicle.
24:05We got a referee being carried out
24:07here on the side. We got Shawn Michaels
24:09probably needs to be carried out.
24:11Triple H hard right hand.
24:13Piston-locked right hand
24:15from the biggest, strongest man
24:17in the world.
24:19From the biggest, strongest man
24:21in this match.
24:23You gotta love this, JR. I like it.
24:25How's the hometown crowd like this?
24:27Get away, referee.
24:29Triple H again,
24:31that tape-right fist
24:33beating the holy hell out of
24:35Shawn Michaels.
24:37We need medical help out here.
24:39Michaels needs somebody to help him.
24:41Shawn Michaels is not moving.
24:43That's the first sign
24:45that there's something wrong.
24:47You don't get any help from the two...
24:49in the ring right now, do you?
24:51And Benoit got no help
24:53from that steel ring post.
24:55My God, what a...
24:57Things are just playing
24:59right into the hands of Triple H right now.
25:01The game is definitely in the driver's seat.
25:03No doubt about that.
25:05Shawn Michaels has effectively been eliminated
25:07and now it's boiled down to just what the game wants.
25:09One-on-one.
25:11We said the game
25:13was an eight-time champion.
25:15He wins tonight, and that's right,
25:17and there can't be a more deserving champion
25:19than Triple H.
25:21You know that's true, JR.
25:23He's gonna join some elite company tonight.
25:25Berngania and The Rock at nine world titles.
25:27Berngania?
25:31You don't know Berngania, you wrestled with him.
25:33Yeah, I like the finish.
25:35Look at this.
25:37That left shoulder just got snapped
25:39and cracked on that ring post.
25:41And Michaels has not moved.
25:43Oh, my God. I would love her.
25:45I'm concerned for Shawn Michaels.
25:47I'm concerned for Chris Benoit,
25:49as a matter of fact.
25:51How about being concerned for Triple H?
25:53He's not hurt.
25:55He's the man who's trying to win this championship.
25:57He's the future of the business.
25:59He's also concerned for the best man in the ring.
26:01Look at this crowd.
26:05A very vocal crowd.
26:07The hometown of Chris Benoit.
26:09Nothing wrong with that.
26:11A right hand by The Game.
26:13They've got a lot of class, but it's all low.
26:17He has opened up.
26:19He has got so much control going on here.
26:21And a camouflage.
26:23Oh, yes.
26:25Shades of the Iron Sheik has
26:27got a nice close-up on the face.
26:29The pain-wracked face.
26:31The toothless face of Chris Benoit.
26:33Benoit's so tough.
26:35You can count the times
26:37that Benoit has tapped out
26:39or said, I quit on one hand
26:41in his 18-year career.
26:43I don't know why I dislike Benoit.
26:45I just do.
26:47Look at The Game, though.
26:51You've got to love The Game.
26:53Come on.
26:55You've got to love Chris Benoit.
26:57Don't you give a damn about a guy
26:59that all he's ever wanted to do was be a wrestler.
27:01He watched Stampede Wrestling right here in Edmonton
27:03when he was a little boy.
27:05He had 20 bucks in his pocket to go to Spain.
27:07Not knowing if he was going to make it or not.
27:09Wrestled all over the world
27:11to make it 18 years
27:13against WrestleMania.
27:15And at WrestleMania, he finally came.
27:17He became the world's champion.
27:19And you're asking me if I've got to love him?
27:21I didn't ask you to love him.
27:23I asked you to respect him.
27:25The lightning is not going to strike twice
27:27here tonight.
27:29Benoit fights back with everything he's got.
27:31If everything Benoit has,
27:33is it going to be enough tonight?
27:35Pounding game, pounding.
27:37How do you call the world's champion a loser?
27:39He's a choker.
27:41He's a one-hit wonder.
27:43He's a great athlete.
27:45He's just not an icon like The Game.
27:47Or even like Shawn Michaels, for that matter.
27:49And again, The Game.
27:51Oh!
27:53Snake eye.
27:55Triple H, his face bounced off the top turnbuckle
27:57with great velocity that time.
27:59Oh, no.
28:01Benoit at least bought himself a little time.
28:03But Shawn Michaels is still on the outside.
28:05He's still motionless.
28:07Is there any medical help for Shawn Michaels?
28:09Or is he just out of this match?
28:11Well, I never have a heart attack out here.
28:13You're just down here dying.
28:15And a face buster.
28:17Don't count on mouth-to-mouth from me.
28:19The Game got a face buster in again
28:21on this time on Benoit.
28:23Oh, yes.
28:25Oh, no!
28:27The German.
28:29The waist lock locked in tight.
28:31Now I remember why I don't like Benoit this.
28:33Benoit!
28:35Could the end now be near
28:37for Triple H?
28:39On the ropes!
28:41Benoit released that one.
28:43And Benoit now
28:45isn't as much as covering The Game.
28:47The third time
28:49could have been the time.
28:51And Benoit feels it.
28:53He sees it.
28:55And he wants him to retain his title.
28:57He's sensing the victory.
28:59He thinks he's got that lightning in a bottle.
29:01Benoit climbing to the top.
29:03Another high-risk move.
29:05Benoit trying to get his balance.
29:07And fire!
29:09Oh, my God.
29:11First Michaels burns
29:13and crashes.
29:15And now Benoit does the same.
29:17Benoit the showboat.
29:19That's what happens to showboats.
29:21They come crashing back down to Earth.
29:23Oh, that headbutt off the top.
29:25My God, ladies and gentlemen.
29:27This is great.
29:29HBK, the showstopper.
29:31And Benoit, the showboat.
29:33And his showboat just sunk.
29:35Come on, Game.
29:37Triple H downstairs.
29:39Here we go, baby!
29:41He's gonna have a new world champion.
29:43The pedigree.
29:45Benoit just got drilled.
29:47He just got drilled.
29:49Let's not forget that Triple H has just
29:51broken three German suplexes.
29:53And the crowd is in stunned silence, J.R.
29:57Come on. Let's hear that chant.
29:59Let's go, Benoit.
30:01The cover. Triple H got the cover.
30:03Michaels out of nowhere.
30:05Where'd he come from?
30:07Michaels out of nowhere
30:09when it was damn sure obvious to me
30:11that Triple H had this match won.
30:13Oh, look at Benoit.
30:15Benoit, you can thank not your lucky stars,
30:17but you can thank Shawn Michaels
30:19back in one-hit wonder again.
30:21I can't believe this.
30:23Where did Michaels come from?
30:25Three hearts, three souls, three minds
30:27all focused on one goal,
30:29to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
30:31Michaels and Triple H are back up.
30:33They'd like to settle between these two.
30:35These two rivals
30:37would love for it just to be them.
30:39And Michaels gets knocked down
30:41and gets himself right back up.
30:43How is Shawn Michaels back on his feet
30:45after flying through that table?
30:47He's got a warrior soul
30:49and again a knockdown,
30:51but Michaels will not stay down.
30:53Triple H hitting Michaels as hard
30:55and as often as he can.
30:57That'll stop his show.
30:59Downstairs.
31:01These two men
31:03are fueled by personal hatred.
31:05Michaels, a flying floor,
31:07knocking down the game.
31:09Benoit's motionless now.
31:11Oh, my gosh.
31:13Look at this.
31:15Look at this carnage in the ring.
31:17Oh, they're all down.
31:19What's going to happen here?
31:21Oh, laser enter.
31:23Michaels somehow lifts up.
31:25This crowd doesn't like it.
31:27They're pro-Benoit.
31:29We know that. This is Benoit's hometown.
31:31Michaels scooping down in the game.
31:35Michaels, that back
31:37has got to be killing him
31:39after going through that table.
31:41Michaels and Shawn Michaels,
31:43but if it weren't for Shawn Michaels,
31:45Triple H would be the new champion
31:47right this minute.
31:49Shawn Michaels now will take a chance.
31:51It's all or nothing for Michaels here.
31:53He's got it.
31:55Michaels got the elbow off the top
31:57and that should do it.
31:59That should do it.
32:01I told you Shawn Michaels could be the wild card.
32:03Shawn Michaels could steal this thing.
32:05Michaels got the elbow,
32:07but he's hurting so badly
32:09and Michaels had to pull himself up.
32:11I think Shawn Michaels,
32:13his brain is scrambling.
32:15He's running on pure instinct.
32:17He's having to look around.
32:19I don't even know if he knows exactly where he is
32:21or what's going on.
32:23Michaels has got one thing left.
32:25And there it is.
32:27The maestro of sweet tin music.
32:29The tenor of the band.
32:31This crowd may not like it
32:33because they know how effective it is.
32:35It takes one second and Michaels can end this match.
32:37They know him.
32:39Shawn Michaels hits that sweet tin music
32:41on Triple H.
32:43Chris Benoit can kiss the title goodbye.
32:45Benoit's up too.
32:47Benoit moving around on Michaels.
32:49He wants Triple H.
32:51Look at Triple H.
32:53Michaels got Benoit.
32:55Oh, man.
32:57Oh, my God.
32:59Oh.
33:01Oh, low blow.
33:03There's nothing the referee can do about it.
33:05Wow.
33:07Michaels almost took Benoit's head off.
33:09The low blow on Shawn Michaels.
33:11Hey, hey, hey, it's over.
33:13Triple H is going to win it this one.
33:15Check this out one more time.
33:17Sweet tin music
33:19on the hometown hero.
33:21Michaels' undeniable passion
33:23kept him in this match
33:25after that low blow.
33:27And I hate to say it,
33:29but Chris Benoit,
33:31you might want to count him out of this equation.
33:34He got that right.
33:36Once again, though,
33:38if it weren't for Shawn Michaels.
33:40Oh, no.
33:42With everything perhaps he had left
33:44elevating the game over the top.
33:47Oh, God, what a match.
33:49This is unbelievable.
33:51Come on.
33:53Come on, game.
33:55The game.
33:59It is.
34:01It's a sledgehammer.
34:03Oh, yes, it is.
34:05The sledgehammer.
34:07Couldn't see it in the first go around.
34:09Man's best friend.
34:11Clear look at the sledgehammer.
34:13Or at least the game's best friend.
34:15And is this how the game's going to become
34:17the world's champion?
34:19Michaels is trying to go pull Benoit
34:21and get him in a pinning predicament
34:23with a sledgehammer in his hand.
34:25Don't tell anybody.
34:29Oh, for the love of God.
34:31Shawn Michaels hit him in the spine
34:33with that sledgehammer.
34:35Look at the ref. Where did that come from?
34:37It doesn't matter where it came from.
34:39Home Depot.
34:41Shawn Michaels just got hit down the spine
34:43with a sledgehammer.
34:45They have Home Depot in Canada?
34:47Nothing this referee, Earl Hedmer,
34:49can do about it, or any of us can do about it.
34:51Well, there's the difference maker.
34:53Come on.
34:55The ruthless,
34:57cerebral assassin.
34:59You gotta admire a man like that.
35:01They will do absolutely anything
35:03to win this world championship.
35:05Come on. Here we go.
35:07Benoit pulling
35:09two legs out of the ring.
35:11Come on, ref. Get in there.
35:13Benoit's face.
35:15Eat some more steel.
35:17Never mind, ref.
35:19He has taken a pounding.
35:21He has taken one hell of a beating.
35:25See how much more he can take.
35:29I think he's got too much confidence
35:31in his own ability.
35:33Moving the furniture around.
35:35I don't know why.
35:41Rearranging things.
35:43Here's the game, you know.
35:45You're not questioning the cerebral assassin, are you?
35:47I guess that's why.
35:51Everything I say, I'm not questioning somebody.
35:53I didn't know what he was doing.
35:55I know now.
35:57Asking you shall receive
35:59an answer from Triple H.
36:03Triple H standing atop the stairs
36:05as if he's the king of the mountain.
36:07And he will be if he wins the world title
36:09here tonight at Backlash.
36:11You've got to be kidding me.
36:13Now this is sick and inhuman
36:15punishment here.
36:17But it could be very interesting.
36:23Wait a minute.
36:25What is this?
36:31He knocked that into the crowd.
36:33His face ricocheted off the ring post
36:35like a basketball.
36:37And Triple H right over the security wall
36:39on the concrete
36:41in the first row of ringside.
36:43Now we really do need medical attention out here.
36:45Take your headset off, JR.
36:47Go back there and get somebody.
36:49EMTs are still with Foley and Orton
36:51is all I can think.
36:53Forget Foley. Get the EMTs out here.
36:55Triple H is hurt.
36:57Benoit backed up somehow, someway.
36:59Benoit backed up the game on the outside.
37:01Shawn Michaels is tuning up the band.
37:03Oh, no. Benoit has already suffered
37:05switch-in music once.
37:07It could be over here. It will be over here.
37:09I had a funny feeling.
37:11I had a funny feeling about Michaels.
37:13Back heel trip.
37:15Back heel trip.
37:17Oh, my God.
37:19Oh, my God.
37:21Oh, my God.
37:23Oh, my gosh.
37:25Oh, my gosh.
37:27Fight it, Shawn.
37:29Michaels is fighting.
37:31Don't stop the show.
37:33Come on, fight it.
37:35Michaels is fighting with his warrior soul.
37:37But Benoit's not trying to step back.
37:39Oh, pull.
37:41The sharpshooter.
37:43Get to those ropes if you can.
37:45Michaels in excruciating pain.
37:47He just inches away.
37:49Come on, Shawn. Just reach out.
37:51You can just reach out and grab him.
37:53Michaels just inches.
37:55No, no, no, no, no.
37:57And Benoit walks to the center of the ring.
37:59Benoit trying to step back.
38:01Shawn Michaels is screaming in pain.
38:03Don't give up, Shawn. Fight it.
38:05Michaels is fighting.
38:07Benoit's got the sharpshooter.
38:09Locked in, sent in.
38:11Punishing. The game is up.
38:13The game is up. Get in. Get in.
38:15Trying to get back in. Stop this.
38:17Michaels is hurting.
38:19Is he going to tap? Is Michaels going to tap?
38:21Come on, Gabe. Get in there.
38:23Yes.
38:25No. No.
38:27Michaels taps out.
38:29Benoit wins.
38:31Here is your winner and still
38:33the World Heavyweight Champion,
38:35Chris Benoit!
38:39Who says you can't come home again?
38:43And who says that Chris Benoit
38:45is a one-hit wonder?
38:51What an ovation
38:53here in Edmonton.
38:55Benoit's family at ringside.
38:59We have just witnessed a war.
39:01Man.
39:03I'll tell you what.
39:05You know what, Darren?
39:07I mean, I hate to say this.
39:09I hate to even say this, but
39:11is Benoit for real?
39:13Is that what this means?
39:15You're damn right Chris Benoit
39:17is for real.
39:19Chris Benoit is the undisputed
39:21Heavyweight Champion of the world.
39:25And he's got a Triple H.
39:28And he's got a Triple H.
39:30And he's got Shawn Michaels.
39:32No.
39:34There is but one world champion.
39:37There is only one world champion.
39:39And his name is Chris Benoit.
39:44I'll be damned.
39:46Chris Benoit is for real.
39:48I'm in shock.
39:50We said earlier, three hearts,
39:52three souls, three minds.
39:54All focused on one goal.
39:57To become the world champion tonight.
39:59But the man that walked in
40:01against all the odds
40:03showed his toughness, his tenacity,
40:05his will to win.
40:07It is Chris Benoit's time.
40:19This is what it would have been like
40:21if Edwards had won the Stanley Cup.
40:23Isn't it?
40:27The irresistible Marine
40:29has come back to his hometown.
40:33And has successfully retained
40:35the Heavyweight Champion of the world.
40:40This has been one hell of a night, hasn't it JR?
40:44Benoit will be celebrating
40:46in his home in Atlanta soon.
40:48But tonight he was back in Edmonton.
40:51He's the Heavyweight Champion of the world.
40:54Benoit has beaten two icons.
40:56Benoit is for real.
40:59Benoit is not a one-hit wonder.
41:01Benoit is the man.